The College Board wants the world to think that the SAT is detached from real-world trivia, a pure test of reasoning and skill. But, of course, this is essentially impossible--hence the scores of SAT prep options out there (of which we are one).

As an attempt at a useful reference buoy in the SAT ocean, this post is an outline of the categories of writing that SAT Reading passages always fall into.

A lot of students wonder: does SAT prep help with anything else in life? In this article, a real SAT instructor gives her view on the topic.

Like most things in life, the answer to the question of whether you should prep for the SAT online or in person is: it depends.

In this case, it depends on what kind of learner you are, what your schedule looks like, how quickly you need to beef up your skills, and how much you (or your parents) want to pay.

What’s the point of the essay?

Put yourself in the admissions officers’ shoes. They’ve got hundreds, maybe thousands of data sets to review, one for each potential student. Imagine the big conference table where these folders are spread out under the fluorescent lights. You’re just one folder in a pile, and the essay is their one window into who you are.

Today the makers of the SAT test announced some changes coming up in the next few years to focus better on academic skills. The changes were supposed to come in 2015 originally, but due to some bugs, they were delayed until at least 2016.  Even today, a precise launch date isn't set yet.

The purported changes include reducing emphasis on vocabulary, making the essay optional, changing from a 2400 scale to 1600, and eliminating the guessing penalty, and more.  What does this mean for you?

Are you an athlete in high school?  Then you know that you face challenges above and beyond everyone else: you need to attend practice and go to games; your schedule is already filled to the brink; and you still have to look out for athletic recruiters and scholarships!

Here are some big SAT prep tips for athletes—some that apply to everyone but especially to athletes, and others that are athlete exclusive.

One of the most common times to take the SAT is during junior year of high school (11th grade).  Is it too early to get started on the SAT preparation if you start before junior year — say freshman year or even middle school?  What can you do to help with the SAT during the early years?

You're a top student in your class—does that mean you can skip SAT prep because your GPA will carry you?  Or you're just average in the class, does that mean you can't do well on the SAT?

Students online considering preparing for the SAT generally all have one big question: how many hours should I study for the SAT?  When does prepping for the SAT become a waste of time?  

The short answer is that every hour helps, and unless you've already studied for 100 hours or more, it's not a waste of time yet.  Why do you think that is?