Triangles tend to be the most popular geometric figure on the ACT and SAT simply because they have so many “secret” properties. Get ready for the test with our guide to five of the more commonly tested concepts.
ACT English and SAT Writing Tips: Adjectives and Adverbs
I was sitting in the car line at my kids’ school yesterday when an old song from middle school came on the radio. “Waiting for a Star to Fall” by Boy Meets Girl. I know you’ve never heard it. It’s OLD. I get it. But I’m going to tell you about it anyway because it […]
ACT and SAT Math Tips: Squares and Circles
If you see a square inscribed in a circle on the ACT or SAT, the test makers are assessing your knowledge of 45:45:90 triangles. What? Huh? The question is about squares and circles, not triangles! Listen closely, my ACT and SAT cohorts: Hidden triangles are often the key to solving the most difficult geometry questions. […]
ACT and SAT Reading Tips: True-to-a-Point Answers
True to a Point Answers are usually the most difficult wrong answers to eliminate, mainly because they start out with correct information. Careless or hurried test takers might not notice, though, that at some point the answer choice becomes blatantly wrong. Today we will look at how these answers are designed to trick unsuspecting students. […]
ACT and SAT Math Tips: Symbols and Functions
When I teach ACT and SAT classes, I find that the most intimidating math topic is always the Symbolic Function. The complaints are inevitable: “But I don’t know what an upside down triangle even means!” or “I’ve never seen this in school!” or “Does a star inside of a circle mean multiply? I just don’t […]
ACT English and SAT Writing Tips: “Neither” of the Words is Plural
The words either and neither almost always signal an error in ACT English and SAT Writing questions. Errors in agreement become an issue when these words are used as pronouns, as in the following phrases: either of these invitations neither of the boys As pronouns, either and neither are always singular. However, notice that in […]
ACT and SAT Math Tips: Ratio Rationale
Ratio questions on the ACT and SAT often cause panic among test takers. You know the ones. They ask how much cinnamon is needed in a larger recipe or how many yellow beads must be added to inventory in order to satisify certain proportions. But there is no need to fear these ratio questions–many are […]
ACT and SAT Reading Tips: Multiple Viewpoints
As if ACT and SAT reading passages are not difficult enough, the test makers like to select passages that contain multiple viewpoints to confuse the average high school reader. The more opinions a passage contains, the more likely students are going to misinterpret the author’s viewpoint, which is often the main idea. So how do […]
ACT and SAT Math Tips: Fractional Exponents
The ACT and SAT use exponents and roots on the tests to assess your ability to manipulate expressions. Most students think, “No problem! That’s why I have a fancy schmancy calculator!” but the test makers often use your calculator against you. The questions they serve up will likely involve variables so that your calculator is […]
ACT and SAT Writing Tips: Repetitively Redundant Expressions
Redundancy, in which unnecessary repetition detracts from a sentence, can occur on both the English test of the ACT and the Writing & Language section of the SAT. One type of redundant phrase you may encounter happens when a word is used to modify another word that is defined by the first word. Did you […]