So you took the ACT, and you have a sinking feeling that you didn’t do as well as you wanted to. In fact, you’re so sure you didn’t well that you want to make sure no one ever sees your score other than you. You can’t travel back in time and tell your past self […]
The Hunger Games: An Appetite for the SAT, Part II
Who said learning has to be relegated to the classroom? There are many valuable academic lessons in books and movies, and The Hunger Games is no exception. Consider the following vocabulary words from Chapter 1 of the novel by Suzanne Collins:
The Hunger Games: An Appetite for the SAT, Part I
One of the best ways to remember vocabulary words is to apply them to situations that are meaningful to you. Given the near-hysteria surrounding The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, it’s certain that you could benefit from putting popular SAT vocabulary words into the context of Katniss, Gale, and Peeta, three teens on a quest for survival […]
The SAT Hunger Games
The Reaping It was inevitable. You knew that your name would be called on Reaping Day, given all of the tessera you had taken to raise your grades and improve your transcript, but you are surprised at how nervous you feel on your way to the Training Center. The fact that you are about to […]
The Don’ts of SAT and ACT Prep: Part 2
In part 1, I cover important tips for the months and days leading up to the SAT or ACT. Today let’s tackle the Don’ts of test day. Don’t Forget to Sleep Several years ago I taught an SAT class in which one student explained to me why he was there. “I can’t submit my ACT […]
SAT Reading Tips and Tricks: Opposite Answers
The makers of the SAT are constantly testing your confidence. They like to take advantage of your uncertainty on all of the areas of the SAT, but in the Reading section, this is never more apparent than in their most common trap, the Opposite Answer. This evil strategy occurs in all question types, but is […]
The Don’ts of SAT and ACT Prep: Part 1
Don’t Take It Cold Yesterday I had a phone call from the mom of a rising-junior. “I just want him to take the SAT to see how he does. Then we’ll decide how much study he needs.” Hey, while you’re at it, have him submit a rough draft of his essay with his college application? […]
Using SAT Books for PSAT Prep
I had a call from a parent of a sophomore last week who was worried about the lack of PSAT materials available at his local book store. “Why are there so many SAT books and so few PSAT books?” he asked. As far as I’m concerned, there shouldn’t be any PSAT manuals on the book […]
ACT and SAT Tips and Tricks: Incomplete Comparisons
Comparisons errors occur on both the ACT English Test and the SAT Writing and Language Test. When you find a comparison in a passage on one of these tests, ensure that the two items being compared are alike; it’s acceptable to compare an apple to an orange but it’s likely questionable to compare a green […]
What You Need to Know About the SAT Experimental Section
On Saturday, I will have taken the SAT for the umpteenth time. I’m taking the January administration for a couple of reasons: first, so I can buy this test. Three times a year the test makers allow you to purchase a copy of the test through their Question and Answer service, and January is one […]