How can parents help students with the SAT or ACT?

This week I was talking with a parent whose student has plateaued at a certain threshold on the SAT and ACT. It happens from time to time and can be frustrating for everyone - the student most of all. It can be for any number of reasons, many…
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4 questions to ask when you get your PSAT scores back

It's a weird year for the PSAT. If you took the test in October, your scores are due to come out the week of December 7th. College Board did announce an additional test date of January 26th which many schools are following. Those scores are…
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What you need to know about National Merit awards

National Merit. School counselors talk about it. School districts publicize it. However, many parents and students aren't really sure what it is beyond some sort of academic honor that smart kids pursue. Check out this post for ideas about…
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“Test Optional” wasn’t intended to help students

One of the many impacts of COVID19 has meant a drastic change admissions policies related to the SAT and ACT. Colleges and universities have sold it to applicants as "test optional", and students and parents have taken that to mean that they…
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Here’s the biggest problem with at-home tests

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5 things high school Juniors should do right now

The June SAT has been cancelled, as were the March and May tests before it and the April ACT as well. At the time of writing this, ACT is adamant that they will be offering tests in June and July, even adding test dates to both months to accommodate…
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Taking it up a notch

Get free live instruction for the SAT and ACT. Take advantage of the next few weeks to get a head start on the June tests.
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8 steps to preparing for the SAT or for the ACT

Students face two huge obstacles as they get ready for the SAT or ACT. The toughest is finding the time. They're busy and their schedules are extremely full already. Blocking out an hour or two a day to focus on a test that won't have an immediate…
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What you should know about Test Optional Policies

The typical press release from colleges who make the decision involves statements about how they recognize that students are more than a test score. That the college is committed to taking a look at the whole student. Those platitudes are noble, and in cases like the UChicago or Wake Forest or Bates,  they seem sincere. I'm not entirely convinced that the motives behind some of the recent announcements from Northern Illinois and Lourdes are quite as high-minded.
map of the 2019 PSAT release dates

Your PSAT scores are back. Now what?

The PSAT is a chance to see how students are doing compared to the actual SAT. Students get a score on a test similar to the one they'll take for record that they can use to compare to the scores they will need.