Strategy, data, and advice to help you navigate the SAT, ACT, and college admissions.
Most students who struggle with AP English Language and Composition aren't struggling because they can't write. They're struggling because they're writing the wrong things — summarizing when they should be arguing, listing evidence when they should be connecting it, and…
By Brian Stewart, Barron's SAT, ACT & PSAT Author & Perfect SAT/ACT Scorer Most students who struggle on the AP® U.S. History exam don't struggle because they didn't work hard. They studied the wrong things, in the wrong order, without…
The ACT English section tests 50 questions in 35 minutes — and the vast majority of those questions come down to grammar. Not general writing ability, not vocabulary, not style preferences. Grammar rules. Specific, learnable, testable grammar rules. The good…
The SAT Grammar Rules That Show Up Most Often (And How to Stop Missing Them) By Brian Stewart · March 2026 The SAT's Reading & Writing section tests grammar in a very specific way. It isn't asking you to recite…
The 100 SAT Vocabulary Words You're Most Likely to See By Brian Stewart · March 2026 If you've taken a practice SAT recently, you've probably noticed that vocabulary plays a significant role in the Reading & Writing section — even…
Most SAT study guides start in the wrong place. This guide — built on how experienced tutors actually prepare students — walks you through every step: how to diagnose your weaknesses, prioritize your time, use practice tests strategically, and build the critical thinking skills the SAT actually tests.
The digital SAT feels different from the paper test — shorter, no long passages, a calculator throughout. But is it actually easier? Here's what the College Board's own research, national score data, and the evolution of official practice tests actually tell us.
Most students assume test-optional means scores don't matter. The research — and the admissions offices — tell a different story. Here's what you actually need to know before deciding whether to submit your SAT or ACT score.
How long you need to study for the SAT depends on where you're starting and where you need to go. Using College Board research data, this guide walks you through how to set a target score, estimate your study hours, pace your practice tests, and avoid the most common mistake students make — so every hour you put in actually moves your score.
Most students take the SAT or ACT more than once — and that's smart strategy. But how many times is too many? Learn the optimal number of attempts, how superscoring can work in your favor, and exactly when it's time to stop testing and focus on the rest of your application.