Every fall a parent asks me some version of the same question: if my kid takes the SAT again and does worse, will colleges see it? For years the answer was “at most colleges, no, but there’s a list,” because a few well-known schools kept requiring every sitting after Score Choice arrived in 2009. I […]
All three college entrance exams have been overhauled in the past few years, and older comparisons no longer hold. A Barron’s test prep author breaks down the CLT, SAT, and ACT on format, scoring, cost, and college acceptance, with a score conversion table and a five-step way to choose.
For a few years, the message to high school students was that the SAT no longer mattered much. Apply without a score, the thinking went, and you would be judged on your grades, your essays, and who you were beyond a single Saturday morning. At the most selective colleges, that message is being walked back, […]
I tutor for a living, and even I won’t tell you every student needs one. Whether your kid actually needs an SAT or ACT tutor usually comes down to a few plain questions. Here’s how to work through them, and how to avoid paying for help that doesn’t fit the problem.
I got a handful of emails and texts from worried students and parents this week, all with the same problem: the ACT score that was supposed to be in MyACT had just vanished. If that’s you, here’s the situation. This past winter and spring, a lot of Ohio high schools ran the ACT as an […]
By Brian Stewart, Barron’s SAT, ACT & PSAT Author & Perfect SAT/ACT Scorer The ACT Science section is now optional, and at most colleges you can skip it. But a handful of schools still require it in specific contexts, and getting this wrong can cost you a slot or a scholarship. This guide pulls from […]
Most ACT study guides underestimate the test — especially its time pressure. This guide, built on how experienced tutors actually prepare students, walks you through every step: diagnosing your weaknesses, prioritizing your three core sections, deciding whether to add optional Science, managing pacing, and building the real skills the ACT rewards.
The PSAT and SAT test the same skills, use the same digital adaptive format, and are the same length — but they serve very different purposes. In this guide, a 20-year SAT/PSAT tutor and Barron’s author breaks down the key differences, explains how the National Merit Scholarship Program works, and tells you exactly when PSAT prep is worth your time.
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.
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.