If you’re planning on taking the SAT this year, it’s time to start studying. For many students, that means buying the official SAT prep book, working through it, and hoping for the best. For some of them, this works… but for many, it’s actually quite ineffective. And that’s not for you. You aren’t going to settle for an ineffective study plan! If you’re here, that shows you’re already being proactive…

It’s been an odd few years for standardized testing. Between the challenges of the pandemic and universities dropping and then rapidly reinstating testing requirements, many students and families are wondering whether the SAT still holds weight. While some colleges have moved to test-optional admissions, the SAT continues to play a role in various parts of the college application process and beyond. So, how important is it to take the SAT…

If your SAT score isn’t what you’re hoping for, you don’t have to settle for a low score. In fact, you shouldn’t settle. There’s too much at stake here; your SAT score can make a huge difference on your college applications and scholarship money. But making those big jumps in performance might be easier said than done. The good news is that meaningful improvement is possible if you approach your…

One of the most important things to understand about the SAT is that it doesn’t just give schools an additional opportunity to see your academic performance; it also gives them a way to compare you to other students. What makes you a better choice over another student? Colleges have to ask themselves this question every time they choose someone to admit, and an SAT score in the top percentiles provides…

Nearly 2 million students took the SAT in 2024– will one of those students be you this year? If you’ve never taken the SAT before, it can seem like a daunting task. And if you have taken it before, you might already be dreading the re-take. If you’re taking the SAT in 2025, there’s a lot you’ll need to know. So don’t go in without preparing! From knowing what to…

If you’re preparing for the SAT, part of setting yourself up for success is understanding why you’re taking the test, and what you need the test to do for you. It’s not like you’re taking the SAT for fun, after all– you need a high score to help highlight how competitive of a student you are. If you put in the work to merit a place at a competitive institution,…

When you take a test at school, the scoring is typically pretty straightforward. Usually it’s just expressed as a simple percentage of the questions you got right. But SAT scoring is a little more complicated. After all, nobody ever says “I got an A on the SAT!” or “I got a 95% on my SAT!”  Most students know that the maximum score you can get on the SAT is a…

It really seems like everything is important for today’s students, doesn’t it? From extracurriculars to the ever-increasing challenge of schoolwork, you’re told from the first day of your first year that everything you do counts. And that includes your test scores! Not just your academic exams, but your standardized test scores. While it is true that many schools dropped SAT and ACT requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also…

As the founder of Prep Expert®, I’ve guided countless students just like you through the SAT, and one of the biggest challenges they face is the reading section. The SAT reading passages aren’t like the novels or articles you might be used to reading for school or for fun. They require a unique approach that combines solid reading comprehension with sharp test-taking strategies. Let’s break down what SAT reading passages…

For many students applying to colleges, standardized testing just makes sense. Even if your dream school dropped the requirement, there’s no guarantee they won’t bring it back– and if you don’t take the ACT or SAT, you are missing out on some massive scholarship opportunities. Both schools and testing centers offer the opportunity to take tests, making it easier than ever to access the exams– but which one should you…