Almost 85% of high school students have used AI for coursework– a statistic that has a lot of educators deeply concerned, because not every student (and realistically, probably most students) are not using it to further their learning. When you ask ChatGPT to generate an essay, it certainly generates an essay… but you didn’t write it. You didn’t get anything out of it, you didn’t learn the mechanics of English,…

Every year, tens of thousands of students apply to Ivy League schools. Only a small fraction receive an offer of admission. The difference between those who are admitted and those who are denied often comes down to strategy. Few application processes are as intense as the Ivy League. You might be your high school valedictorian– but so is your competition. On average, Ivy League schools have an acceptance rate of…

If you have a student preparing for the ACT, you have a lot of options for test prep. Some resources are genuinely useful, others are outdated, and many are designed for audiences very different from today’s ACT test takers. The most effective preparation comes from understanding what types of resources exist, how they are accessed, and what role each plays in building skills, confidence, and pacing. Strong ACT prep is…

The SAT is one of the most widely recognised college admissions exams in the United States and internationally. For students planning to apply to colleges and universities, understanding the SAT test dates and registration deadlines for 2026 is crucial. This guide provides a complete view of the official SAT dates and deadlines administered by the College Board for 2026, including deadlines for registration, late registration, and testing windows. The College…

Homeschooling gives families more freedom to design learning experiences that reflect their values and goals. It can provide an academic challenge for the kids who need it, and a more accessible learning experience for students who need a more flexible environment. Yet that flexibility sometimes raises questions about standardized testing, especially the SAT and other standardized tests. For many homeschool students, the SAT is an important bridge between home-based education…

For decades, the SAT has been a major part of the college admissions process in the United States. Many students see it as a hurdle they must clear on the path to higher education, while parents and schools often treat it as a marker of academic readiness. Yet despite its long history and widespread use, the SAT has always been controversial. Critics argue that it creates unnecessary stress, reinforces inequality,…

SHARK TANK – “Episode 716” – A college student from Las Vegas, NV who earned a perfect SAT score wants to expand his business to help others increase their test scores, but can he deliver a perfect pitch to the Sharks? Husband and wife exercise enthusiasts from Jenison, MI believe they have created the ideal sports bra that women have long been looking for; two millennials from Denver, CO want…

Choosing between the importance of GPA and SAT scores can feel like a circus act; knowing how to juggle everyone’s expectations of you and the demands of your target colleges and your high school can be extremely challenging. Some students think that they can focus on one thing– just their GPA or just their test scores– and be ok if one of them is high enough for their colleges of…

In the past, students choosing between the SAT and the ACT had to factor in different question types, essay requirements, and even regional preferences. Now that both tests have gone digital, many of the old distinctions have shifted or disappeared entirely. But that doesn’t mean the SAT and ACT are identical. In fact, as testing organizations have embraced adaptive technology and redesigned their formats, key differences have emerged. Whether you’re…

If you’re a high school student in the US today, you’ve been taking standardized tests since you were in the third grade. Maybe you sometimes have nightmares about Scantron bubbles; maybe you relish finishing early and getting extra quiet reading time. However you feel about standardized testing, these tests are a big part of how both the American education system and the college admissions systems work. But these tests are…