This year, one of my students scored an almost-perfect 1580 on the SAT! Until then, the record was 1560, held by my former client (now student writer) Preeta Kamat. As we head into testing season, I want to give you as many tips as possible for you to get your dream SAT score, so I went directly to the source! I interviewed my student to ask what really made the difference in her SAT prep and see what she recommends for any student who's trying to earn a competitive score.

My student has asked to remain anonymous until she submits her college applications, so she will be referred to as "student" for the purposes of this article.

Courtney: First of all, congratulations!! What an amazing accomplishment. I'm so excited for you. I want to be sure I give my students the full picture though... so tell me a little about your SAT experience.

Student: I think my experience can be compared to a rollercoaster ride. There were definitely some moments when I just wanted to give up....

With standardized testing season in full swing, I’m sure you’re being bombarded with testing advice. I remember feeling pulled in a million directions by conflicting advice while preparing for my first SAT. From family to older friends to online sources, it seemed like there were too many ways to approach this test. Even more confusing was choosing the right one. 

Now a sophomore at Northwestern, I think I’ve ironed out what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t. Funnily enough, some of the popular test taking strategies worked horrendously for me; tips from online don’t necessarily translate to the perfect test-taking strategy. If you’re having trouble deciding what works best, here are some of my test-taking recommendations. 

DON’T: Do every single practice problem available to you. 

DO: Target your practice to areas of improvement. 

While it’s true that practice makes perfect, not all practice is created...

As students prepare to send in their college applications for early admission deadlines, many can't help but wonder... did I do enough? Before you press the submit button, review this list of key factors to make sure your application stands out to admissions officers.

Challenging Coursework

As a student, your goal is not only to achieve the best grades you can, but also enroll in the most academically challenging courses you can. Most colleges will place greater weight on challenging courses, such as Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, or courses inside an International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. You do not need to enroll in every advanced class offered to you, however, the selections you make for your most challenging coursework should reflect your interests. For example, if you are interested in Medicine, it would be more impactful to seek out AP Biology instead of AP Literature and Composition.

General Increasing Trend (Grades)

Obviously, grades are an...

With many colleges looking to reinstate their standardized testing requirements in coming years, students are beginning to decide which test is the right choice for them. Since the SAT and the ACT are different in both structure and content, deciding which test suits you better allows you to focus your time on resources on preparation for one exam. So, how do you make the choice? 

Understanding the differences

With the two tests being so different, they may appeal to different students. When I prepared for my standardized tests, I always heard that the ACT was meant for math and science oriented students, while the SAT was better for english oriented students. I don’t necessarily think this is true. While types of questions vary between the exams, neither exam has an objectively harder english or math section; it all comes down to which question types you excel with. Generally speaking, the ACT offers more straightforward questions aimed at testing attention to...

By the time testing day rolls around, most students believe they’ve done all that they can to optimize their score. After weeks of practice tests and problem sets, preparation stops the day before exam day, right? 

Actually, it doesn’t. Any seasoned test-taker knows that the 12 hours before the exam are critical. Even if you’ve crammed every SAT/ACT fact into your brain before testing day, preparing adequately on the night before and morning of the exam allows you to put the best version of yourself forward during your exam. Follow this guide to optimize your score on testing day. 

The last dinner

For the sake of your body and mind, try to make good choices when it comes to your pre-exam dinner. Food can be a powerful mood-booster, and you probably know which foods make you feel best. Choose a meal that both makes you happy and fuels you adequately. Nutritionists often cite lean protein and healthy carbohydrates as brain-boosting foods. Centering...

Over the last few months, a lot has changed across the academic landscape due to COVID-19. Students are attending classes online, schools are implementing new testing policies, and the national SAT was cancelled. Here is the newest information and recommendations for what to do next.

SAT

The national SAT was cancelled in April, leaving many students unsure of when and how to retest. If it is deemed safe for public health, the SAT is currently planning to schedule in-person test dates for every remaining month of 2020, beginning in August. Anticipated testing dates include: August 29, September 26, October 3, November 7, and December 5. These testing dates are all subject to change as the SAT must ensure safe accessibility for all students in all testing locations.

The College Board is also considering an online version of the test which will be available soon (allegedly). However, this solution comes with some drawbacks: additional payment fees, online proctoring, and privacy...