Higher Scores Test Prep

Everything You Need To Know About The PSAT

What is the PSAT? Why does it exist? And what’s in it for you?While these are great questions to ask, unfortunately, I usually answer them for families long after the PSAT/NMSQT is administered in October of a student’s junior year. Sadly, many families don’t realize until they see their students’ scores in January that a PSAT […]


Parent Q&A: How can I prepare my junior for spring ACT and SAT testing?

It’s no surprise that taking the ACT or SAT can be an incredibly stressful experience for a student. But planning and preparing for these exams can also be stressful for families because the time and cost involved can be astronomical if you aren’t strategic about your approach. But, if you gather the facts, form a […]


3 Surprising Reasons Rising Juniors Should Prepare Over The Summer

When do you plan to take your ACT or SAT?If you’re like most rising juniors, you’re not sure right now. After all, it’s summer! You have plenty of time to figure it out, right?Wrong.The biggest ACT & SAT mistake rising juniors make is waiting too long to take their first exam.Because this adds loads of […]


When should you take the SAT?

If you’ve ever asked the question “When should you take the SAT?” and received a pat answer, run from that advice in a hurry. Preset testing timelines that don’t take the individual student’s academics and activities into account do more harm than good. If you’re planning well, determining the proper timeline takes a little effort and […]


What is a good ACT score?

When you get your child’s ACT score back, it can be hard to tell whether it’s a good ACT score or not. There’s so much information included on the ACT score report that it quickly become overwhelming. And, to be honest, whether your child’s ACT score is considered good is going to vary depending on […]


What is a good SAT score?

Every student is different, so the answer to the question “What is a good SAT score?” is going to vary depending on your child, what his or her academic strengths are, and the colleges he or she is interested in attending. If you’ve listened to my podcast, The College Checklist, watched my videos, or read […]


When should you take the ACT?

In my opinion, cookie cutter answers to the question “When should you take the ACT?” should be banished. Preset timelines that don’t take the individual student’s academics and activities into account do more harm than good. If you’re planning well, determining the proper timeline takes a little effort and consideration for the constraints that are unique […]


Everything You Need To Know About The SAT Subject Tests

Since I teach online ACT & SAT prep courses, I often end up fielding questions about the SAT Subject Tests too. These tests confuse and confound because, as with so many aspects of the college admissions process, they end up feeling like just another box to tick on the application to do list. Unfortunately, though, […]


How Many Times Can You Take The SAT?

As is true with most of the tasks around the college admissions process, getting started early is critical to keeping stress levels low. “How many times can you take the SAT?” is a good question for families to ask early in the college prep process because it means that you’re thinking about the SAT far enough […]