First, what is scaling? Scaling is a form of grading that is not based strictly on the percentage of correct answers (the way a typical school exam is graded). It is a process in which a raw score, or the number of questions a student answers correctly, is converted into a numerical value, for the SAT a number between 200-800. …
How much does your SAT/ACT score matter?
A lot has changed in the last 20 years when it comes to applying for colleges: SAT/ACT tests continue to evolve; teacher recommendations aren’t the differentiator they once were; and now more than ever, we accept that a student’s abilities can’t be measured solely through GPA and SAT/ACT scores. So, where does that leave college-bound students in 2018? To help …
ACT vs SAT
ACT vs. SAT: Six Differences Between the Two Tests The ACT and SAT are both recognized in the US as standardized tests for college admission. The exam measures the proficiency of high school students in several critical areas. These are Mathematics, Science, English, and Reading Comprehension. They might also include an essay writing section; however, it will not have any …
Why Taking Practice Tests Will Increase Your Score
Taking one SAT seems boring enough, right? So why would you want to take one, two, or even eight more? Well, as it turns out, there are plenty of reasons you should. Whether you’re gearing up to take the SAT or the ACT, you’re probably wondering what the best way to prepare is. Rather than trying to tackle a ton …
The SAT’s Latest Efforts to Prevent Cheating
In late February, the College Board (makers of the SAT), announced it would be taking additional steps to crack down on cheating. Organized efforts to buy your way to a better score have become big business globally, and after a slew of cheating-related cancellations in 2016 the College Board is hopeful their latest round of security updates will help keep …
Avoid SAT Test Prep Scams
There’s a lot at stake when it comes to standardized test scores, including college admissions and access to scholarships. With what may feel like the entire future on the line, it’s no wonder many parents and students are willing to do whatever it takes to help raise test scores and potentially open doors. And while there are many legitimate test …
What To Do if You’re Accused of Cheating on the SAT
For an SAT-test taker, it’s a worst-case scenario no one wants to encounter: having your test flagged for possible cheating. Each year, roughly 2500 students are informed that their scores are considered suspicious. Knowing what to do if your legitimately-earned numbers are flagged can be the difference between keeping your scores and starting from scratch. Why You Were Flagged Being …
Zeros and Factors of Polynomials
Reading over the list of topics included on the math section of the new SAT can seem like slogging through a knee-deep vat of jargon. Buried in that list is the phrase “understand the relationships between zeros and factors of polynomials.” Although it sounds like the sort of thing writers on a sci-fi show dump in to make a scene …
Factoring and FOIL-ing – Polynomials Techniques
When it comes to the mathematics portion of standardized tests there are at least two F-words that the test writers are actually hoping you’ll think of: “FOIL” and “factor”. In this post, we’ll take a look at these two important polynomial techniques and why they’re so useful. What are polynomials? Polynomials are algebraic terms that include a constant multiplied by a …
Guessing on the New SAT
You’ve probably focused most of your test-prep time on increasing the chances that you’ll know the right answer to questions on the SAT. But what about when you don’t know the answer? Is it ok to guess? The answer is a resounding YES! In this post, we’ll look at how guessing on the new SAT works on the test and discuss …