If you’re planning to apply to college in the near-future, you’re probably thinking a lot about the SAT and/or the ACT, the two standardized tests colleges have been using to make admissions decisions for generations. And yet, for this current generation of students, the college admissions landscape has a new feature: the ability to apply test-optional. More and more colleges and universities are offering students the option of not submitting either SAT or ACT scores as part of their admissions materials.
Read MoreACT & SAT Prep and College Admissions Blog
Mark Skoskiewicz
Recent Posts
Should I Submit ACT or SAT Scores to Test-Optional Schools?
Posted by Mark Skoskiewicz on Thu, Dec 29, 2022 @ 03:46 PM
Topics: sat tutoring, ACT, submitting test scores, test optional
Should I take the ACT or the SAT? This is one of the most common questions students have when they begin to consider the college application process.
Read MoreTopics: sat tutoring, ACT, studying for the SATs, tips for studying for the ACT
How Does Hiring an ACT or SAT Tutor Improve Test Scores?
Posted by Mark Skoskiewicz on Fri, Nov 11, 2022 @ 02:57 PM
Getting a high score on the ACT or SAT can be the difference between getting admitted to your preferred college or university or getting rejected. While certain institutions have decided to become test-optional, great scores on these standardized tests remain highly appreciated by admissions officers around the United States and abroad. In fact, even at test optional universities and colleges, a high ACT or SAT score is still one of the most important drivers of admissions decisions.
Read MoreHow to Hire the Best ACT or SAT Tutor for You
Posted by Mark Skoskiewicz on Wed, Dec 29, 2021 @ 12:46 PM
Preparing for the ACT or SAT can seem daunting, but remember, these exams are your chance to improve the likelihood of admission to your dream college. In fact, if your GPA isn’t as high as it could be, this could be the chance you have at giving yourself an edge in the admissions process. While many colleges are going test optional, a strong ACT score can only help you show off your academic prowess and readiness to thrive in at the university level. Though the ACT can be challenging, and perhaps you’ve scored less-than-ideally on a practice test, utilizing an ACT tutor can noticeably improve your score. An in-person or online ACT tutor can really kick-start your ACT prep process, providing you with the ACT study plan you need to be effective and efficient when you self-study for the ACT. After all, for every hour you spend with an ACT or SAT tutor, you should spend three hours self-studying.
Read MoreTopics: sat tutoring, ACT concepts, SAT test, ACT/SAT study skills
A recent celebrity college admission scandal saw actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman being charged with bribery and fraud, accused of going to devious and illegal measures to ensure their kids were admitted to colleges that they might not otherwise have been accepted to. The scandal illuminated the lengths to which some students and parents will go to ensure attendance at their school of choice. While most of us won’t break the law, there are certainly increased measures one can take to broaden their chances for university admissions. Scoring particularly well on the SAT is one obvious tactic. Some students chase this goal via significant self-study; others pay for private SAT tutors and SAT prep courses.
Read MoreTopics: sat tutoring, tips for studying for the SATs, ACT/SAT study skills, SAT self-study
How to Improve your SAT Score (or ACT Score) Through Deliberate Practice
Posted by Mark Skoskiewicz on Tue, May 18, 2021 @ 10:00 AM
If you really want to get a high SAT score, perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that “talent” or “IQ” matters far less than you think. There are not really “math people” or “natural readers.” What matters is the amount and quality of your SAT prep, which of course is influenced in large part by how passionate and genuinely interested you are in doing well on the SAT or ACT. So if you want to get a 99th percentile SAT score or a 34 on the ACT, it’s possible that you can do it.
Read MoreTopics: sat tutors, College Admissions, ACT/SAT study skills, college tips, college entrance, college timeline, ACT prep, sat prep, college
The Best Way to Prepare for the ACT or SAT Might Surprise - and Calm - You
Posted by Mark Skoskiewicz on Fri, May 07, 2021 @ 02:33 PM
What is the best way to prepare for the ACT or SAT?
Well, it’s true arriving at a useful answer to this question does depend a lot on your timing and the context. If you are a junior with average grades, but aspire to get a high SAT score, and you take the SAT in 30 days, this article should be able to help adopt the right mindset and bring some calm and confidence to exam day. But practically, with only 30 days until the exam, you should be considering online SAT tutoring or an SAT crash course to get the best SAT score you possibly can. SAT tutoring and courses can and will help you get a higher score.
Read MoreTopics: sat tutors, College Admissions, ACT/SAT study skills, college tips, college entrance, college timeline, ACT prep, sat prep, college
SAT Math Mastery: The Origin Story of an SAT Math Textbook
This is a guest post by Christian Heath, author of SAT Math Mastery Volume 1 and Volume 2. Chris has been teaching SAT and ACT prep to high school students for 10 years and has perfect scores on both tests.
Read MoreTopics: sat tutors, College Admissions, ACT/SAT study skills, sat help, SAT math, sat prep, sat online
2 Key Questions You Should Ask When Searching For a College
Posted by Mark Skoskiewicz on Fri, Oct 30, 2020 @ 05:14 PM
COVID-19 has changed every aspect of our world. From the increased time at home for everyone to students learning from home via Zoom, it has been a year of transition and change, particularly for high school and college students. Many colleges, for example, have waived ACT and SAT requirements completely during the admissions process, likely opening up new possibilities for tens of thousands of students. But hopefully, the COVID-era won’t last forever. By the time students applying to college in the next few months actually head to school, Coronavirus may be in the rearview mirror.
Read MoreTopics: College Admissions
The Art of Being Productive in High School to be a More Attractive College Applicant (Part 2)
Posted by Mark Skoskiewicz on Tue, Sep 18, 2018 @ 09:45 AM
In our last blog post on this topic, we explored why today’s high school students must be so productive in high school. Getting good grades isn’t quite enough anymore. You need to show a variety of interests and ideally achieve leadership positions outside the classroom to maximize your chances of admission to a top college. We offered a six-step process to being more productive in high school:
Read MoreTopics: study skills, college education, college tips, undergraduate student common questions, college freshman advice, college questions, college advice, college student