Intercepts are one of those SAT math topics that become much easier once you understand what the words actually mean. An x-intercept is where a graph crosses the x-axis. A y-intercept is where a graph crosses the y-axis. That’s the basic idea. But the SAT can test intercepts in several different ways, including equations, graphs, … Read more
Some SAT grammar mistakes are hard to notice. Others accidentally create sentences that are downright strange. Dangling modifiers belong to the second group. A modifier is simply a word or phrase that describes something. The problem occurs when that descriptive phrase isn’t clearly connected to the person or thing it’s supposed to describe. Fortunately, there’s … Read more
You may have heard teachers, counselors, or other students talking about the PSAT. And if you’re already thinking about the SAT, you might be wondering: “Wait…there’s another test I have to worry about?” The good news is that the PSAT is generally a pretty low-pressure test. In fact, colleges don’t require it, and your PSAT … Read more
If your child is beginning the college application process, you’ve probably encountered the phrase “test-optional.” At first, it sounds simple: “If the college is test-optional, my child doesn’t need to take the SAT.” Not necessarily. Test-optional means students can decide whether they want their SAT or ACT scores considered. And at some colleges, particularly selective … Read more
Coordinate geometry problems are common on the SAT, and two formulas can make many of them much easier: the distance formula and the midpoint formula. The distance formula tells you how far apart two points are. The midpoint formula tells you the point exactly halfway between them. Once you understand what these formulas are actually … Read more
Some SAT grammar rules are easier to understand when you stop thinking about grammar and start thinking about patterns. Parallel structure is a perfect example. The basic idea is simple: When parts of a sentence are doing the same job, they should usually have the same grammatical structure. If a sentence starts a list with … Read more
You’re taking an SAT practice test when suddenly your inner critic decides to join the party. “I have no idea how to do this.” “I’m going to get a terrible score.” “What if I completely mess up on test day?” And before you know it, one difficult question has turned into a full-blown disaster movie … Read more
If your child has a disability that affects how they take tests, you may be wondering whether the SAT offers special accommodations. The answer is yes. Students with documented disabilities may qualify for testing accommodations through the College Board’s Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) program. These accommodations are designed to give students appropriate access … Read more
Factoring can sometimes feel like you’re being asked to take an algebra expression apart and somehow know exactly where all the pieces belong. Luckily, certain expressions follow patterns. Once you learn to recognize those patterns, factoring becomes much easier. For the SAT, three useful patterns to know are the difference of two squares, perfect square … Read more
Yesterday you studied. Today you study. Tomorrow you will study. That’s verb tense in action. Verb tense tells us when something happens, and the SAT expects the verbs in a sentence or passage to make sense together. The basic idea isn’t too complicated. The tricky part is that the SAT may give you several different … Read more