
North Avenue Education
News, Insights, & Study Tips
Tutor Spotlight: Riley H.
Meet Riley. Riley is a seasoned educator with a master’s degree in English and over a decade of experience teaching and tutoring writing, critical reading, and standardized test preparation. Boasting extensive experience coaching SAT, ACT, and SSAT, Riley excels at helping students hone their analytical and time-management skills for success on test day. His patient, tailored approach ensures each student gains confidence and mastery in tackling complex material.
Tutor Spotlight: Aster E.
Meet Aster. A recent Physics graduate from Reed College, Aster boasts over 3,000 hours of professional tutoring experience, specializing in SAT/ACT test prep as well as AP Calculus and IB Physics. They bring a deep understanding of test formats and advanced subject material to yield an individualized approach to tutoring sessions. Aster’s teaching philosophy emphasizes clarity, compassion, and mutual collaboration to help students succeed in school and beyond.
Decoding Your 2024 PSAT and PSAT 10 Scores
Understanding PSAT and PSAT 10 scores helps juniors and sophomores gauge SAT readiness, consider ACT options, and plan effective prep.
Strategies to Tackle Exam Anxiety to Stay Calm and Focused
Conquer exam anxiety and gain insights for a stress-free approach to exams and academic success with these proven tips.
Test Scores are Helpful for More than Just Merit Aid
In an era when many colleges have shifted to test-blind or test-optional admissions policies, you may associate test scores merely with securing merit aid or scholarships. However, their significance extends far beyond financial assistance. In fact, because test scores remain powerful indicators of a student's academic potential, raising your SAT or ACT scores makes you a more viable applicant for admission, thus opening doors to a world of educational opportunities.
How to Interpret your PSAT Score Report
The College Board provides a sample PSAT score report, which is a helpful way to become familiar with the different components of your score. Each report begins with a cover page, including the student’s name, high school, and other identifying information. But the second page is where the real information begins..
The Latest on the Digital SAT
We’ve posted a lot lately about the College Board’s announcement of a fully digital SAT test format. In this post, we will break down the most recent round of updates on digital testing from a test preparation industry meeting with the College Board.
More Details Released About the Digital SAT
Today, a group of test prep professionals met with the College Board to learn more details about the digital SAT. Here’s what we learned.
Understanding Your PSAT Scores
For many high school juniors, the October PSAT/NMSQT was their first foray into standardized testing. Reading the recently released score reports can be close to as challenging as taking the test itself. If you’re wondering what your PSAT score report indicates or why the test is important in the first place, look no further. We’ve compiled a short list of insights to help you maximize your results.
Demystifying the National Merit Scholarship Process
After a year of distance learning and cancelled tests, even the words “National Merit” might intimidate. We’re here to simplify the process.
How (and Why) You Should Prepare for the PSAT
October is famous among US teenagers for two things: Halloween and PSAT memes. (Humblebrag: one of my students once blocked @CollegeBoard on Twitter.) Since I’m legally prohibited from taking the PSAT and I absolutely cannot comprehend what a “shrimp ex-husband” could be, this post cannot contribute anything further to the important national conversation around PSAT memes. Instead, get ready for a journey into the inner machinations of the PSAT itself.
Your PSAT Options in 2020-2021
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, most local schools canceled the PSAT, which is typically offered to all sophomores and juniors during a school day in the fall semester. The good news is that your student can still access the benefits of the PSAT.
The End of SAT and ACT Essays
NOTE: This is an updated post, originally published June 27, 2018.
Supporting Students with Learning Differences
We understand that there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to learning.
A Word on the Admissions Scandal
The recent college admissions scandal has sparked an important debate around ethical access to higher education.
Three Tips for Using a Calculator on SAT and ACT
When we show students how to leverage their graphing calculators for success on the SAT and ACT, they often reply, "Wow – I never knew I could do that!"