In a surreptitious change, ACT has updated their description of the Reading test to include a short blurb about “Visual and Quantitative Information” questions in that section of the exam. The “new” question types will appear on test booklets during National Testing dates beginning this year, and will contribute to students’ scores in the Information and Knowledge of Ideas reporting category.

The College Board and ACT are rolling out computer-based versions of their exams for all US students. Mastering the digital tools they provide will be the key to success on these online tests.

As a majority of universities implement test-optional policies for this year’s admissions cycle, students have been asking us whether it’s worth it to take the SAT or ACT. Our expert tutors weighed in on the most common questions we’ve received from parents and students this fall.

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.

Instead of canceling tests en masse, as it did with the May and June SATs, the College Board is now allowing individual testing centers to determine whether or not they’ll hold the tests as planned. Many sites have already canceled the November 7 test. So if you’re registered for an upcoming SAT, be sure to check the College Board’s website for updates.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic and nationwide test-site closures, testing agencies are being forced to adapt to a new and ever-changing landscape, including offering new formats of the tests.

However, for ACT the shift to online standardized testing has been in the works for some time now—the ACT has been offering online testing domestically for district- and statewide school-day tests since 2016, and in international test centers since 2018. However, as of September 2020, they will finally expand this option to include national test dates across the United States. 

As an elite athlete working towards the Tokyo Summer Olympics, Kate Grace is the embodiment of growth mentality. Kate recently spoke to the Yale Club of Oregon on “Practicing Excellence: Mastering Mind and Body on the Road to the Olympics.” We saw parallels between her training, college admissions, and SAT or ACT test prep, so we asked her to sit down with us and share more about her dedication to continued improvement.

Amid concerns over security and access, the organization backed down from plans to offer an at-home digital version of SAT this fall.

With two-thirds of testing centers closed for the June 13th ACT, students look to July and beyond.

As more schools announce test-optional policies, submission of SAT and ACT scores is still frequently required to receive merit aid.

A roundup of admissions news and test-related changes, updated regularly.

With all public universities in the state adopting a new test-optional admissions policy, students and families need to understand the implications.

As testing organizations respond to Covid-19 containment measures, it’s key for students to understand their options.

This coming year, ACT will roll out a set of key improvements to test delivery and reporting. All are designed to attract more students.

University of California faculty task force advises retaining the use of SAT and ACT in admissions, due to their role in advanced analytics and concerns around grade inflation.

The year 2019 did not disappoint those who love change in college admissions. Here are highlights students should be aware of.

NOTE: This is an updated post, originally published June 27, 2018.

The recent college admissions scandal has sparked an important debate around ethical access to higher education.

In recent years, more colleges have introduced indirect means of assessing student interest and engagement.

Stumped by a multiple-choice algebra or geometry problem on a standardized test like SAT or ACT? Incorporate these tips into your study routine.

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!"

Far from a simple hoop students need to jump through in order to attend college, the SAT and ACT (as well as other tests, like GRE) do reasonably well in assessing one’s ability to think creatively about problems in different contexts.