On the back cover of Acing It!, it says, "If earning a perfect score were as simple as knowing what to study, it wouldn't be such a rare achievement."

I'm a big believer that successful test prep is as much about how you prepare as what you prepare.

So I got to thinking about the qualities that my most successful students demonstrate during their SAT and ACT prep. Here are my top five.

For some students, these qualities came naturally. For others, test prep coaching helped them tap into the mindsets and habits. Either way, these five qualities are important to foster, because it's rare that a student has a successful test prep experience without them. 
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It's easy to build up the SAT and ACT and everything that they represent: testing, college admissions, success, the future...

All of this creates a high-stakes story that can lead test-takers to freak out during their prep, in the test room, or both. And since it's hard to think clearly when you're freaking out on test day and hard to face a project that's causing you anxiety leading up to test day, it's important to learn ways to address your anxiety as a part of your test prep process if you want to perform your best.

Today’s video is all about taking your first SAT and ACT. 

You should take both tests at the beginning of your test prep process in order to help you decide whether you want to move forward with prepping for the SAT or the ACT. (I explain why you should only prep for one or the other in the video.)

In the video, I give you your main options for those first tests:

• Taking an officially administered SAT and ACT through The College Board and ACT, Inc., respectively
• Taking a mock SAT and ACT through a test prep company
• Taking an official SAT and ACT on your own​

Everyone wants to feel optimistic and self-assured in the face of a challenge.

But, often, while pursuing a goal, such as earning a great score on the SAT or ACT, we find ourselves sitting with questions and doubts. If we were going to succeed, wouldn’t we feel better about ourselves and the process than we do right now?

I’m not going to spend today’s blog post reassuring you that you have what it takes to succeed on the SAT or ACT.

Ah, the lazy days of summer. As the heat sets in, we slow down, like cats luxuriating in the afternoon sun. Except there are still things we want to accomplish—especially now that both the SAT and ACT offer official test dates over the summer. 

Ideally, your summer will be a combination of rest, play, and productivity. You probably have the first two covered, and you may have some commitments that follow a firm schedule—such as a summer job, internship, or sports camp. But what about the self-directed productivity? That’s where people often find themselves procrastinating. 

So, you’re a high school sophomore (or freshman). You’ve acclimated to your high school, and you know that you want to go to college in a few years. You might have heard chatter among your older classmates or siblings about the college admissions process, and you know that the SAT or ACT is usually an important part of it. 

But you don’t need to take either test this year. You might start prepping over the summer for the October PSAT. You may even leverage that prep into feeling ready for one of the official SAT or ACT test dates in the fall. 

But it’s January. Certainly you don’t need to start prepping for the October PSAT in January.

​​If you’ve been anywhere on the internet in the past couple of weeks, chances are you have come across an article on New Year’s resolutions. You might be feeling a bit “over it.” After all, you’ve made resolutions in the past, and they haven’t stuck. You just end up feeling badly about yourself (at worst) or apathetic (at best). So this year, you might just opt out of New Year’s resolving.

New Year's is an opportunity to check in with how you are feeling and thinking about your life. Most people don’t do this on a regular basis, so setting aside some time to take stock can be beneficial in creating a life that you are excited about.​

Halloween is approaching!

​Except you've been so busy with schoolwork, activities, and test prep that you haven't even begun to think about what to wear to your friend's Halloween party.

Don't worry. I've got you covered.

Here are my Top 10 Halloween Costumes Inspired By Your SAT & ACT Prep. 

Wear one of these, and you will be the envy of students from miles around.

​Ever feel torn, confused, and overwhelmed when making decisions? 

What’s the best use of your time? 
Which test prep program will you embark on?
Will you prep for the SAT or ACT? 

While there’s an element of analysis and logic to making decisions such as these, there’s also a point at which further analysis won’t bring you additional clarity. 

To be productive, you must make a decision. 
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People often give the advice “follow your gut,” but when you feel stressed or overwhelmed, it can be hard to tell what your gut is saying. There are, however, steps you can take to clarify what your gut is trying to tell you so that you can move forward with confidence.