There are two main methods I suggest to students in regard to how to approach the reading comprehension section. Whichever way works best for you is a matter of personality and approach. The two methods Method #1: Distinguish between local and general questions. Find the first local question, skim the…

Today, we’ll discuss the famed 80/20 principle, also known as the Pareto Principle. The Pareto Principle states that that around 80% of results come from 20% of efforts. That is, of all your studying, only a small percentage is responsible for the bulk of your results. The key to effective…

A frequent tactic on the SAT is to skip difficult questions — or to do them last, assuming there’s time. This tactic may work if your score goal is 1000. Otherwise, it’s terrible advice. …

There are two main methods I suggest to my students when it comes to approaching the reading comprehension section. The two methods are fairly similar, but one is slightly more conducive to tackling time management problems. This is the method we’ll discuss today. Method I builds on the idea that…

After studying for the SAT / ACT for a while, many of my students suffer burnout. One of my suggestions in such cases is to try a variation in study methods. This adds an element of novelty, making study more interesting — and hopefully more enjoyable. One of the best…

A powerful tool in the reading comprehension section is tone, the attitude an author or a character takes toward a specific topic. Tone is an important concept during the course of the passage, within the questions, and in question options. When first reading a passage, you should be keenly aware…

I’m often asked by parents when their children should start studying for the SAT / ACT. My answer is always the same: students should start studying in their freshman year. The point at which a student starts studying for the SAT / ACT is one of the key predictors of…

The SAT Writing / ACT English section often features pinpoint questions on phrases that are technically correct, but vague. Unclear writing is considered suboptimal, and this is the premise upon which many pronoun-based questions are built. The two main issues with pronoun use As a general rule, there are two…

Many of my students start studying with me after a period with unsatisfactory prep courses or private tutors. And they often bring the bad advice they’ve collected along the way with them. One such piece of bad advice is “plugging in” answer choices in the math section. …