Category: Test Prep
Which AP and IB Courses Count for College Credit and How?
Taking AP or IB courses doesn’t just look good from a college admissions perspective—these classes can also translate into college credit once a student enrolls. While policies vary by college, many universities will grant college credits that go towards specific course requirements, in turn allowing students to free up some room in their schedules. Even if AP and IB courses are only applied towards a student’s overall credit count, completing advanced classes is a great way to get a jump start on college.
Test Prep Tips for the ACT and SAT
When preparing for the ACT or SAT it’s important to develop an effective test prep strategy. From selecting the right test to setting score goals and creating a testing timeline, a good test prep plan can make all the difference in students’ performance on the ACT or SAT. Here are some test prep tips to help students prepare for the SAT or ACT.
ISEE vs. SSAT
For students and families who are interested in the private school application process, there are generally two major tests on their radar: the ISEE and the SSAT. While both exams have a lot in common, there are also some distinct differences between the tests that students should keep in mind.
Test Score Submit Rates for Class of 2025
Percentage of SAT and ACT Score Submissions for the Class of 2025The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the way higher education institutions review applications with many colleges choosing to adopt a temporary test-optional application review process. However, with record-breaking applicant pools and record-low admit rates, families are worried that test-optional may not really mean test-optional at all. Here is what we know, so far.
List of Colleges Extending Test-Optional Policies
UPDATED: List of Colleges Extending Test-Optional Policies The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a number of changes within the standardized testing industry, including the introduction of a new, entirely digital testing format and many colleges shifting to a test-optional admissions process for the 2020-21 admissions cycle. In fact, 75% of four-year colleges and universities will not require SAT or ACT scores for the 2021-22 admissions cycle.
What to Know About the New Digital SAT
On January 25, the College Board announced that starting in 2023 and 2024, the SAT (including the PSAT) would become an entirely computer-based exam. High school students and families might be wondering how this will impact their test prep and college prep strategies. Read on to learn more!
Test-Taking Strategies: How to Ace the College Test Prep
Exams like the SAT, ACT, PSAT and AP tests can all seem overwhelming at first. Being asked to complete an academic assessment is already stressful, and it’s even more challenging to perform well under timed conditions when the stakes are high.
The good news is that it’s possible to put most of your test-taking anxieties at ease and ace your college test prep. The secret to performing your best is taking advantage of tried-and-true test-taking strategies that will set every student up for success.
Test Prep 101: Guide to the SAT Math Section
By IvyWise Master Tutor
The SAT Math Test is divided into four main sections: Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Passport to Advanced Math, and Additional Topics in Math.
2021 AP Exam Overview
Here’s How AP Exams Will Be Administered in 2021AP Exams are an opportunity for students to demonstrate their expertise in advanced classes, get a taste of college-level coursework, and maybe even earn credit towards their undergraduate degree. This year there are significant changes to the AP Exam process due to COVID-19, and students will have the chance to sit for exams either in-person or virtually.
Juniors: Should You Take the SAT or ACT This Year?
Watch our expert counselors answer some of your most pressing testing questions. Check out the recording of the IvyWise Live webinar The Future of Standardized Testing.
Why Juniors Should Still Carefully Consider Their Testing Strategy In years past, the vast majority of high school juniors planned on taking the SAT/ACT. However, with an increasing number of schools extending their test-optional admissions policies, some students may be wondering whether it is still worthwhile to study for these exams.
College Board Eliminates SAT Subject Tests Permanently
SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Section of the SAT are Gone for GoodThe College Board announced that it is discontinuing SAT Subject Tests permanently, as well as revamping the current SAT exam to eliminate the optional essay section.
Coronavirus Cancellations: Admissions Testing and College Updates
The Latest on How Colleges and Universities in the US are Responding to COVID-19The response to concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has deeply affected college bound high school students with school closures and the cancelling of large gatherings, including campus visits and admissions tests.
5 Ways to Deal With Test Anxiety
If You’re Dealing with Test Anxiety, Try These TipsFinal exams are approaching, and while pre-exam jitters are almost inevitable, some students may experience more pronounced stress levels due to test anxiety. If you worry and self-doubt are interfering with your test-taking experience, you’re not alone: as many as 30% of first-year college students experience test anxiety.
What You Need to Know About the Latin SAT Subject Test
Read This If You’re Considering Taking the SAT Subject Test in LatinBy Andy, IvyWise Master Tutor
Once you’ve determined that you’re interested in taking SAT Subject Tests, the next question on many students’ minds is which exams they should take. While every SAT Subject Test is one-hour and designed to assess your knowledge and skills in a certain subject, the exams themselves vary greatly.
What to Know About AP Subject Tests
An Overview for Students Who Are Interested in AP Subject TestsAP Subject Tests are likely to be a part of many students’ high school experience as students take advanced courses in order to boost their course rigor. These exams can be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your expertise in a subject that you are passionate about and maybe even earn some college credit.
Just Admit It: What’s Going on With Standardized Testing?
Learn What’s Happening With Standardized Testing Right NowIt’s a question on many students’ minds, particularly during an application cycle marked with uncertainty: what’s happening with standardized testing? With an increasing number of schools transitioning to test optional policies, some applicants may wonder if it is even worth it to take the SAT or ACT.
Navigating Fall Testing in 2020
What You Need to Know if Testing is on Your Radar This FallThis fall, students may feel like they’re approaching a crossroads. While many originally planned on taking the PSAT, SAT, or ACT during their fall semester, the COVID-19 pandemic has added a layer of uncertainty to their college preparation plans. As some testing sites begin to reopen, new questions have emerged. Some students may be wondering whether they should register for a fall exam, what taking the SAT or ACT during the COVID-19 pandemic will look like, and what their options are if they decide against sitting for an exam.
IB vs. AP: Which Is Best for College Admissions?
Learn the Key Differences Between IB vs. AP Curricula For high school students looking to make the most of their courses, choosing between an International Baccalaureate (IB) and AP curriculum is often a top priority. While both choices are academically rigorous and can lead to college credit, there are also profound differences between the two programs.
New SAT to Old SAT Score Conversion Chart
SAT Score Conversion Chart for New SAT, Old SAT, and ACT ScoresWant to see how your scores on the SAT compare to ACT? The College Board has updated the concordance tables so students can see how their SAT total scores compare to composite ACT scores.
SSAT Testing Changes for 2020-2021
SSAT Testing Updates to Keep on Your Radar
The SSAT is one of the most widely recognized standardized tests utilized by admissions officers to assess independent school applicants. The exam measures basic verbal, math, and reading skills and is offered in three levels: Elementary (for students in 3rd and 4th grade), Middle (for students in 5th-7th grade), and Upper (for students in 8th-11th grade).
ACT Superscoring: Colleges that Superscore the ACT
Here are the Colleges that Superscore the ACT
Superscoring is the practice of considering only the highest section scores across all SAT or ACT test scores that are submitted when evaluating applications. Many schools already superscore for the SAT, but superscoring for the ACT has not always been widely practiced.
Tips for Boosting Your TOEFL Score
Here’s What Students Need to Do to Reach Their Goal TOEFL ScoreBy Joey, IvyWise Tutor
For many international students, taking the TOEFL exam is one of many steps on their radar for the US college admissions process. Many colleges do require TOEFL scores as part of their international application review process, so it’s important to do your research and see what the policy is at every school on your best-fit list.
Why SAT and ACT Scores Still Matter as Test-Optional Choices Rise
Despite an Increase in Test-Optional Choices, Consider Taking the SAT and ACT
Most high school juniors have many questions running through their minds, as the upcoming college admissions cycle will be unlike any other. Amongst other changes, an increasing number of schools are shifting to test-optional admissions policies in response to the cancellation of spring SAT and ACT examinations.
Tips for 2020 Online AP Exams
Feel Confident About Your Exams This Spring
As schools transition to remote learning, the College Board has announced that the AP exams will be offered online for the first time ever in 2020.
IvyWise Live Q&A: Coronavirus and College Admissions
Join Our Facebook Live Webinars April 15 & 17 to Learn More About How To Prep for College Admissions Process This Fall
Tune in to IvyWise Live on our Facebook page next week, where College Admissions Experts Christine, Scott, Nat, Zach, and Rachel will discuss how students can prepare for the college admissions process this fall and answer your most pressing college prep questions.
How to Tackle College Prep Over the Holidays
How to Have Fun Over the Holidays While Staying Focused
With the holidays just days away, it’s all too easy for students to check out and go on vacation-mode. While there is nothing wrong with taking some time off to recharge, students who are preparing for the college admissions process need to stay mindful and motivated throughout the season.
Understanding Your Junior Year PSAT Score
Put Your PSAT Score into Context to Decide What Steps to Take Next
After studying for the exam, learning about the PSAT’s structure, and finally taking the exam, many students anxiously await their test scores. However, once the results are in, it can be challenging to put them into context and understand exactly what a given score means.
How to Set Test Prep Goals for 2020
Get a Head Start on Planning for the New Year
With the new year right around the corner, now’s the time to start thinking about your test prep goals for 2020. Whether you’re a freshman who is just beginning to think about college, a sophomore gearing up to start test prep, or a junior who is already in the thick of it, there are concrete steps that you can take in 2020 to get closer to achieving your test prep goals.
Tips to Prepare for the December SAT
Here’s What Students Need to Do to Prepare for the SAT This December
The December SAT is a month away, and whether it’s your first time taking the SAT or you’re looking to improve your score, there’s a lot that you can do in the month leading up to the exam in order to reach your goal score.
Top 6 Tips for the PSAT: How to Do Well on the PSAT
Feel Confident on Test Day By Brushing Up on These Important PointersOftentimes, the PSAT is a student’s first experience with a standardized test for college, and for many, it can provide valuable insight into their academic strengths and weaknesses. The PSAT is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which awards college scholarship money to top test-takers.
How to Prep for the PSAT
Learn What to Expect During the PSAT Exam
Many high school juniors are gearing up for the PSAT this fall. Oftentimes, this is a student’s first experience with a standardized test for college and for many, it can provide valuable insight into their academic strengths and weaknesses. The PSAT is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which awards college scholarship money to top test takers.
Colleges That Don’t Honor Score Choice
Learn How Score Choice Works and Which Schools Honor It
For high school students navigating the college application process, the back-to-school season is about a lot more than starting new classes. In addition to coursework, many students are preparing all of the components of their college applications, including submitting test scores.
What’s Covered on the PSAT Reading and Writing Test?
Learn What to Study In Order to Feel Prepared for the PSAT
For many students, the PSAT is one of the first major standardized tests of their high school career. The assessment is designed to help students gauge what they’ve learned thus far and their readiness to succeed in college. In addition to taking challenging academic courses and staying on top of assignments, it can be beneficial to learn more about the PSAT exam so you know what to expect and how to study.
What’s Covered on the PSAT Math Test?
Every Math Component Students Need to Review Before the PSATWith the PSAT just around the corner, now is the time to hone your mathematical skills so you are up-to-date on what’s being asked on the exam. Whether you consider yourself a numbers person or not, it’s a good idea to go into the exam with these top PSAT tips.
5 Scary Grammar Rules to Watch Out for on the SAT or ACT
Watch Out for These Tricky Grammar Rules When Taking the SAT or ACT
When it comes to editing, taking a moment to reflect on how something sounds can help you troubleshoot some common errors. Unfortunately, not every grammar question can be solved simply by sounding it out; there are some sentences that may sound “right”, but fall short when it comes to proper grammar.
Understanding AP Exam Scores
Here’s What Each AP Score Means
By Seamus, IvyWise Master Tutor
The first AP Exam scores are available today, and will continue to be released over the next few days. This is an exciting time for students who are eager to learn their results, but what exactly do these scores mean?
5 Tips to Make Test Prep More Fun
Studying for the SAT and ACT Can Be a Lot More Enjoyable with These Pointers
For many students, the premise of passing up movie nights and weekends with friends for practice tests and study sessions is far from appealing. While test preparation will probably never become anyone’s go-to leisure activity, there are ways to make studying for the SAT or ACT more enjoyable.
What’s on the SAT?
Learn About Every Kind of Question You Can Expect on the SAT
Performing well on standardized tests is about so much more than thinking quickly and bubbling in the answers. In order to really excel on exams, it is important to have a thorough understanding of exactly what the test will cover and review accordingly.
Testing Accommodations for the SAT and ACT
Learn What Kind of Accommodations Are Available for the SAT & ACT
The SAT and ACT can feel overwhelming for any test taker, but for students with learning differences or disabilities there can be an additional piece to the testing puzzle: obtaining appropriate accommodations in order to have the best chance of reaching their goal score on test day.
What’s on the ACT?
Here’s What Students Can Expect on the ACT
Before deciding whether to take the SAT or ACT, it’s important to understand each exam’s content, format, and timing. Here we’re going to take a look at the ACT in order to help students become more familiar with this college entrance exam.
