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Jul 23

Two students sitting at a desk looking down at their papers while taking a test

Science Section No Longer Required! Big Changes Coming to the ACT

By Katherine Friedman ACT, College Admissions, High School, SAT, Test Prep

Throughout the years, the ACT has been the paragon of consistency. While the SAT went through multiple iterations—adding a Writing section and making it out of 2400, revamping the entire test and changing it back to 1600, making the Essay optional, dropping the Essay altogether, and then completely revamping it again with no essay and…

Jun 21

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Smiling student wearing a backpack in front of a chalkboard with math equations on it

The Ultimate Guide to the SSAT

By Katherine Friedman Elementary School, High School, Middle School, SSAT, Test Prep

Who takes the SSAT? The Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) is required for entry into some independent schools. While most independent day schools in Los Angeles use the ISEE (if they require an admissions test), many boarding schools and schools in other states require the SSAT, and some schools allow students to choose which test…

Jun 12

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Woman and young girl at a desk in front of a laptop

The importance of Vocabulary on the HSPT

By Jeff B. High School, HSPT, Middle School, Practice Tests, Test Prep

While vocabulary is a key component of most high school admissions exams (such as the ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT), for a variety of reasons vocabulary is even more crucial on the HSPT exam. Some of you are no doubt aware that the HSPT has five sections: Verbal Skills Quantitative Skills Reading Comprehension Mathematics Language What…

Apr 20

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How to Prepare for the CBEST Math Section

By Wendy I. CBEST, Practice Tests, Study Skills, Test Prep

When you are getting ready to take the CBEST Math test, you want to prepare efficiently and well. If you are looking for ways to help you get prepared and feel good about your upcoming CBEST Math exam, here are some obvious and not-so-obvious suggestions to help you consider your test preparation from multiple angles.…

Mar 11

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Young adult student playing the piano with a tutor watching

How Music Can Help with Academic Development

By Jeff B. Elementary School, High School, Middle School, Music, Study Skills

In 1998 the governor of Georgia, convinced it would boost the academic achievement of children in his state, attempted to fund a program giving every child in the state a Mozart tape, in order to take advantage of the so-called “Mozart effect” where listening to Mozart increases intelligence. Unfortunately, this effect has been fairly thoroughly…