IVY OPTIONS

As high school students and their parents start the college application process, they may feel pressure to sign up for expensive SAT and ACT tutoring. It’s understandable that they want any possible edge, given the competitive nature of college admissions and the growing number of schools that are no longer test-optional. Most recently, McGill University announced it will require test scores for most majors from American curriculum applicants, while Princeton will mandate the

One of the main standardized tests used for college admissions in the United States, the ACT is undergoing significant changes that will take effect starting April 2025 for the digital test and September 2025 for paper-based versions. These updates are designed to make the test more accessible, reduce stress for students, and offer greater flexibility. For students planning to take the ACT in the near future, it’s important to understand how these changes might affect the tes

Five short years ago, taking the SAT and ACT appeared to be an immutable component of the college application process: most colleges and universities mandated them. However, following pandemic quarantines and test access issues, nearly all schools embraced the test-optional trend. Now, once again, changes are underway. With the SAT fully transitioning to online in the US this month, the standardized testing policies of universities and colleges are in a state of flux, with so

To test, or not to test? To submit, or not to submit? These are the SAT/ACT questions confronting 11th and 12th graders as they dive into USA college applications. In the wake of the pandemic and increasing criticism about the fairness of testing, approximately 80% of American undergraduate schools are now test optional – a dramatic increase from 45% in 2019. As a result, students need to carefully assess their individual situation and determine how to strategically utilize t

When the College Board announced that the SAT would be administered digitally for the first time in March 2023, many students and educators were anxious about how the new format would affect test-taking and scoring. But now that the scores are in and the feedback has been gathered, it seems that the digital interface was smooth and experienced almost no reported glitches, save for a few minor server or connectivity related issues at a handful of testing sites. The mean score

2023 marks the end of the paper SAT and a new era of technology with the launch of the digital SAT (DSAT). Our team has spent the last few months reviewing the information provided by the College Board and reliable partners who specialize in test preparation, and we have identified several key principles for students to follow in order to maximize their performance on the exam. Structure and Format The DSAT has two sections: Reading/Writing and Math. The Reading/Writing sect

For the fourth time in its history, the SAT is changing again! The test as we currently know it will be phased out for international students after the December 2022 exam, and starting March 2023, the new SAT will replace it. Although the aims of the SAT remain the same, there are significant differences with the new test that parents and students must be aware of in order to prepare for the 2023 test dates. The major change to the exam is that it will be computer based inste

Two years of test-optional admissions cycles have raised many questions in students’ and parents’ minds about which, when, and even why standardized tests are important. We have seen that testing is still required by some universities and can certainly make an application more competitive. Therefore, the earlier you start, the better. Properly preparing for the SAT or ACT will not happen in one sitting. So when to begin? Is there a time that’s too early to begin prepping? To

One important decision to make in the application process is whether or not to include your standardized test scores. As a result of decades of criticism about the fairness of the exams and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, almost 75% of universities in the US and Canada have adopted a “test-optional” policy in evaluating candidate admissions. This means that universities will not require you to submit scores and will consider your application complete without them. It’s also im

After a long and challenging school year, the last thing students want to think about is doing extra work over the summer. However, the summer can be an excellent time for students to improve performance while still being able to have a long and relaxing break. Here are some tips that students can use in order to improve their performance on exams: Cap Study Time Setting a limit on study time forces us to be efficient. Instead of sitting in front of the computer for 3 hours a

Deciding when to sit for the SAT for the first time can be a stressful choice. Which year of high school is best? What time of year is...