SAT & University Blog
SAT Reading Passage Question Types
Many SAT prep students and coaches concur that critical reading is the most difficult section to improve one’s score in. Some students have particular trouble with questions that compare and contrast passages, while others can’t make heads or tails of literature passages.
However, here’s a neat tip: No matter what type of passage you are faced with, the SAT test makers only ask a few basic types of questions. Familiarize yourself with the below, and you may find that the section is simpler to decode.
Your Freshman Year: The To-Do List Before Take-Off
Woohooo!!!! You’re headed to Massachusetts or Nottingham (or what have you) for what could be the greatest few years of your life! Yes, we know: The few months before your university adventure begins are filled with hope and possibilities. While it’s true that opportunities and success fall into some lucky individuals’ laps, the majority of good things result from proper planning.
SAT Test Prep with a Click!
Today, technology is continually revolutionizing all aspects of our daily lives. This even extends to the way we access education and learning. No doubt, you probably catch up on news events or socialize with your friends through the internet; you may even be reading this article on your iPhone on your way home from school. Why not incorporate this way of thinking in your SAT preparation?
The Freshman 15
The freshman 10, freshman 15, or in my friend’s case, freshman 40. Those extra pounds are the bane of new university students’ existence. Why, oh why is it that by the end of their first year in university, students have typically expanded a few dress sizes? Actually, the answer’s pretty obvious.
SAT Vocabulary Tips – Prefixes
The SAT exam is filled with complex vocabulary! There are many techniques we can use to decipher an unknown word. No matter how crazy or complicated the word may seem, there is almost always a way to figure out the meaning. One of the easier methods is to enlist the help of prefixes. Prefixes are the letters placed before the root of a word, which alters its meaning. For example, when you place “un” in front of “happy” we get “unhappy”, which means the direct opposite of the root of the word “happy”.
SAT - Vocabulary Games
I realize that learning new vocabulary is not exactly the most inspiring activity, but your understanding, knowledge and application of vocabulary are essential parts of the SAT exam. Therefore, you will need to invest some time into boosting your vocabulary to ace the writing and reading sections of the SAT!
Are US College Campuses Safe?
Flip on the television and images of violence in America abound. From news clips on the most recent hunt for a new serial murderer to television series such as CSI: Miami, it sometimes seems that crime is woven into the very fabric of life in the US. From Singapore, where a single rape is headline-worthy news, US crime rates seem big, scary and ugly.
Advanced SAT Prep: Aim for an Ivy League Worthy Score!
Are you a high scorer on the SAT? If you already have a 2000 or above, the below tips will help you bump up your mark even more.
SAT Subject Test Math Level I or II?
Wondering whether to take the SAT Math Level I exam or SAT Math Level II exam? Here’s a useful breakdown.
What NOT to Write About in Your College Admissions Essay
Don’t drink and drive! Stripes and polka dots don’t belong together in the same outfit. Oh, and most importantly – never drink orange juice after brushing your teeth (it takes really REALLY gross)!
Sometimes, it’s knowing what NOT to do that puts you on the right path. Here are some topics you should avoid on the personal essay you’re about to submit to Stanford, Oberlin, or U Mich – whatever your dream school may be.
Celebrity SAT Scores
Throughout high school or Junior College, we are told that without a good SAT we will not be admitted into a worthwhile US university, meaning we will never get a decent job! This kind of scenario places a huge amount of pressure on SAT takers. It’s true that a good SAT score will help you on your path to higher education; however, it is not a predictor for your success in life. That’s why I’ve found some famous celebrities and their SAT scores to illustrate that the test is only one part of getting into college and does not determine your chances of success.
Gearing Up for Regular Decision Applications
Early Decision and Early Action deadlines have for the most part come and gone!
Great SAT Preparation Books
Getting started on your revision for your SAT is always the biggest step. Purchasing a great revision guide can be the easy kick start you need to get going with your preparation and practice. These revision tools provide useful techniques and tactics to effectively answer different question types as well as general exam advice.
Mix Up Your SAT Revision
For many students, preparing for the SAT is not exactly a favorite activity. You have to put a lot of time and effort into SAT revision if you want a high score. The most important thing to remember when it comes to SAT is that it is not the quantity but the quality that counts. Staring at a blank piece of paper for an hour will get you nowhere. I’ve listed some options below to help make your SAT revision more enjoyable and effective!
SAT – The Reading Passages
As a standardized test, the SAT gives you certain guaranteed question types. Yes, there are going to be lots and lots of reading passages, and you will have to decipher, understand and then answer questions. It’s an absolute fact that the many of the reading passages are intensely dull. However as a standardized test, the SAT allows us to predict the types of reading passages we will come across
University Selection: What NOT To Do!
Why do you want to go to college, anyways?
No, really. Answer the question!
It’s tougher than you’d think to come up with a reply, right?
SAT – New Test Dates Are Out!
What a happy day - the one all you eager students have been waiting for! Well, for some of you, at least. Taking your test in Singapore means that, as an international student, you are subject to different registration deadlines. Furthermore, there are only six opportunities (as opposed to seven) in a given year to take the SAT in Singapore. So get your SAT test date booked as soon as you can as spaces fill up fast!
If I Could Redo College...
A university admissions counselor at ICON+, I am one of those who loved higher education so much that I chose to work in the field and help younger students navigate their educational and vocational pathways.
It has been nearly a decade since I flew from Tokyo to Chicago to begin my undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; it’s a good time to reflect on how my university experience has influenced my career progression and adult life. In doing so, I hope to inspire you to think of how you can take greatest advantage of your university experience.
The SAT I and College Readiness
Many students, parents, researchers, and even educational institutions have questioned the validity of the SAT as a reliable indicator of college readiness. Is the SAT biased toward a certain cultural population? What about students who simply do not test well on standardized exams or do poorly under time pressure? We at ICON+ even wrote a blog, “Do SAT Scores Predict Success in College?” a couple of months ago.
Interview with SAT Coach Mariya Kamova
Everybody is looking for tips to score higher on the SAT - and who could be better to ask than somebody who has made teaching the ins and outs of the exam his career? I had the opportunity to sit down with one of ICON+’s senior SAT teachers, Mariya Kamova, to get some FAQ’s answered.