Test Prep
Nov 6, 2026
6 Things I Learned at the College Board Forum 2026 That Every High School Parent Should Know
I spent this past week in Las Vegas attending the 2026 College Board Forum, where educators, researchers, and college admissions professionals gathered to discuss the future of standardized testing, college readiness, and student success. As the SAT celebrates its 100th anniversary, College Board is introducing new tools and resources designed to help students make more informed decisions about their academic and professional futures.
Oct 27, 2026
SAT vs. ACT Math: Which Test Plays to Your Student’s Strengths?
Choosing between the SAT and ACT is not just about which test is “easier.” It is about finding the format that best matches how your student thinks, works, and solves problems. Both exams assess many of the same mathematical skills, but they differ in content coverage, pacing, question style, calculator tools, and scoring. The comparison below offers a quick visual guide, followed by a closer look at what each difference may mean for your student.
Oct 18, 2026
What Your Teen Needs From You Each Year of High School
Helping your child navigate the path to college is a balancing act. You want to give your child every opportunity for success, from encouraging strong academic habits and exploring extracurricular activities to tracking important deadlines and making informed decisions. But knowing when to offer guidance and when to step back isn't always easy. When it comes to college admissions, there's an important difference between supporting your child and managing the process for them.
Sep 27, 2026
AI vs. Human Tutors: What Parents Should Know About Test Prep
AI can generate a thousand practice questions. But can it tell why your student keeps missing the same kind of question? Artificial intelligence has quickly become part of our everyday lives—and education is no exception. Students can now ask AI to explain a math problem, generate practice questions, create study schedules, analyze mistakes, and even help prepare for standardized tests.
Sep 13, 2026
HSPT Season Is Here: What 8th Grade Parents Need to Know
Fall brings a long list of important dates for eighth-grade families—open houses, shadow days, applications, and, of course, the High School Placement Test (HSPT). It can be tempting to see the HSPT as just another box to check in the high school admissions process. But depending on the school, a student's HSPT performance may determine admission, course placement, honors eligibility, and scholarship consideration. That can make the HSPT worth taking seriously—and worth preparing for.
Sep 7, 2026
The PSAT Is More Than Practice: Understanding National Merit Recognition
For most students, the PSAT is a practice run for the SAT. But for academically strong juniors, the October PSAT/NMSQT can carry considerably more significance. It is also the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program, a prestigious academic award and scholarship opportunity.
Aug 22, 2026
The PSAT Is Coming: What Should Your Student Be Doing Now?
Every October, the PSAT brings up a familiar question from parents of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors: How seriously should my student prepare for this test? The answer depends greatly on your student’s grade level. One of the biggest mistakes families can make is assuming that “test prep” should look the same for every high school student.
Aug 14, 2026
SAT & PSAT Practice Just Got an Update: What Parents Should Know
If your student is preparing for the SAT or PSAT, there are some important updates to the College Board’s digital practice resources—including hundreds of newly released SAT questions, updated difficulty ratings for existing questions, and a brand-new PSAT practice test now available in the Bluebook App. For families, these changes are a good reminder that effective test preparation isn’t simply about completing as many practice questions as possible. Which questions students practice—and what they learn from them—matters.
Aug 9, 2026
Can You Really Be A Bad Test Taker?
It’s a phrase parents and educators hear all the time: “I’m just a bad test taker.” Often, the student saying it has plenty of evidence to back up the claim. But in reality, “bad test taker” is often less a diagnosis and more a catch-all phrase for a number of specific challenges—many of which can be identified and improved with the right preparation.
Jul 21, 2026
Why Today's Best Tutoring Happens Online
For many parents, the idea of online tutoring can initially feel unfamiliar. Will my student stay engaged? Will the tutor be able to explain difficult concepts? Is it really as effective as meeting face-to-face?
Jul 14, 2026
Grade Inflation: What Every Parent Should Know
Grades are higher than ever—but are they telling the whole story? For many parents, a report card filled with A's feels like reassurance that their student is on the path to college success. But over the past two decades, an important trend has changed how colleges interpret transcripts: grade inflation.
Jun 30, 2026
Test-Optional Doesn't Mean Test-Irrelevant
Whether your child is entering high school this fall or preparing to submit college applications as a senior, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: standardized testing is playing a larger role in college admissions once again.