A Brief History of the SAT Vocabulary Question
The SAT’s approach to testing vocabulary has evolved over the years, from analogies to sentence completions to vocabulary-in-context questions, with the recent digital version bringing back sentence completions while retaining context-based questions.
A Grave Loss, A New Beginning: An Obituary for the Paper-and-Pencil SAT
After a storied 98 year history pioneering college entrance exams for millions of students, the beloved paper-and-pencil SAT has passed away, survived by the new digital SAT.
What is Desmos—and how does it relate to the digital SAT?
The Desmos calculator is a key feature of the digital SAT’s math section, offering advanced functions and leveling the playing field for all test-takers. Learn how Academic Approach integrates Desmos into our curriculum to prepare students for success.
Professional Development for Teachers and ACT/SAT Testing
Professional development time for teachers can be incredibly valuable and rare. However, recent research has found that much professional development for teachers may not actually
Getting the Most Out of Your Score: Learning From the PSAT
What is the PSAT? The PSAT is a practice SAT administered by the College Board and available to students in grades 8 through 11, with
A Matter of Time Part II: The Critics and Advocates of SAT and ACT Accommodations
Controversy has existed for years around the subject of SAT and ACT accommodations, and that controversy seems to revolve around three critical themes: 1)
A Matter of Time: Extended-time ACT and SAT Accommodations
“I can’t believe I went up 12 points on the ACT! Cannot believe it. Crying with happiness. Wow!” After 20 years of helping students grow
Increase Your Reading Endurance (SAT Series Week 2)
The Illinois April 5th state-mandated SAT is now six weeks away. With all Illinois public school students sitting for that SAT, we want to offer
Beyond Academic Skills: Soft Skills, Grit, and Building a Growth Mindset
The high-stakes nature of college entrance exams is, unsurprisingly, a tough moment for many students. This feeling of dread isn’t inevitable—there’s more we as educators can do to make this moment one of triumph, not despair. That means not just preparing our students for the skills assessed on the test, but also preparing them for the emotional challenge of preparing for high-stakes tests.