Posts By: Melissa Slive

The stress of applying to college and the worry about not getting in to their dream school has grown tremendously for students in recent years. There seems to be no guarantee of acceptance no matter how strong an application is. And as more and more young people apply to top-notch universities each year, colleges appear… Read more »

Now that the NEW SAT is in place, students and parents are rightfully confused about ACT and new SAT score comparisons and which test to take. With the ACT scored out of 36 points and the SAT scored out of 1600, comparisons do get a bit confusing. Please print this handy comparison chart to help… Read more »

All parents want their children to succeed, and the best way to ensure that is by giving them an education. Often times, the most important things learned at school are not the subjects taught but rather the skills and guidance needed to develop one’s character. In fact, studies have shown that character strength is one… Read more »

This week’s tip is a follow-up to last week’s tip – Wear One Hat at a Time. I discussed that there are two types of questions in the SAT/ACT grammar section – Mechanics of Writing (grammar) and Rhetorical Skills (organization/style/structure). A strong test taker should answer the grammar questions first and THEN go back and… Read more »

Much is said about our educational system and the quality discrepancies between wealthy school districts and poor school districts. However, one of the biggest divides may be outside of the classroom. In a society where technology is becoming increasingly more important, many underprivileged students are unable to complete their homework or take advantage of extra… Read more »

I don’t know about you, but it is not often that I see someone walking down the street wearing two hats. Yet, metaphorically, students often wear two hats when they address the grammar section of the SAT/ACT. And, as we know, wearing two hats is a fashion no-no! There are two types of questions in… Read more »

You never know when bad grammar may sneak up on you. Even celebrities can’t get away with not knowing their grammar rules. Read this article to see students correcting the grammar mistakes in celebrity tweets. Click here to read this article by Lauren O’Neil.

The NEW SAT was officially launched at around 8:00 AM on March 5th, and I was excited! Having worked with students these past few months on the new SAT, I can see that this test is not only teachable but also an exam that helps students within their high school math, English, and history classes. Now, students… Read more »

College Board has done a lot to revamp its SAT exam and has been very forthcoming on most of the changes. However, it has been recently discovered that the SAT has not changed in one very important way. On past exams, students could expect an experimental section: one that didn’t count towards their scores but… Read more »

I know students see me as a drill sergeant… Whenever I work with students, I bark at them to have their pencil on the page at all times and to actively cross out incorrect answers. Inevitably, a student barks back at me that he is crossing out and to get off his case. (Sorry boys,… Read more »