Four Ways to Create a Presence on the Internet

When you type your name into Google's search engine, what do you find? That's what colleges will see. A social media presence can either help or hurt you. Whether you're applying for a selective program or building a reputation that will help you find a job later, it's important to present yourself as a knowledgeable member of the community. Start by filling out in the blank in the sentence below: "I want the world to see me as ________________________." Here...

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How to Update Your TI-84 Plus CE's Software

Your TI-84 Plus CE calculator has some really cool features, including a circle/ellipse/hyperbola grapher (Conics) as well as a polynomial solver and system of equations solver (PlySmlt2): If you hit the Apps key and don't see the menu above, you'll need to upgrade your calculator's software. The current OS software version is 5.3. Use the instructions below to check which version you currently have installed: To upgrade to the latest...

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How to Get Noticed: 7 Steps to a Vibrant Social Media Presence

Are you dedicated to a hobby - building computers, organic gardening, finance research - that would help you get that internship or jazz up your college app if only someone knew? You can get the attention you need by starting a blog or Twitter account. If you post consistently for a year or two, you'll start to show up when someone Googles your name. It's a great opportunity to present your work to the world. Follow the steps below to get...

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Reviews of SAT and ACT Test Centers: East Bay

Update: I've added a review of Skyline High School. I'm in the process of trying out all of the test centers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Las Lomas High School 1460 S Main St, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Overall Rating: 9.5/10 SAT Test Center #05870 Evaluation Date: October 6, 2018 Parking (0.5/1 point): Sufficient There was parking when I arrived at 7:35 (10 minutes early), but I don't know if the students who showed up later were all...

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Free PSAT Analysis

Have you received your PSAT score report yet? Your score provides a useful baseline for your future performance on the SAT and can help you identify areas to work on in reading comprehension, grammar, and math. Don't feel limited by the score you get, though. Like any other skill, performing well on standardized tests takes training and practice. I'd be happy to analyze your score report and look over the questions you missed. If you're interested,...

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How Fast Will My Score Go Up?

Using my students' past score increases, I made the tables below. They roughly predict how much your score is likely to increase after five or ten tutoring sessions. If you compare the ACT and SAT scores from the tables, you'll find that improvements tend to happen more quickly on the ACT. All else being equal, the ACT is an easier test to prep for. Subject Tests include Math Level 2, SAT Chemistry, SAT Physics, SAT Biology, and...

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How to Read Your SAT Score Report

The College Board makes score reports available online as soon as multiple-choice scores are available. To view your scores, log in to your College Board account. You'll see a Web page like the one below, which will have your most recent score at the top of the page: In this case, my March 9 SAT score is at the top, since it's the most recent test I've taken. If you click on the yellow View Details link, you'll see a detailed score report...

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