SAT Blog & ACT Blog | Vince Kotchian Test Prep | GRE, SAT, & ACT Tutoring in San Diego, Near You, and Online

If you're preparing for the SAT by yourself, here's a sample 10-week study plan that will help improve your score. We only use official College Board resources or those written by veteran SAT tutors.

Mar
20
2020

And the winner is...

The winner of our $500 college scholarship for a San Diego high school senior has been announced!

Feb
26
2020

Test-"Optional" Colleges

Some side effects of SAT / ACT / GRE optional policies that colleges won't tell you about.

Jan
21
2020

SAT Test Anxiety: 5 Tips in 5 Minutes

Vince discusses SAT test anxiety and 5 ways to reduce it.

Jan
14
2020

3 SAT / ACT Questions in 3 Minutes

I answer 3 very common SAT / ACT prep questions.

Oct
18
2019

Big ACT Changes. Real Big.

The ACT introduces single section retakes, superscoring, and online testing.

Jun
27
2019

5 Bad Ideas For Your Kid's SAT or ACT Prep

Here are 5 things I think you should avoid doing.

May
16
2019

SAT Adversity Scores

My thoughts on the College Board's new adversity score.

Apr
25
2019

How Am I Supposed To Eat This?

How to decide whether to prep for the SAT or ACT.

Mar
15
2019

Scandal! The Good Guys' Reaction

Some thoughts about the recent college admissions scandal.

Feb
26
2019

Student Spotlight: Tony at Notre Dame

5 questions for Tony, who is a freshman at The University of Notre Dame. (Tony worked with Vince for ACT prep.)

Feb
21
2019

Student Spotlight: Samantha at Carleton College

One of Vince's former ACT students answers 5 questions about her first year (so far) at Carleton.

Dec
22
2018

How your test score can help you win merit aid

The basics of how PSAT, SAT, and ACT scores can help you win merit aid scholarships to college.

Dec
11
2018

Ho, Ho, Ho: Vince's Top 11 for 2018

11 things I picked to share with you, gentle reader.

Nov
06
2018

My Interview With The Critical Reader

A brief interview that I did for The Critical Reader (which provides the best verbal prep material).

Oct
26
2018

The Need To Read

Why reading comprehension is the foundation of test prep.

Sep
19
2018

Mythbusters: Test Prep Edition

Debunking some common tutoring and test prep myths.

Sep
07
2018

The “Doctor” Will See You Now

Suspense. Intrigue. A mysterious rash. This newsletter has them all.

Jun
27
2018

Bridget: From Bishop's To Berkeley

Our tutor Bridget talks about her transition from a small private school to a large public university.

May
22
2018

The Student Athlete's Guide to the NCAA and College Prep

Our tutor Bridget talks about her experience with college athletics.

May
10
2018

It's Not All Puppies And Rainbows

A few of the mistakes we've made over the years that taught us lessons.

Mar
21
2018

Tunnel Vision

How to avoid rushing and its side effects on the SAT and ACT.

Mar
09
2018

A Guide To Getting SAT / ACT Accommodations

Here's how qualified students can get accommodations like extra time for the SAT and ACT.

Feb
23
2018

Pros and Cons of SAT / ACT Bootcamps

SAT and ACT bootcamp classes are often convenient, but do they work?

Feb
01
2018

SAT and ACT Score Choice and Superscoring

How to figure out the whole "score choice" and "superscoring" thing.

Jan
24
2018

Should You Take The SAT Or The ACT?

What are the differences between the SAT and the ACT?

Jan
18
2018

How To Not Waste Your Money On SAT Prep

Why adding student accountability to the process of test prep is so important.

Dec
07
2017

Hard Choices, Easy Life

Beware easy answers to tough questions.

Oct
19
2017

Boo! Test Prep Can Seem Spooky!

Test prep requires foundation. Don't let anyone scare you into starting it too soon.

Sep
15
2017

Soft Spot For Soft Skills

Why do young people lack soft skills?

Aug
31
2017

How See Through Are You?

I got married! Plus, thoughts on transparency in our business.

Jul
21
2017

I Talk Too Much

Finding a balance between talking and observing during tutoring.

May
19
2017

Is There Chocolate Ganache In Your Fridge?

High schoolers may need help dealing with distractions to prepare well for the SAT and ACT.

Apr
29
2017

3 Bad Good Questions To Ask A Tutor

Why some common questions for tutors don't tell you much.

Apr
03
2017

Do I have to drink the butter coffee?

You don't have to do everything I tell you to do right away... just do it all eventually.

Mar
08
2017

Freshmen and Sophomores! Build Your SAT/ACT Foundation Now.

Hey freshmen and sophomores! Here a few things you can do now to make SAT and ACT prep easier when you're a junior.

Jan
30
2017

Does Your Hairdresser Do Your Taxes?

I rank the most popular test-prep methods from worst to best.

Jan
24
2017

Tom Brady and Pattern Recognition

How students can use pattern recognition to perform better on the ACT and SAT.

Aug
05
2016

The Biggest SAT Scandal Yet

The SAT deals with another problem of its own making.

Jul
28
2016

The ACT attempts to weather its own cheating scandal

The ACT's clumsy response to widespread cheating.

Jun
02
2016

The Forgetting Zone: When To Review Math

How to maximize learning with the "forgetting" zone.

Apr
27
2016

SAT vs. ACT: The Final Word

Apr
23
2016

The Scope of SAT Cheating in Asia

Mar
12
2015

10 SAT / ACT Questions? 10 SAT / ACT Answers!

Jan
03
2015

The #1 thing I want you to understand: the proficiency hump

Jan
06
2014

Estimating is your friend on the SAT and ACT

Dec
25
2013

Guest blog: SAT/ACT Math Strategies by Dr. Steve Warner

SAT & ACT Blog

I opine about the lack of SAT / ACT test sites in San Diego

Digital SAT Decisions: 5 Factors to Consider

Affirmative Action Aftereffects

Uncensored! What Tutors Wish Parents Knew

The Latest SAT and ACT News

The 3 Best SAT / ACT Prep Self-Study Resources

10 Week SAT Study Plan (updated for 2024)

And the winner is...

Test-"Optional" Colleges

SAT Test Anxiety: 5 Tips in 5 Minutes

3 SAT / ACT Questions in 3 Minutes

Big ACT Changes. Real Big.

5 Bad Ideas For Your Kid's SAT or ACT Prep

SAT Adversity Scores

How Am I Supposed To Eat This?

Scandal! The Good Guys' Reaction

Student Spotlight: Tony at Notre Dame

Student Spotlight: Samantha at Carleton College

How your test score can help you win merit aid

Ho, Ho, Ho: Vince's Top 11 for 2018

My Interview With The Critical Reader

The Need To Read

Mythbusters: Test Prep Edition

The “Doctor” Will See You Now

Bridget: From Bishop's To Berkeley

The Student Athlete's Guide to the NCAA and College Prep

It's Not All Puppies And Rainbows

Tunnel Vision

A Guide To Getting SAT / ACT Accommodations

Pros and Cons of SAT / ACT Bootcamps

SAT and ACT Score Choice and Superscoring

Should You Take The SAT Or The ACT?

How To Not Waste Your Money On SAT Prep

Hard Choices, Easy Life

Boo! Test Prep Can Seem Spooky!

Soft Spot For Soft Skills

How See Through Are You?

I Talk Too Much

Is There Chocolate Ganache In Your Fridge?

3 Bad Good Questions To Ask A Tutor

Do I have to drink the butter coffee?

Freshmen and Sophomores! Build Your SAT/ACT Foundation Now.

Does Your Hairdresser Do Your Taxes?

Tom Brady and Pattern Recognition

The Biggest SAT Scandal Yet

The ACT attempts to weather its own cheating scandal

The Forgetting Zone: When To Review Math

SAT vs. ACT: The Final Word

The Scope of SAT Cheating in Asia

10 SAT / ACT Questions? 10 SAT / ACT Answers!

The #1 thing I want you to understand: the proficiency hump

Estimating is your friend on the SAT and ACT

Guest blog: SAT/ACT Math Strategies by Dr. Steve Warner