Sharp: Smarter SAT Prep

I got a perfect 1600 on the SAT and graduated summa cm laude from Dartmouth. Then I watched my cousin's family spend over $3,000 on prep that never identified the skills actually costing him points.

When I looked at his results, about 80% of his missed questions came from two skill areas. A month of focused practice on those areas helped him gain 160 points and get into Rice.

That experience is why I built Sharp: to help students find the specific skills holding them back, then practice those skills instead of studying everything at once.

I'll be sharing what I've learned from tutoring and building Sharp. Follow if you're a parent navigating SAT prep.

You wouldn’t decide to make bolognese…

walk into the grocery store…

and just hope you somehow grab the right ingredients.

But that’s basically how a lot of students prep for the SAT.

Random YouTube and TikTok videos, random practice questions, and no review of their mistakes.

The students who improve the fastest usually follow a plan:
• what to study
• when to study it
• what’s actually worth their time

Random prep usually leads to not great results.

Be honest: when are you hoping to be DONE with the SAT?

Summer before senior year is the goal! That way you can focus on your coursework and college apps without the added stress of testing.

Follow for SAT prep that actually helps you get your life back.

Higher SAT scores usually come down to a pretty simple formula:

✔️ Take a practice test
✔️ Review your mistakes
✔️ Practice your weak skills
✔️ Repeat consistently

Most students spend too much time “studying” and not enough time practicing intentionally.

POV: the SAT gives you one “easy” question to build confidence.

What’s your answer? No calculator. No peeking in the comments!

Current sophomores and juniors: I highly recommend preparing for the SAT over the summer and getting it out of the way before senior year if you can.

Senior year is super busy with college apps and AP courses.

Registration JUST opened for the Aug - Dec 2026 SAT dates. Sign up on the college board website

May SAT scores came out today 👀

Whether you hit your goal or not, what matters most is having a clear plan for what comes next.

A higher SAT score is usually about:
• knowing which question types are costing you points
• fixing timing issues
• reviewing mistakes the right way
• practicing consistently

Follow and comment “PLAN” if you want a personalized SAT study plan to help you improve your next score

Reading scores are declining nationwide, according to a recent New York Times article. And honestly, this is one of the hardest parts of SAT prep to “hack” at the last minute.

Students who read regularly tend to have:
• stronger vocabulary
• better comprehension
• more stamina on long passages
• an easier time with school overall

The good news: reading more now can still make a real difference before college applications and SAT season ramp up.

I put together a list of books I’d recommend for college-bound teens, including some that are genuinely engaging and not just “assigned reading” energy 😅

Comment LIST and I’ll send it over.