Ivy Lounge Test Prep

09/15/2026

With just a few days to go before the September 19th ACT, here's an easy hack for gaining a few extra points. "Big Picture" reading questions ask you to identify the main point of a passage, and they can be a REAL time-sink for students. Not you, though—because you're going to learn this quick trick before this weekend...and watch the points rack up.

https://www.ivyloungetestprep.com/blog/how-answer-big-picture-reading-questions-sat-act

09/01/2026

If you've got just a week or two left before your SAT or ACT, what's the absolute BEST way to use that time? Will cramming help or harm your score? As a text prep expert of 16+ years, I've helped many students through similar situations. Let me explain EXACTLY what to do with the little time that remains.

Cramming doesn't work: the human brain just doesn't work that way. But that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of the time you have left...even if there's not as much of it as you might like!

08/18/2026

When you don't bring the right items with you to the SAT or ACT—from water to the right clothing to your registration ticket—you shoot yourself in the foot before the race even starts. That's why I've written a checklist of the eight things you must bring with you to your SAT or ACT test day. Once you've packed these items in your backpack, you can rest easy knowing you'll feel comfortable and prepared in the testing seat.

You’ve studied for months, and now the big day is finally here: you’re about to take the SAT or the ACT. But all of that hard prep work will be wasted effort if you show up to the testing room without the supplies you need to rock the test! Never fear: seasoned test guide Kristina Semos has draf...

08/04/2026

You've got thirty seconds 'til the SAT or ACT proctor says "time"...and four questions left to go. Eep! There's no way you'll be able to carefully solve each problem. Will you be penalized for guessing? And HOW do you guess...in a way that maximizes points? There are clear strategies for each question type. This blog post helps you master them.

What should you do when you're running out of time on the SAT or ACT? Will it help or harm your score to guess on the remaining questions—and if you *should* guess, how do you go about that? In this blog post, test prep master Kristina Semos brings you her expert guessing strategies.

07/21/2026

Do you need a 1600 (or 36) to get into your college of choice? Probably not. In fact, there's a very specific number you should aim for instead. This week's post teaches you exactly how to calculate your target score for the SAT or ACT. https://www.ivyloungetestprep.com/blog/target-sat-act-score

07/07/2026

The Personal Statement (aka main essay) is a crucial part of the Common App. It's your best chance to humanize yourself to the admissions officer who's so far only encountered you as a handful of stats and grades. But what can you write *about*? The prompts sometimes change from year to year. This week, my blog is sharing the seven Common App prompts for this admissions cycle...as well as answers to other FAQs about this key essay.

The Common App essay prompts for this admissions season are here! Read on to see your seven options for your 2026-27 Personal Statement.

06/23/2026

The summers before junior and senior year can make or break your college application. How do you make sure you take advantage of these crucial months--while still making time for sun and fun? This week's blog post breaks down what your top priorities should be from June to August.

Worried about how to make the most of those crucial summers during the college process, sophomore through junior year? Worry no more—this post lays out a road map to what you need to keep your eye on.

06/09/2026

Just two grammar mistakes account for the majority of lost points on the ACT English section. What are these deadly errors, you ask? Let's make sure you can identify and avoid that pair of common pitfalls when these questions crop up on the ACT (as they always do).

https://www.ivyloungetestprep.com/blog/these-2-grammar-mistakes-can-ruin-your-act-english-score

05/26/2026

What is Score Choice? Well, let's say you did pretty well on the SAT in October and June...but in December, you whiffed it big time. On both sections. Yikes! But the good news: that December number can stay your little secret—with some or all of the colleges on your list remaining blissfully ignorant of that test date. Read on to find out how.

Score Choice can be confusing…especially for parents who didn’t have it as part of their own college process! So what is Score Choice and how does it affect your decisions about your SAT and ACT scores and college applications? I’m laying out everything you need to know about Score Choice righ...

05/12/2026

How long does it really take to study for the Digital SAT or ACT? Knowing the answer to this question will help you get a hold on the next few years of high school. Yet every student's testing timeline is a little different. Fortunately, I've identified the three key factors that matter most in determining how long you ACTUALLY need to study in order to hit your target score—without driving yourself nuts in the process.

https://www.ivyloungetestprep.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-study-for-the-sat-or-act