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By Laura Whitmore Scoring in the 1300s or 1400s on the SAT is something to be proud of. It's well above average and puts you ahead of many test takers. But if your goal is admission to highly selective colleges, you may feel stuck. Many students reach this stage and respond the same way: they buy more prep books, solve hundreds of random practice questions, and spend hours studying—yet their score barely moves. If that sounds familiar, the problem probably isn't that you're n

By Laura Whitmore Grammar questions are some of the quickest points available on the Digital SAT—but they're also some of the easiest to overthink. After coaching thousands of students, I've noticed something interesting: College Board isn't constantly inventing new grammar rules. Instead, they test the same concepts repeatedly, just dressed up in different passages. That's why pattern recognition is one of the most valuable SAT skills you can develop. In this article, we'll

By Laura Whitmore Applying to college has never been simple, but the process has become even more complicated in recent years. Students and families are navigating changing testing policies, shifting admissions priorities, essays, extracurricular activities, and countless decisions about where to apply. With so many mixed messages, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news? While college admissions may seem mysterious, there are clear patterns behind what competitive schoo

By Laura Whitmore I just got back from the National Test Prep Association (NTPA) Conference, where one of the most eye-opening sessions came from a University of Chicago admissions officer who pulled back the curtain on how one of the most selective schools in the country actually picks its class. Some of what he said confirmed what we tell families every day. Some of it was surprising. And a few things would probably change how your student approaches the next two years. Her

By Laura Whitmore The June 2026 SAT left many students walking out of the testing center with the same reaction: that was tough. To better understand what happened on test day, Strategic Test Prep founder Laura Whitmore sat down with two experienced SAT tutors—Will, a Strategic Test Prep tutor and 1580 scorer, and Pranoy Mohaptra from PM Tutoring—to break down the exam. Their discussion revealed several important trends that future test-takers should pay attention to. Student

By Laura Whitmore If the June SAT is just days away and you feel like you haven't studied enough, you're not alone! Every test cycle, many students find themselves wishing they had started earlier. The good news is that what you do in the final days can still make a meaningful difference. While no one can learn months' worth of material overnight, smart preparation can help you maximize your score, avoid common mistakes, and walk into test day feeling more confident. Here are

By Laura Whitmore The June SAT is almost here, and one thing has become very clear after the March and May exams: the test is continuing to reward students who recognize patterns quickly and avoid wasting time on overly complicated approaches. At Strategic Test Prep, our tutors take every official SAT that’s administered. That means these predictions are based on real trends we’ve seen firsthand — not guesses. If you’re aiming for a higher score on the June test, especially i

By Laura Whitmore SAT grammar can feel straightforward… until the test throws in a sentence that looks completely wrong, sounds awkward, or hides the real subject in the middle of a giant phrase. In a recent SAT Grammar Battle, Laura from Strategic Test Prep teamed up with Rob from Penguin Test Prep to solve some of the trickiest Digital SAT grammar questions they could find. The twist? Neither tutor had seen the questions beforehand. What followed was a deep dive into posses

By Laura Whitmore Transition questions are one of the most predictable question types on the Digital SAT Reading and Writing section. They appear constantly throughout the exam, show up in some of the most important sentences in passages, and can easily account for 8–10 questions on test day. The good news is that transitions follow patterns. Once you understand those patterns, these questions become much easier and much faster. I’m Laura Whitmore, founder of Strategic Test P

By Laura Whitmore The May 2026 Digital SAT is officially behind us—and it gave us a very clear look at what’s changing on the test. From a tougher English Module 2 to new transition question formats and subtle math trends, this exam highlighted exactly where students struggled and where preparation needs to shift. In this breakdown, we’re walking through real test-day insights from one of our tutors who sat for the exam, so you can understand what actually showed up and how t

By Laura Whitmore If you’re gearing up for the May SAT administration, this is your final tune-up. The last week before the test isn’t about cramming more content—it’s about making smart, strategic adjustments that help you perform at your best on test day. I’m Laura Whitmore, a 1590 scorer and founder of Strategic Test Prep. I’ve been coaching the SAT for nearly 20 years, and these are the exact last-minute shifts my 1500+ students use to maximize their scores right before t

By Laura Whitmore If you’re taking the May SAT, preparation isn’t just about reviewing content—it’s about understanding patterns. Recent exams have shown clear trends in both the English and Math sections, and students who recognize these patterns can move faster and avoid common traps. Let’s walk through the most important predictions and how to approach them with confidence. English Section: Precision Over Speed A New Twist on Transitions One emerging trend is transition qu

By Laura Whitmore If your SAT is coming up and you haven’t really started studying yet, you’re not alone—and more importantly, you’re not out of time. The SAT English section might feel overwhelming at first, but once you understand how it’s structured, everything becomes far more manageable. The key is knowing what to study and in what order. Instead of randomly practicing questions, you need a clear progression. This guide breaks the SAT Reading and Writing section into fou

By Laura Whitmore What if you could see exactly how high scorers think through the SAT in real time? Not just the answers—but the shortcuts, decisions, and patterns behind every question. That’s exactly what my Bluebook Test 11 walkthrough delivers. And if you don’t have time to watch the full video , this post gives you a clear, structured summary of the most important takeaways so you can still learn the strategy behind the test. English Modules: Patterns Over Everything Th

You don't need to spend thousands on tutors or courses to hit your dream score. Here are the best free resources — and exactly how to use them. By Laura Whitmore Scoring above a 1500 on the SAT is no small feat. It takes real effort, smart strategy, and consistent practice. But here's the good news: you don't need an expensive tutor or a paid course to get there. There are powerful, completely free tools available right now that can help you break through that barrier — if yo

Master the Digital SAT English section with these expert tips covering grammar, reading comprehension, vocabulary, time management, and test-taking strategies. Perfect for students aiming for 1500+ scores. By Laura Whitmore If you're preparing for the SAT, you already know that the English section can make or break your score. Whether you're struggling with grammar rules, running out of time on reading passages, or getting tripped up by tricky vocabulary questions, having the

By Laura Whitmore The March 2026 Digital SAT is officially over, and students are asking the same big questions: Was the test harder than expected? Was the English tougher than the math? How similar was it to the Bluebook practice tests? In this post, we break down our senior tutor’s real reaction immediately after taking the March SAT and highlight the biggest takeaways students should know moving forward. Laura Whitmore, founder of Strategic Test Prep, sat down with top

By Laura Whitmore The March SAT is almost here, and if you're looking for last-minute strategies to boost your score, you're in the right place. These proven tips have helped our students consistently score 1500+ on the Digital SAT. With the test just days away, cramming 400 new concepts won't help. What will help? Strategic execution tips that can immediately improve your performance. Here are the exact last-minute shifts that have made the biggest difference for high scorer

By Laura Whitmore If you’re searching for March SAT predictions and want to know what will be on the March SAT, you’re in the right place. This guide breaks down the most likely question types for the March Digital SAT so you can walk into test day feeling prepared, confident, and ready to score your best. I’m Laura Whitmore, founder of Strategic Test Prep. I scored a 1590 on the SAT, and my team helps high-scoring students across the country hit ambitious Digital SAT score g

By Laura Whitmore If you’re preparing for the 2026 Digital SAT, you’ve probably gotten comfortable using Desmos for almost everything. But here’s the reality: the College Board is getting smarter. Some SAT Math problems are now designed to look like calculator questions —but actually require strong algebra and geometry fundamentals to solve correctly. This circle problem explained in this post is a perfect example. 👉 Don't feel like reading? Watch the full video here. ⚡️