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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. ⚡️

By Kristen Wagoner As Strategic Test Prep's Client Success Manager, I work with students who come to us at all levels. Some are already scoring in the 1400s and want to break into the 1500s. Others are just getting started and trying to understand what the SAT even is in the context of college admissions. One question comes up often, especially early in the process. I’ll ask, “What’s your goal score?” And sometimes the question is bounced right back to me: “What should my go

By Laura Whitmore Most students fall into one of two camps on SAT Math: they either overuse Desmos or barely touch it at all. Both approaches can cost you time and points. The truth is, some SAT math problems are slower to solve with Desmos. But others become dramatically easier when you use it the right way. The key is learning to recognize the difference quickly. I’m Laura Whitmore, and I’ve been coaching the SAT for nearly 20 years. I founded Strategic Test Prep in 2021 to

By Kristen Wagoner As Strategic Test Prep's Client Success Manager supporting students aiming for top colleges, one of the most common questions I hear is: “How many times should I take the SAT?” Closely followed by: "Should I send all my scores?” “What does it mean to superscore?” “If a school is test-optional, should I submit my test score?” My answers often surprise families—especially those who assume taking the SAT more than once looks “bad” or that sending every score i

By Laura Whitmore When the digital SAT first came out, you could solve almost every math problem with Desmos and still move quickly. That’s not true anymore in 2026. The SAT has shifted, and there are now plenty of questions where Desmos doesn’t just fail to help—it actively slows you down. In some cases, it can even push you toward the wrong answer because of messy decimals, tricky sliders, or too many moving parts. I'm Laura Whitmore and I've been coaching the SAT for nea

By Laura Whitmore Not all Bluebook SAT practice tests are created equal. Some are far more representative of what students are actually seeing on official Digital SAT exams today, while others include outdated concepts or feel noticeably easier than the real thing. If you want your practice to accurately predict your real score and prepare you for test day, test selection matters. Below is my ranked list of the best Bluebook SAT practice tests , based on authenticity, diffic

By Laura Whitmore If SAT Reading feels inconsistent—especially if you’re already a strong student—the issue usually isn’t intelligence or effort. It’s how you’re reading. Many students approach SAT Reading the same way they approach English class: analyzing themes, making inferences, and reading between the lines. Unfortunately, that mindset costs points on the SAT. The digital SAT is designed to reward literal comprehension , not interpretation. Understanding this shift is