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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

By Laura Whitmore Struggling with tricky SAT questions that seem to trip you up no matter how well you’ve prepared? Whether it’s confusing Math problems, subtle Reading traps, or questions designed to catch even the smartest students off guard, the SAT is full of surprises. But once you know the common traps and the strategies to avoid them, you can save time, improve accuracy, and boost your score. In this post, I break down eight of the most common SAT traps, covering both

By Laura Whitmore As the SAT continues in its digital format, many students use YouTube as a free supplemental resource  to support their preparation. While YouTube alone is rarely sufficient for complete SAT prep, several channels consistently provide clear explanations, practical guidance, and useful insights into how the test works. The channels listed below are not ranked . Each serves a different purpose depending on a student’s needs, whether that’s strategy refinement,

By Laura Whitmore If you’ve ever felt completely stuck on “logically completes the text” questions on the SAT, you’re not alone. These questions—also known as inference questions—are some of the most challenging on the entire English section. Even strong readers often lose points here, not because they don’t understand the passage, but because the reasoning feels subtle and time-consuming. The good news is that these questions are highly predictable. With the right strategies

By Laura Whitmore Running out of time on SAT Reading? Feeling overwhelmed by dense passages, tricky vocabulary, or confusing answer choices? In this post, I share my top 8 SAT Reading strategies that helped me score a 1590 on the SAT and that I teach my students to boost their SAT English scores. You’ll learn how to break reading passages into manageable chunks, annotate dense texts, spot trap answers, and stay precise with every choice. I also cover how to handle poems, tric

By Laura Whitmore SAT vocabulary is one of the most frustrating parts of the exam, and it’s something I see students struggle with all the time. I’m Laura Whitmore, founder of Strategic Test Prep, and after nearly two decades of coaching students through the SAT, I can confidently say this: vocabulary questions are not about memorizing endless word lists. They’re about understanding patterns, tone, and context. The SAT is designed so that even strong students will see unfamil

By Laura Whitmore If you’re preparing for the SAT, you’re probably asking the same questions thousands of students ask every year: When should I start? How long does prep really take? Is the SAT harder than the practice tests? In this post, Strategic Test Prep experts Laura Whitmore and Kristen Wagoner break down the most common SAT prep questions submitted by students and families—and give clear, honest answers based on real testing experience and years of working with high-

By Laura Whitmore You did it – the December digital SAT is done. 🎉 I’m Laura Whitmore , founder of Strategic Test Prep, longtime SAT educator, and someone who still sits for at least one SAT every year so I can stay sharp and guide students with real, firsthand experience. In this post, I’m recapping a live reaction conversation I had with my colleague Pranoy (PM Tutors)  about how the test felt, what surprised us, and how you can use your score report strategically  once s

By Laura Whitmore Ho ho ho — we’re kicking off the holiday season with a little academic cheer. With the December SAT right around the corner, I’m here to gift you my best last-minute strategies to help you squeeze out every possible point on test day. Think of these as your “SAT cheat codes,” wrapped up and delivered just in time. I’m Laura Whitmore, founder of Strategic Test Prep, and after 18 years of coaching SAT students, I can tell you this: even the smallest shortcuts

By Laura Whitmore It’s that time of year again—the holiday lights are coming out, your Spotify playlist is full of Mariah Carey, and the SAT is just around the corner. I’m Laura Whitmore from Strategic Test Prep, and after 18 years of coaching students (and earning a 1590 myself), I’ve learned how to recognize patterns in what the College Board loves to test. I also just took the November exam, which gives me an up-to-date perspective on what’s likely coming your way in Decem

By Laura Whitmore If SAT reading passages make you feel like you’re running in circles—reading the same lines over and over again and still thinking What did I just read? —you’re not alone. The digital SAT’s reading section is faster, denser, and trickier than before. But the good news is that you don’t need to read every word to get the answer right. In fact, after 18 years of tutoring and a 1590 on my recent SAT, I’ve developed a strategy that makes a huge portion of the re

By Laura Whitmore Hey everyone! I’m Laura Whitmore , founder of Strategic Test Prep , and I just took the November 2025 SAT  myself. This post breaks down everything you need to know — how this test compared to past exams, what sections were hardest, and what trends I’m seeing from College Board moving into 2026. I also invited two of my students who took the November SAT to share their experiences in some really insightful conversations! Want a break from reading? Head over

By Laura Whitmore The November SAT  is almost here, and if you’re in cram mode, don’t worry — you can still sharpen your score in the final days. These last minute SAT tips   are the exact test day hacks I use with my own students who score in the 1500s and land in the top 1%. I’m Laura Whitmore, founder of Strategic Test Prep. After 18 years of coaching students, I’ve seen that even the smallest shortcuts can save time and add points. I’ve pulled together 20+ last-minute tip

By Laura Whitmore If you’re taking the November 2025 SAT , you’re probably wondering what kinds of questions, rules, and problem types you should focus on as test day approaches. After 18+ years of coaching students, scoring a 1590 on the SAT , and releasing the very first SAT predictions video back in 2022 , I’ve developed a reputation for calling what’s going to show up on the test. This blog post breaks down my Top 10 Predictions for the November SAT —covering both English