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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

By Laura Whitmore ⏰ The SAT is almost here — and you’ve only got one to two weeks left to study. Don’t panic! You can still make meaningful progress and raise your score in a short amount of time if you focus strategically. Whether you’ve barely started or you’re aiming for that last 100-point boost before test day, this guide will walk you through exactly what to do in your final stretch. 👉 Don't feel like reading? Watch the full video here . 💡 Step 1: Diagnose Your Wea

By Laura Whitmore The October 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 focus on grammar and strategy so you can walk into test day confident and ready. I’m Laura Whitmore, founder of Strategic Test Prep. After 18 years of coaching students, I’ve seen that even the smallest grammar shortcuts can save time and add points. Here are my 10 best October SAT last minute tips . 👉 Do

By Laura Whitmore Oh, magic eightball… are all my predictions for the October SAT correct? It is certain. Hi everyone, Laura here with STP. I’ve channeled my inner fortune teller, consulted my trusty magic eightball, and I’m ready to share my top eight predictions for the October SAT . These aren’t wild guesses—they’re based on nearly two decades of SAT teaching experience and patterns I’ve seen again and again on the test. By the end of this post, you’ll feel like a true SAT

By Laura Whitmore With the September SAT just around the corner, you might be feeling nervous, rushed, or unsure about how to make the most of the final days before test day. Don’t worry—you’re not alone, and you’re not out of time. In this post, I’m sharing 8 powerful last-minute SAT tips (straight from my YouTube video) that can help you boost your score fast. 👉 Don't feel like reading? Watch the full video here . ⭐️ College Board just released brand-new questions to

By Laura Whitmore If you’re taking the September 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 September SAT —covering both Engli

By Laura Whitmore If you’re prepping for the SAT, you already know how tough the English module can get! Recently, College Board released about 300 brand-new SAT questions, and many of them are trickier than anything we’ve seen before. Why should you care? Because whenever new questions drop, similar versions often show up on the actual test. That makes these essential practice if you’re testing in late 2025. 👉 Don’t feel like reading? Watch my full YouTube video now. And

By Laura Whitmore With the August SAT just around the corner, you might be feeling nervous, rushed, or unsure about how to make the most of the final days before test day. Don’t worry—you’re not alone, and you’re not out of time. In this post, I’m sharing 10 powerful last-minute SAT tips (straight from my YouTube video) that can help you boost your score fast. 👉 Watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-EjhxatuKA ⭐️ College Board just released brand-ne