The Knewton Blog

Sick of flipping through the Blue Book for sample Reading Comprehension passages and toting stacks of flashcards around to practice vocabulary? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite short fiction to help you prepare for the SAT, college, and beyond. As you read, be sure to note unfamiliar words and quiz yourself about the story’s structure, point of view, and argument, if applicable. With these engaging page-turners, SAT prep might even begin to seem –… Read more

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Christina Yu is a Content Developer at Knewton, where she helps students with their SAT prep. As a former lecturer in English lit, I love the concept of a “reading list.” In honor of all the reading lists that have shaped my life, here is my stab at the tradition, combining classics with “modern classics” to help jump-start your SAT prep–and any future literary pursuits! 1. At a little over a hundred pages, Washington Square

Posted in Critical Reading Guide, SAT, SAT Tips | 26 comments

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Alex is a Content Developer for the Knewton SAT prep course. He thinks he’s super funny, though he’s only very funny. The best way to learn vocab words is to come across them in context in books, in conversations with teachers or parents, on television shows over and over again until you understand what they mean and know how to use them. Unfortunately, this process happens naturally over time; cramming context clues the day before… Read more

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Alex Sarlin is the Lead Verbal Developer at Knewton. He moonlights as Knewton’s designated SAT Prep Archangel. Welcome to the fourth installment of “Evil SAT Trick of the Week.” As always, we want to remind you that the makers of the SAT are not evil. They do not break laws, for example (we assume). They do not kick dogs or shift their eyes back and forth or wear goatees. Unfortunately, some of the traps that… Read more

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Meghan Daniels is the Associate Editor at Knewton Sometimes, it seems like there are enough SAT prep tips out there to fill up the Grand Canyon. Everyone seems to have an opinion on how to conquer the test–from people who know (teachers and tutors) to people who don’t (your grandmother, the postman…). With all that advice, it can sometimes be difficult to figure out what’s really important: What will make or break your score? Knewton is here… Read more

Posted in Critical Reading Guide, Math Guide, SAT, SAT Tips, Writing Section Guide | 7 comments

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This post is from our friend Caroline Romano @ VocabVideos.com, where you learn the SAT vocabulary you need to know. Vocab Videos uses really funny short vocabulary videos to illustrate the meanings of 500 of the most frequently appearing SAT vocabulary words, making them easy to learn and remember. When it comes to vocabulary, the rich get richer. On standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, knowing your vocabulary quite literally pays off when it… Read more

Posted in Critical Reading Guide, SAT, SAT Tips | 6 comments

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Alex Sarlin, Knewton’s resident Archangel, is also the Lead Verbal Developer for our SAT course, where he helps good triumph over evil, one SAT score at a time. The SAT is not evil. It is a normal multiple-choice test that you take in a normal classroom with a normal #2 pencil. The questions all have five answers, and one is always right. They only keep you for a few hours, and they just want to… Read more

Posted in Critical Reading Guide, SAT, SAT Tips | 4 comments

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