Lifestyle

Things to Keep in Mind before Starting SAT Preps

Published

4 years ago

June 9, 2021

SAT is an entry-level exam used by most colleges and universities to make admission decisions. The SATsare multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered by the College Board.

Many high school students take the SAT, ACT, or both during the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. You should know that it is important to leave time to re-take the test if you need to raise your score before you apply to college. The SAT exam is held multiple times around the year; in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December.

You can never spend too much time preparing for the SATs. Some students spend months, while others try to finish preps in a couple of weeks. To know how long you need, it’s a good idea to take a free practice test available from the College Board and see how much you score. You can compare the total score and your section scores with to the scores of the schools you plan on applying to. The lower your score is compared to the school scores, the more time you should spend studying and preparing.

Of course, you should know that strategy matters when it comes to making the most of your test preparations. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get started.

First of all, understand the basics. The SAT length is 3 hours, you get additional plus 50 minutes for taking an optional Essay.

SAT is divided into three sections which are Mathematics, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Essay writing (optional).

SAT costs around $46 and $60 if also choose to take the essay test as well.

Moving forward, many students think that if they experience any test anxiety, then they are doomed to poor test performance. It is very normal to experience some level of anxiety when preparing for SATs. Anxiety is a part of the fight-or-flight response which helps you focusing and thinkingquickly. Instead of trying to get rid of your anxiety, you should keep a more balanced approach and don’t let the anxiety get to the point of panic as there’s no need to overly control your emotions.

Another great tip is that if you’re like most students at the start of their test prep journey, then you have a lot of different areas you could improve in. Anyhow, you should be zeroing in on a few key concepts and mastering them rather than trying to understand little bits of many things. By progressing through concepts one at a time, you’ll see more improvements in your score.

One more tip is that knowing math facts can help you solve questions quickly &efficiently, especially since you’ll likely be using at least some pencil and paper to find answers. It is recommended to students to review and brush up, include exponent rules and the common squares and cubes of numbers.

The Writing & Language Test is not only about testing your knowledge of grammar, but it makes up a big portion of it. The Standard English Conventions sub-score is based on 20 out of 44 questions, or about 5 questions per passage, and it is the canon-calculator sub-score to work on. There are many short books available at public libraries, or you can find grammar lessons online to help you as well.

Back to the mathematics test, many of these tips also apply to the Math with Calculator portion, but because they greatly improve your performance on the no-calculator portion, you should follow them.

Calculators allow you to easily work with decimals, so many of the no-calculator questions use fractions specifically. You should feel comfortable rewriting fractions, finding the least common denominators, and how to divide fractions

You should choose single-digit numbers or numbers like 10. You should not choose 1, because 1 has special mathematical properties that can lead you with two “correct” answers.

The fact that there are concepts and vocabulary terms needed to be memorized, Mathematics mirrors other subjects as well. Along with these, you must often know formulas. It is useful and recommended to make flashcards with the aforementioned terminologies to help remember them.

There are many coaching and classes available that can help you prepare for the SATs if you’re not able to study on your own. One such initiative is taken by the Randolph Foundation.

The Randolph Foundation strives to provide students with a high-quality education so that they can excel in their career paths. The Randolph Learning Center offers students an interactive space to study with all their needs as well.

Lifestyle

Never Too Late: G.A. Sallee’s Debut Thriller Is an Ode to Creative Timing

Published

7 days ago

October 7, 2025

Michelle Langton

G.A. Sallee’s journey to authorship didn’t begin in a college writing class or with a publishing contract in hand. It began with a lifelong love of storytelling, set aside during his military service. Now, with the release of his debut novel, True Crime: Fact or Fiction, Sallee proves that creative callings don’t come with expiration dates.

Writing Without a Deadline

Sallee first discovered his passion for writing in high school, but like many, life pulled him in different directions. Service in the U.S. Army, marriage, and the everyday responsibilities of adulthood filled the years. But the spark remained.

“Once I started again, it took on a life of its own,” he says. “Halfway through, I realized I was writing a real book.”

That realization mirrors a broader shift in the publishing world. According to Publishers’ Weekly, more than 60% of debut authors today are over the age of 40. Sallee joins this wave with a novel that’s both personal and poignant, shaped by experience and driven by heart.

Inside the Pages of True Crime: Fact or Fiction

The story centers on podcaster Scott Townsend, whose true crime series leads him to investigate a 5-year-old cold case. But when he uncovers a second murder echoing the first, his pursuit of the truth becomes increasingly dangerous. What started as a strategy to grow his audience spirals into something far more threatening.

As Scott’s motives shift and his safety unravels, the novel asks timely questions: When does storytelling cross the line into obsession? And what happens when the pursuit of justice becomes personal?

The title isn’t just about the podcast content: it reflects the uncertainty surrounding Scott’s own reality. Readers are invited to question what’s real, what’s constructed, and how far someone will go for the sake of a story.

A Life That Informs the Work

Sallee served in the Iraq War and currently lives in South Carolina with his wife, Sandrice, and their three dogs. His experiences inform his writing in quiet, powerful ways. Themes of duty, perseverance, and emotional complexity run through the narrative, lending it depth without ever becoming heavy-handed.

“My dog Jake would lie on my lap while I wrote. I’d type on his back for hours,” he recalls. That simple image speaks volumes about the warmth and humanity behind the suspense.

Beyond the military and family life, Sallee’s writing space is steeped in personal meaning. Surrounded by loved ones and memories, he crafts stories that are as much about human nature as they are about crime and mystery.

A Story That Resonates Beyond the Page

In a market often driven by fast-paced trends and debut authors in their twenties, Sallee’s voice offers something different: perspective. His storytelling isn’t flashy, but focused, clear, and emotionally grounded. Readers looking for depth over drama will find a welcome space here.

He writes not just to tell a story but to connect. ‘I want people to feel like they’re part of my journey,” he says.

What’s Next

While Sallee dreams of reaching bestseller lists and publishing more novels, his real success is in showing what’s possible when passion meets perseverance. His book is a reminder to anyone feeling the urge to create – there’s no wrong time to begin. Each word written is a step toward something meaningful.

If you’re searching for your next thriller or murder mystery with substance and heart, True Crime: Fact or Fiction deserves a place on your shelf.

You can learn more and follow G.A. Sallee’s journey at gasallee.com.