August 23rd SAT and Summer Wind-Down

Energy on Campus This Week

There was an energy on campus this week that I hadn’t felt all summer. As many of you know, I’m still a full-time teacher, and I live just a short walk from the academy where I work. One of the perks of that is being able to take my lunch break or a dinner break and get some steps in around the track — a little exercise, a little sunshine. My wife and I love it.

Summer break is my time to help as many SAT students as possible succeed and reach their goals for college and beyond. Yet, this week reminded me of why I do what I do.

As I made my way to the track, I saw some of my high school students returning early to campus for sports. They greeted me with big hugs, waves, and smiles. That moment — simple but full of meaning — reminded me how special this work is.

My own school year doesn't officially begin until August 18, with classes starting the last week of the month, so I still have a few solid weeks to focus on test prep. That said, once school begins, I’ll need to shift my tutoring hours to mornings or evenings — and I imagine many of you will need to as well. I don’t see it as a hurdle, just a heads-up that some schedule adjustments will be coming.

What about you? What are you passionate about?

August SAT Thoughts and Reminders

Let’s keep in mind that the August 23 SAT is two weeks away from today, and right on its heels comes the September 13 test. Our time is precious. Between the start of school, sports, musical rehearsals, theater, and everything else that fills a student’s life, the calendar is about to get full — fast.

So let’s stay focused. Let’s put in our best effort between now and those first two test dates of the school year. If we do that, we’ll be in a strong position — not just to score well, but to feel confident about the journey ahead.

College Applications Are Open!

Also, especially for you rising seniors: the Common App is officially open as of August 1st. There are a few changes this year to Common App, notably visual updates to the interface, a new "Challenges and Circumstances" section in the activities section, and a general reduction in word count for the additional info section from 650 to 300 words.

Regardless of the changes, now’s the time to lean into every tool you have to stay organized — fill out those applications, track your deadlines, and stay on top of things. Hopefully, by now you’ve already secured your teacher recommendations and are deep into your college essays. If not, that’s okay — but it’s definitely time to shift into high gear.

You should be editing your drafts, not just starting them. If there's anything I can do to help with your essays or application strategy, just let me know. I’m here to support however I can.

SAT Vocabulary Quizzes

Students, if you're not taking advantage of the vocabulary quizzes I've built, you're behind the curve. As I've noted many times before, the SAT reuses many words from test to test, like "ubiquity," "tenuous," etc. These quizzes are designed to give you an advantage over students who don't think it's worthwhile to study vocabulary. Don't take it from me, take it from one of my students who took the June SAT:

Hi Mr. John, I felt that the vocab was easier but the actual reading comprehension felt a bit more difficult this time around. Thank you for the vocab tips because I felt like those helped me on a couple of the questions!

Follow the link below and start studying! I recommend scrolling to the bottom and working your way to the top. Do all the exercises, and generate your report at the end so you'll know which words you struggled with. Put those into a Knowt or Quizlet for extra practice.

Official SAT Vocab - Mr. John’s Test Prep

This page is dedicated to vocabulary quizzes based on official SAT* test reports—painstakingly built with the actual words that appeared on recent SAT exams according r/SAT, roots2words.com, and other reputable sources. If you’re aiming for a top-tier score in the Reading and Writing section, this is where your focused vocab work begins. *The SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, with whom Mr. John’s Test Prep has no affiliation nor endorsement.

Mr. John's Test PrepMr. John’s Test Prep

The SAT vs ACT Debate

One more note — I've been getting questions about the ACT. For those of you considering the ACT: the test has made some format updates this year, including refinements to its online testing option and some adjustments to question style.

The ACT is still quite different from the SAT. It’s a faster-paced test with more straightforward questions, but less time per question. It also includes a dedicated (optional) science section, which is more about reading charts and interpreting data than memorizing facts.

The SAT, on the other hand, gives you a bit more time per question and leans more heavily on reasoning and problem-solving. Some students find one test fits their style better than the other, so it’s worth exploring both — especially if you’re aiming for the best possible score for college admissions.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your child’s college readiness journey this summer. Let’s finish strong.

Warmly,

Mr. John