Tag: 10th grade

AP, IB, Honors, and More: High School Course Selection

Posted by: admin on February 15th, 2022

Choosing high school coursework requires thoughtful, year-by-year planning. This is important, because selecting the right courses for yourself will ensure that you are engaged and challenged and that you enjoy your work. In addition, the courses you take will directly impact your college planning. Your transcript — that is, your academic record — traces the […]

High School Course Selection: Plan, Balance, and Tell Your Story

Posted by: admin on April 12th, 2021

One of the most critical and yet often least-considered choices you make in high school is your annual selection of classes. Through 8th grade, your classes have mostly been decided for you, but with the freedom and independence of high school comes the pressure of starting to determine your own academic pathway. Some students float […]

Taking a Sophomore PSAT: How and Why?

Posted by: admin on January 18th, 2021

You might have noticed that the PSAT that usually happens in the fall didn’t happen this year. As of now, the rescheduled date is January 26, though actually hosting the test remains at the discretion of your school. If you’ve already been notified about the test happening, that’s great! If not, PrepMatters is hosting a […]

7 Ways to Take Advantage of Sophomore Year (2021-22 ed.)

Posted by: admin on October 12th, 2020

The transition from freshman to sophomore year of high school is rooted in the refinement of your goals and intentions. You’ll want to continue shaping exactly what it is that defines your passions and vision so that you can set yourself up to successfully pursue those interests with direction and challenge yourself with a strong academic […]

Science: What’s in a Name?

Posted by: admin on October 5th, 2020

Welcome to physics, chemistry, or biology class, young scientist. Here you sit, excited to unravel the mysteries of the universe — to learn how the interplay of unseen forces can impress themselves upon matter at a distance, how a confusion of billions upon billions of molecules conspires to produce properties you can see and touch, […]

Test Prep: How Soon is Too Soon?

Posted by: admin on May 14th, 2020

We get tons of questions from sophomores about when to start preparing for the SAT or ACT. In most years, we advise students to hold off on any test prep until sophomore year is in the books. Why? Well, the number one indicator of where you get to go to college is your grades, so […]

I’m Going into STEM. Why Do I Need to Learn to Write?

Posted by: admin on May 6th, 2020

A scientist I worked with once said, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an equation is worth a thousand pictures.” Those of you laughing right now are probably STEM students. You know, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. You dream big dreams of curing cancer AND the flu. Perhaps you’re already testing machine learning […]

Why Do I Have to Outline? (And Other Tips for Starting Your Essay)

Posted by: admin on September 19th, 2019

Have you ever gotten halfway through a writing assignment, only to realize you have no idea what you’re saying or if you’re even addressing the topic? Yeah, us too. That’s why one of the first assignments you’re likely to get this year is the dreaded paper outline. Outlines might seem like busy work engineered by […]

Plan: Think Before You Act

Posted by: admin on April 30th, 2019

By John Jones & Maureen Delaney “Look before you leap!” This phrase means you should think, pay attention, and have your wits about you — before you make your move. It is important to think ahead and make up your own mind about what to do next so that you don’t wind up with an unwelcome […]

How NOT to Take a Practice Test

Posted by: admin on April 25th, 2019

Practice testing is an essential part of your prep for a standardized test. When taking a practice SAT, ACT, or other standardized exam, you’ll get the opportunity to answer former or approximate test questions in a simulated testing environment. The feedback you will receive and the stamina you will build by sitting for practice tests […]