In the Parent's Guide, I talked about how if you have a sufficient command of the English language, when you hear grammar used incorrectly, it stands out to you. You can hear it just like a musician can hear a pitch that is off-key. Bad grammar jumps out to you.

One thing that will help improve your ability to detect incorrect grammar in a testing environment is to sound it out, either silently in your head, or mouthing out the words very quietly to yourself as you read it.

I'm not advocating annoying the other students you're testing with, but this is a valid technique.

Basically, by applying this technique, you will be drawing on all of your memories of hearing English spoken correctly, in addition to reading it. Believe it or not, that can give you a huge edge.

Also, in developing these skills, as you are reading the Elements of Grammar, which is one of the books I recommend in SAT ACT Mastery, you may want to read the examples aloud. Read both the correct and incorrect examples aloud and note the difference. That will help you develop your ear for correct grammar.

Grammar has its roots as a commonly accepted pattern of speaking and writing. The human brain has dealt with spoken word for a lot longer than it's dealt with written word. That's a plausible explanation for why when you're doing work with grammar, when you read it aloud and work through it aloud, you'll have an easier time with it.

In any event, regardless of my theories on the subject, try the spoken approach to grammar and see if it helps.

Read the sentences aloud, and it will become obvious to you where there is supposed to be a break or a comma, etc. etc. There are some things in grammar that are not intuitive like this, where you just have to remember what it looks like, but those are few and far between.

Check out my SAT book for more help on the SAT and the ACT.

SAT ACT MASTERY takes a different approach to achieving high scores on the ACT and SAT.  I made perfect scores on the SAT and ACT, and also had some experience with tutoring other students and successfully helped them to improve their scores as well.  

It is possible to score very well on these tests, but there is a certain path that you have to take in order to accomplish this.

Instead of giving you a load of extra work, math problems, passages to read, etc. etc. etc., I've left that to the established testing companies that have been publishing these books for decades.

Practicing the test over and over again or learning test-taking tricks aren't going to take you the entire distance on the SAT and ACT.  Instead, you have to get yourself up to the college level in your vocabulary, in your English skills, and your understanding of math.  After all, that's what the SAT and ACT are: college readiness exams.  This book shows you how to do that, without a bunch of exercises, busy work, or stress.

This book gives you tools to master your education while you're going through school, so that when you reach these tests, you perform well.

Oh, one more thing.  It isn't sized like a phone book.  It's a thin book, a quick read, and it will change your educational experience if you put it into practice.

I need help on a particular subject, like math or reading.  What do you recommend?

In addition to reading my book, there are many resources that I list in the "Recommended Reading" section of the book that will probably help you.

What is this website all about?

This website features my book, but I also hope it grows into a community hub for people looking for help and information on the ACT and SAT.  I'll try to always answer your comments and questions, so please feel free to post them.  If you have a question that you don't want visible on the site, email me.

How can I get in contact with you?

I prefer that you either comment here on the website or hit me up on facebook or twitter.  That way if you have a question or comment then everyone in the community can participate - and if someomne else has the same question they'll get it answered.

That being said, if there's something you'd prefer to talk to me directly about, email me or fill out this simple contact form.

How can I get your book?

Just click "Buy the Book Now" and follow the instructions provided.  If you're having difficulties, click here to fill out a customer support ticket.

Thou shalt read and read and read.

If you really got this image, with a flimsy paper rule book, and the commandment on monolithic stone the size of a giant boulder or maybe even Washington Monument, you'd have it about right.

Everything else in terms of test prep for the ACT and SAT rests on a solid foundation of reading and reading and reading.

One of the main reasons that those courses people pay thousands for to get their kids to perform better on standardized tests don't produce that much of a change is that it takes a considerable amount of reading to improve a score, no matter what, and that can't be done in a test prep class.

In the reading sections of the test, the ability to quickly absorb and dissect a passage is absolutely essential and only obtainable through a high volume of reading.

In the grammar section, if you don't know what "sounds right" in English you'll be lost, no matter how many rules you've memorized the month before the test.

And it goes without saying that a college level vocabulary is a must to truly perform well on the ACT and SAT, and that can only be arrived at through reading.  Flash cards can help, but will only get you so far.

What to read?

Anything, but particularly books AT YOUR READING LEVEL.  Fiction or non-fiction.

Try reading too far above your reading level (which is the level you're able to read comfortably and enjoy what you're reading without straining or getting lost or confused) and you won't be reading for long.  The difficulty will strip the fun out of it, and eventually you'll stop reading.

The whole point is to read a lot.  So why not make it easy on yourself?

What books are you reading now?