The SAT is boring.
Learning to Ace It
Doesn’t Have To Be.

if you’re reading this sentence

…there’s a pretty good chance you or a teenager whose cell phone bill you pay will be taking the SAT or ACT and applying to college sometime soon. You may be feeling a little stressed by the whole process, or (more likely) you may be feeling very stressed by the whole process. After all, when did college admissions become so, well, insane?

At The Playbook, we can’t do anything about the tests themselves, but we can change the way that students approach preparing for exams and applying to college. Whether you’re looking to ace the verbal sections of the SAT, learn shortcuts for ACT challenging math problems, or craft a college application essay that will linger in the minds of admissions officers, we have a proven playbook to help you achieve your goal.

Oh, and one more thing:

We’re not boring! We realize most high school students, even ones in seventeen A.P. classes, would rather do pretty much anything other than study for the SAT or ACT. In fact, we’ve even compiled a list of 1,000 Things Most Teenagers Would Rather Do Than Prep for the SAT or ACT right here. That’s why we strive to make our courses not only comprehensive but also engaging and fun. (Well, fun for a prep class.) The SAT and ACT may be boring, but learning to ace them doesn’t have to be.

elite courses

Specialized programs for highly-ambitious students targeting perfect or near-perfect scores.

locally sourced. eco-friendly.
and 100% non-gmo.

From an engineer who plays the banjo to a linguist who leads mission trips to Haiti, our instructors are creative, conscientious, intellectually-feisty, and—above all—committed to you.
Meet the mighty minds who call The Playbook home.

Adam

University of Michigan-educated. Handsomely bespectacled. And gifted with any instrument capable of being strummed.

Corrine

Duke-educated. Super into skiing. And head over wheels for roller derby.

John

Northwestern-educated. Devoted to data. And keen on anything relating to writing, performing, and live music.

latest articles & advice

We can’t tell you how to achieve a flatter tummy or the 11 secret superfoods you should be eating (though we at The Playbook are pretty fond of Goji berries, for what it’s worth).

However, we can tell you all about college admissions and testing, so check out our latest articles for up-to-date information and advice, from the questionable value of being well-rounded to COVID’s impact on the SAT and ACT.

COVID’s Impact on the SAT

The pandemic has affected the role of standardized tests in college admissions, but don’t throw away your No. 2 pencils just yet.

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The SAT vs. the ACT Settled Once and for All (Well, Kind of)

The SAT and ACT—bitter archenemies since the dawn of No. 2 pencils—are far more alike than they’ve ever been before, but there are still important differences students need to consider.

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The PSAT: A Very Important Test That Doesn’t Really Matter (Except When It Does)

Does the PSAT actually count for anything or is it simply practice?

Read More