Chariot Learning
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Our Curriculum
    • Areas Chariot Learning Serves
  • Services
    • SAT & ACT Prep
    • SAT/ACT TestFlip
    • Academic Coaching
    • Subject Tutoring
    • Strategic Reading Club
    • Proctored Practice Tests
    • GRE Prep
    • College Essay Coaching
    • Roots2Words
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Contact
January 26, 2018 by Mike Bergin

One Secret to Seriously Strong Test Scores

High stakes standardized tests like the SAT & ACT distribute scores along a massive bell curve, where most test takers fall within the big part of the bell. Anyone taking one of these tests seeks to score as far to the right on that curve as possible, knowing that only 1% of the population can score in the 99th percentile. But what if you found out about an online community–free and accessible to anyone–where more than one out of every two members score in the 99th percentile on the ACT. Would you want to join?

Before I reveal this magical society of testing savants, we should talk about basketball. Bobby Knight, a legend of men’s college basketball, retired as one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history. And, as you’d expect of someone often described as “winningest,” Knight shared a few thoughts on the topic of winning, including one timeless gem:

“The key is not the will to win… everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.”

The will to prepare to win describes the work that takes place long before the game begins. We recognize that will to win in athletes who spend all day on the court or the field or the track or the gym. We quantify that will to win in terms of hours that become days that become weeks, months, and years of practice and preparation. If you want to find athletes that truly want to overcome all the competition, you know where to look: they’ll be hanging out with coaches, trainers, and other driven athletes. The will to prepare to win becomes a culture that attracts its natural citizens.

So where do hang out if you want to win at the SAT & ACT? Would you believe Reddit?

In the ever-evolving world of online forums and social media, Reddit is a leading social news aggregation and discussion site. Often referred to as ‘the front page of the Internet,’ Reddit is organized into countless subreddits covering every topic imaginable… even standardized tests. One brilliant Reddit user and current high schooler Theriley106 explored the community involved in the ACT subreddit by comparing the ACT scores of 2143 flaired users or flairs, meaning commenters who affiliate their usernames with /r/ACT, against those of the entire 2,030,038 students who took the ACT in 2017. The results were astonishing:

  1. 34 is the most common composite score on the ACT Subreddit, making up roughly 16.8% of flaired users, while 18 is the most commonly received ACT Score for the general population
  2. 57.82% of flaired users have scored in the 99th percentile.
  3. 10.03% of flaired users have scored perfect scores on the ACT, compared with the general population’s 0.14%


The Data Visualization of /r/ACT User Flairs vs. General Population Composite Scores – Wow!

This does not mean that simply visiting /r/ACT will earn you a higher score on the ACT. Simply commenting on the /r/ACT won’t necessarily help either. But, as clearly as this limited dataset can illustrate, those who participate in the ACT subreddit so actively that they identify themselves online with that group go on to earn much, much higher scores than the general population.

The will to prepare to win is as crucial in testing as it is in sports. If you really want to earn seriously strong test scores, you have to walk the walk. Test prep is a culture that you can immerse yourself in. Start with the online SAT and ACT communities on Reddit, ask testing questions on Quora (I may answer it), and explore the test prep forums at College Confidential. These are the gyms and tracks and fields of winning test takers, where a community of curiosity and commitment feed excellence. Put in the work and use coaches as needed, but remember that your best scores start with your will to prepare to win.

commitment inspiration preparation success

Previous articleDo Colleges Look at SAT EBRW or Just Reading?Next article 3 Testing Questions To Always Ask Colleges
Mike Bergin
Tens of thousands of students a year prep for the SAT & ACT through programs Mike Bergin created or organized. After more than 25 years of intensive experience in the education industry, he's done it all as a teacher, tutor, director, curriculum developer, blogger, podcaster, and best-selling author. Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Helping high schoolers with tests, school, and life is what Chariot Learning is all about. Let us know how we can help you!

Latest Posts

  • How to Read Percentiles
  • Do SAT & ACT Subscores Matter?
  • Evaluating College ROI
  • What to Read This Summer
  • Best of Luck to June Test Takers!

What is TestFlip?

Learn about the ultimate in self-directed supplemental SAT/ACT prep, powered by Chariot Learning:

  • Do not waste time thinking about what you could have done differently. Keep your eyes on the road ahead and
    by chariotlearning 2 days ago
    Do not waste time thinking about what you could have done differently. Keep your eyes on the road ahead and
  • When someone says you can
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    When someone says you can't do it, do it twice and take pictures!
  • Set goals that are *almost* out of reach.
    by chariotlearning 1 week ago
    Set goals that are *almost* out of reach.
  • You have no idea what you can "survive" until you have no choice!
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    You have no idea what you can "survive" until you have no choice!
  • Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. Here
    by chariotlearning 3 weeks ago
    Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. Here's to your success!
  • Be patient when becoming someone you haven
    by chariotlearning 6 days ago
    Be patient when becoming someone you haven't been before.
  • Being intelligent is not a felony but may get you in trouble anyway ;)
    by chariotlearning 1 week ago
    Being intelligent is not a felony but may get you in trouble anyway ;)
  • Life is about
    by chariotlearning 2 weeks ago
    Life is about 'not knowing' and then doing something anyway. Get good at it!

Subscribe to Mike’s Podcast

Subscribe to Tests and the Rest

PARENT GROUP AND NEWSLETTER

Are you an Upstate New York parent with questions about college admissions, testing, and scholarships? The Upstate NY College Conversations Facebook group is for you. Join today!

And also sign up for College Road, our free email newsletter delivering expert educational advice, test news, admissions action steps, special offers, and more.

Upcoming Events

  1. SAT/ACT Extended Class – Summer Mornings 2022

    July 6 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
  2. SAT/ACT Online Flipped Class – July 2022

    July 6 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  3. Practice SAT – Brighton (7/8/22)

    July 8 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  4. Practice ACT – Pittsford Library (7/12/22)

    July 12 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
  5. SAT/ACT Extended Class – Summer Evenings 2022

    July 12 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

View All Events

Testimonials

Mike Bergin was instrumental in meeting our son's goal of raising his ACT score. Mike provided him with a structure and way of learning that allowed him to perform much better, raising his composite score a full 6 points.

Lisa , Brighton mom

Read more testimonials...
© 2022 Chariot Learning, LLC. All rights reserved.