ACT — Online Tutor, Test Prep Coach, and College Counselor's Tips for Parents, Students, and Educators

Do I Need to Pay to Send My SAT and AP Scores to Colleges?

Not sure 🤔 whether to send official SAT score reports to colleges when you can report the scores for free on the Common App? Dr. P. has answers to this and other questions on when, why, and how to best use SAT score reports.

ACT, algebra, college, college counseling, communication, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, financial aid, parenting, PSAT, SAT, teens, tutor, tutoringDominique PaduranoJanuary 26, 2026Crimson Coaching LLCSAT tutoring servicesComment

Last Minute SAT and ACT Prep

Got just a week or two to study for your upcoming SAT or ACT? Dr. P. has three actionable tips for anybody undertaking last minute SAT prep or last minute ACT prep.

ACT, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, finals, math, PSAT, reading, SAT, scheduling, study skills, teens, time management, tutorDominique PaduranoDecember 1, 2025Crimson CoachingComment

Tips for Improving Your SAT (and ACT) Math Score

Effective ACT or SAT math test prep doesn't mean taking practice test after practice test. Instead, try these three low- and no-cost habits that one of my students used to increase his SAT Math score by 200 points.

ACT, algebra, books, college, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, goal setting, math, PSAT, SAT, study skills, teensDominique PaduranoOctober 28, 2025Crimson Coaching LLCSAT math test prepComment

Tips for Improving Your SAT Reading Writing or ACT Reading and English Scores

Improving your SAT Reading Writing score doesn’t require sitting in boring prep classes all fall. Do these three things every day for 6-10 weeks alongside your other prep and I guarantee your Reading Writing score will increase.

ACT, college, college counseling, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, PSAT, reading, SAT, scheduling, study skills, teens, time management, tutoringDominique PaduranoAugust 31, 2025Crimson CoachingComment

Read, Read, Read To Boost Your SAT Score

The digital SAT’s Reading Writing section has changed MUCH more than the Math. Its emphases on vocabulary and poetry are new — at a time when students are reading less varied, less complex texts in school. But fear not! Dr. P.’s got three tips to help students begin to build these key skills.

ACT, books, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, PSAT, reading, SAT, teensDominique PaduranoDecember 1, 2024Crimson CoachingSAT coachComment

Independence Day Math

Americans love the idea that we’re all created equal — especially around July 4. But not every 4.0 GPA was created equal — especially when that comes to math. In this post, Dr. P. takes a look at how our embrace of equality has flattened teens’ grades to the upper tier — and why this might be a bad thing for those applying to college.

How to Improve Your ACT or SAT Reading Score

Improving your score on the reading section of the SAT or ACT is often more difficult than on any other section. But, with Dr. P.’s three tips, it just got a little easier.

ACT, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, PSAT, reading, SAT, summer, teens, tutor, tutoring, writingDominique PaduranoJune 1, 2024Crimson Coaching Comment

Qualities of an Excellent ACT Coach

Students have many options when preparing for the ACT. Group classes. Self study. Private tutor. If you're looking for real results, one-on-one tutoring is the most efficient way to achieve them. In this post, Dr. P. lists the qualities that make for a great ACT coach.

ACT, college, communication, exams, math, mental health, reading, scheduling, self-esteem, study skills, summer, teens, time management, tutor, tutoringDominique PaduranoMay 24, 2024Crimson CoachingACT coachComment

How and Why To Take Just Two SATs or ACTs

Ever wonder how many SATs or ACTs you should take? Or when you should take them? Or how you should prepare? Dr. P.’s got all that — and more! — covered in three easy steps!

ACT, college, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, PSAT, SAT, scheduling, time managementDominique PaduranoMay 3, 2024Crimson Coaching LLCACT tutorComment

Why Algebra Is Vital for Teens' Intellectual and Emotional Growth

Longtime algebra tutor Dr. P. explains that there are important intellectual, academic, and psychoemotional benefits waiting for students who master algebra's challenges.

ACT, college counseling, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, math, mental health, PSAT, SAT, self-esteem, summer, teens, tutor, tutoring, algebraDominique PaduranoMay 1, 2024Crimson Coachingalgebra tutorComment

Taming Test Anxiety

Test anxiety can cripple students' performance on the SAT, ACT, APs, and other high-stakes exams. But it doesn't have to be this way. In this short post, Dr. P. (Dominique Padurano, Ph.D.) provides three actionable strategies to tame test anxiety.

ACT, college, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, mental health, parenting, PSAT, SATDominique PaduranoApril 7, 2024Crimson Coachingtest anxietyComment

Scheduling Effective Test Prep

Many students have great expectations for their standardized test scores. But they’re sometimes unrealistic about the amount of time and work it takes to achieve them. After thirty years in the test prep industry, Dr. P. supplies three, common sense rules to scheduling effective test prep.

ACT, college, digital PSAT, digital SAT, extracurricular activitie, extracurriculars, goal setting, mental health, parent teen relationship, parenting, PSAT, SAT, scheduling, teens, time managementDominique PaduranoMarch 16, 2024Crimson Coachingtest prep coachComment

Welcome "Test Flexible" to the Admissions Requirements Smorgasbord!

Not sure what Yale’s “test flexible” admissions policy means? Or how about the University of California’s “test blind” policy? Dr. P. breaks it all down.

ACT, college, college counseling, college essays, digital PSAT, digital SAT, finals, parenting, PSAT, SATDominique PaduranoFebruary 27, 2024Crimson Coachingcollege counselorComment

Ripple Effects of Dartmouth's SAT Decision

Dr. P. offers explanations — and a silver lining — of Dartmouth’s reinstatement of the SAT / ACT requirement for first year applications.

ACT, college, digital PSAT, digital SAT, exams, PSAT, SATDominique PaduranoFebruary 16, 2024Crimson CoachingSAT tutorComment

Course Selection Matters

Dr. P. recommends enrolling and excelling in college prep courses in high school to bolster chances of selective college admissions.

ACT, college, college counseling, digital SAT, goal setting, letter of recommendation, parent teen relationship, parenting, personal statement, PSAT, SAT, scheduling, student teacher relations, summer, time managementDominique PaduranoFebruary 8, 2024Crimson Coaching LLCcollege counselorComment

Practice Makes Progress -- But Not So Fast!

Dr. P. lays out a study plan for the Class of 2025 for the March, May, and June SATs, including how to deal with the lack of real digital practice tests.