Math. The sheer word can strike terror in the hearts of parents and students alike. I’ve been tutoring math for 13 years, and the number of technology tools to help students learn math has grown exponentially. For those times when you need some extra support, here is my top collection of resources for more practice and help (I am not paid for any of these recommendations):

WORSKHEETS

Sometimes all that’s needed is some extra practice. Here are some websites that can allow you to create or locate free worksheets:

www.kutasoftware.com

Free, pre-created worksheets for every primary concept pre-algebra through calculus.

www.math-drills.com 

While not as extensive as Kuta Software, Math-Drills still has a robust number of math worksheets available. 

www.effortlessmath.com

A collection of math worksheets, practice problems and videos for Algebra 1, Algebra 2, the PSAT and the SAT. 

www.softschools.com

This website is massive, with a huge collection of games, wo...

UPDATED: 2024 TENNESSEE PROMISE APPLICATION DEADLINE - NOVEMBER 1

Want personalized help on the college prep process? Schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation with college prep expert Matthew Bullington here!

Okay, so I'm just going to say, if you don't live in Tennessee, this post isn't for you.

Talk to you later!

But...if you do (like myself) live in the great state of Tennessee, keep reading...

I received a question last week asking "what is the difference between the Tennessee Hope Scholarship and the Tennessee Promise?"

Fair question. 

While the TN websites for each are fairly straightforward, there really isn't that much that concisely deals with what the difference is between the two, so I wanted to address that here.

SHORT ANSWER: The Tennessee Hope Scholarship is a 4-year scholarship funded by the state lottery that can be applied to any college/university in Tennessee.

The Tennessee Promise Scholarship covers the full tuition for an associate's degree at certain eligib...

Want my FREE 10-Page ACT Prep Guide? Visit here to download, and you can learn more about my Online ACT Prep Course here (with both 4 and 16 week study plans, and access to both Magoosh and Study.com's ACT Prep Courses!).

One of my ACT students emailed me asking "Should I sign up for Test Information Release (also referred to as TIR)?" so I wanted to address that issue and talk about choosing your test dates.

Test Schedule Overview

The ACT is typically offered 7 times a year: September, October, December, February, April, June and July. 

You can take the ACT multiple times, and should plan on taking the exam 3-4 times to reach your target score (and prepping for each of those dates!). So with that in mind, let's break down some considerations:

When To Take Your First Test

Your first test should typically be during either your Junior year (or your Sophomore year if you are ahead in math). On the ACT, math is the limiting factor (it covers topics from Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geome...