726. NEW TRENDS IN SAT READING & WRITING

726. NEW TRENDS IN SAT READING & WRITING

Author: Amy Seeley & Mike Bergin May 12, 2026 Duration: 34:47
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
EducationCourses

While the SAT changed in a very big way during the digital transition, the exam has continued to evolve in a way that test takers need to understand. Amy and Mike invited educator Lori Goldstein to review new trends in SAT Reading & Writing.

What are five things you will learn in this episode?

  1. How have the Words in Context questions changed?

  2. What is the new way in which "weaken the claim" questions are appearing?

  3. What is the new twist in the Transitions questions?

  4. What have been important changes to the Rhetorical Synthesis questions?

  5. Should students do RW module questions in order?

MEET OUR GUEST

Lori Goldstein grew up in NY and NJ and attended the University of Pennsylvania, earning a degree in Communications. She worked in television for a while (behind the scenes) and then took a job in Florida. Eventually, Lori started selling sailboats in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, which provided her the opportunity to go sailing every chance she had.

After raising her family, Lori decided to become a math teacher. She enrolled to get the credits needed to re-learn all the high school math that she had forgotten. This was actually fun for her, allowing her inner nerd to come out. She started tutoring kids in math. Eventually, one parent asked if she could help their daughter with the SAT. "Why not?" she said. The rest is history.

Lori previously appeared on this podcast in episode 235 for a Test Prep Profile and in episode 538 to discuss All About Digital SAT Reading & Writing.

Lori can be reached at circletestprep.com.

LINKS

Meet The Digital SAT: READING AND WRITING

RELATED EPISODES

RESOURCES FOR THE DIGITAL SAT

HOW THE DIGITAL SAT IS SCORED

THE NEW DIGITAL SAT EXPERIENCE: A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

NEW SAT TEST SPECIFICATIONS

ABOUT THIS PODCAST

Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

ABOUT YOUR HOSTS

Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright, Roots2Words, and College Eagle. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, get in touch through our contact page.

 


Navigating the complex world of college admissions can feel like a maze with ever-shifting walls. Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast, hosted by Amy Seeley and Mike Bergin, serves as a reliable guide through that maze. Instead of generic advice, their conversations delve into the nuanced realities of testing, admissions strategies, learning differences, and broader educational trends. They bring in leading experts to provide depth and clarity on the issues that matter most right now. Whether you're a parent trying to support your student, a counselor shaping guidance, or an educator within the system, this podcast offers substantive discussion that goes beyond the surface. Each episode aims to demystify the process, offering practical insights and thoughtful analysis. You'll hear honest talk about standardized tests, application essays, financial aid, and the many factors that shape decisions on both sides of the admissions desk. For anyone invested in understanding the journey to higher education-from students to consultants-this is a vital resource. Tune in for a consistently informative and straightforward take on an industry that affects so many futures.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
Tests and the Rest: College Admissions Podcast
Podcast Episodes
731. FINANCIAL AID HORROR STORIES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:32
Getting into your top choice college may feel like a dream come true, but figuring out how to pay for it can turn into a nightmare, especially when you don't know what you're doing. Amy and Mike invited financial aid exp…
730. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: StudySpaces & Assessiv [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:51
What if your PDFs could grade and track themselves? with educator Jam Mirzakhalov, Vinny Madera, and Aaron Golumbfskie What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind StudySpaces? How does S…
729. HOW COLLEGES USE AI IN ADMISSIONS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
With everyone in the world angling to access the benefits of artificial intelligence without succumbing to the plentiful pitfalls of excessive automation, you'd expect higher ed administrators to explore every way possib…
728. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: May 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:03
The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently focuses on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to dis…
727. BUSINESS VS ENGINEERING MAJORS FOR TECH-MINDED STUDENTS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:57
High schoolers who show advanced aptitude and interest in science and math often seem destined to concentrate on STEM in college. Surprisingly, though, many choose a more financially focused track. Amy and Mike invited c…
725. TAKING A MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM COLLEGE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
As much as every student anticipates four or more years of perfect health during their undergraduate studies, life happens. Luckily, illness or injuries don't need to mean an end to your academic journey, especially if y…
723. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:40
The Tests and the Rest podcast consistently focuses on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to dis…
722. GETTING READY FOR THE AP BIOLOGY EXAM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:57
Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited…
721. WHEN ACADEMIC PRESSURE TURNS INTO BEHAVIORAL ISSUES [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:05
Pressure is a privilege, according to Billie Jean King, who said it's what you do with it that matters. Millions of students, however, may beg to disagree about the privilege part, and what many of them do with it impede…

12345...10»