Best Testprep Podcasts (2025)

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644. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: April 2025 31:23

11h ago31:23

31:23

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and educati…

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643. A TEST TAKER’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ENHANCED ACT 33:16

4d ago33:16

33:16

The ACT has been a remarkably stable exam, administered in roughly the same way for decades. However, a new version is on the horizon, and some intrepid souls have braved the uncertainty of the field test to experience it. Amy and Mike invited someone who sat for the April 2025 Enhanced ACT to share the test taker’s perspective. What are five thing…

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642. GETTING READY FOR THE AP ECONOMICS EXAM 25:48

8d ago25:48

25:48

The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Economics is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Michael Rodriguez to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for gettin…

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641. GETTING READY FOR THE AP PRECALCULUS EXAM 23:41

11d ago23:41

23:41

The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and AP Precalculus is no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Joey Lin to share valuable strategies, insights, and resources for getting ready…

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640. GETTING READY FOR AP WORLD LANGUAGE EXAMS 28:22

13d ago28:22

28:22

The Advanced Placement exams represent some of the most challenging subject-specific standardized tests a high schooler might ever take, and the various AP World Language and Culture exams are no exception. Amy and Mike believe that every test warrants smart, serious preparation, so we invited educator Milton Alan Turner to share valuable strategie…

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639. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Wise 15:49

16d ago15:49

15:49

AKA Not Just Your Tutoring Software–It’s Your Tech Team What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Wise? How does Wise work? Who currently uses Wise? What kinds of outcomes do users experience? What should someone curious about Wise know about it? ABOUT WISE Founded by a former test prep tutor, Wise is a feature-p…

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638. MENTAL MATH AND AUTOMATICITY 25:25

19d ago25:25

25:25

Mental math trains working memory, boosts confidence, supports faster problem-solving, enhances number sense, and facilitates everyday calculations. So why do so many teachers deemphasize this valuable academic and life skill? Amy and Mike invited educator Mike McGibbon to explore the value of mental math and automaticity. What are five things you …

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637. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: ScoreSmart 26:17

23d ago26:17

26:17

A test platform by tutors and for tutors Better SAT and ACT Tests, Smarter Analytics with educators Sonya Muthalia and Neill Seltzer What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind ScoreSmart? Which tests does ScoreSmart support? Who currently uses ScoreSmart? What kinds of outcomes do users experience? What should som…

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636. THE COLLEGE PLEASING EPIDEMIC 27:54

26d ago27:54

27:54

You can’t please everyone, nor should you seek to, because then you won’t please anyone, least of all yourself. When actor Dylan Moran dispensed that bit of wisdom, he probably wasn’t aware of how aptly it applied to highly selective admissions. Amy and Mike invited education consultant Feiyang Liu to highlight the troubling college pleasing epidem…

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635. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps 16:57

30d ago16:57

16:57

Learn everything you need to ace the AP U.S and World History Exams in One Day What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps? How do Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps work? Do you need to live in Atlanta to attend Edison Prep AP History Boot Camps? What kinds of outcomes do users exp…

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634. DIVISION III AND IVY LEAGUE ATHLETIC RECRUITMENT 27:09

1M ago27:09

27:09

Many student athletes (or at least their parents) dream of earning a full ride to the college of their dreams. What most applicants find is that having sports on their resumes yields different but still substantial advantages. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Matt Arant to demystify Division III and Ivy League athletic recruitment. What …

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633. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: March 2025 27:29

1M ago27:29

27:29

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and educati…

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632. THE THREE CORE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND TEST PREP 26:56

1M ago26:56

26:56

Traits like cognitive flexibility and impulse control strongly influence student grades and test scores to such an extent that they may be best learned in an academic context. Amy and Mike invited educator Ariel Lieberman to explore the relationship between the three core executive functions and test prep. What are five things you will learn in thi…

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631. SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: MentoMind 19:32

1M ago19:32

19:32

Expanding your tutoring business with MentoMind with educators Amit Jain and Jeremy Bryant What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind MentoMind? How does MentoMind work to help with student outcomes? How does MentoMind work to help educators attract students? Who currently uses MentoMind? How is MentoMind helping …

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630. THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS PROFILE 31:29

2M ago31:29

31:29

So much of the college search and application process looks forward, focusing on the destination. Where a student is coming from matters quite a bit though. Amy and Mike invited educational consultants Aly Beaumont and Meg Joyce to explain the significance of the high school class profile. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What i…

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THE DIGITAL SAT: HOW IT STARTED AND HOW IT’S GOING 35:32

2M ago35:32

35:32

A year ago, an innovative new digital adaptive SAT came to the United States–a year after its first appearance internationally. This is the perfect time to find out how College Board feels about both the obstacles and opportunities encountered over this historic transition. Amy and Mike invited Vice President of SAT Suite Program Maureen Forman to …

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628. ADMISSIONS IMPLICATIONS OF ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS 26:45

2M ago26:45

26:45

While we generally profess to celebrate all interests and contributions, the clubs and activities that mean the most to some high schoolers fail to earn the respect that other extracurriculars do, even when students receive recognition on a state or national level. Do colleges at least care? Amy and Mike invited educator Vida John to explore the ad…

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627. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: February 2025 28:58

2M ago28:58

28:58

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and educati…

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626. THE RISE IN AP TESTING 28:03

2M ago28:03

28:03

During a period of American education history where most standardized tests fell at least momentarily out of favor, one series of exams seems to be growing in popularity with no end in sight. Amy and Mike invited educator Rob Franek to explore the explosive rise of Advanced Placement testing. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Wha…

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625. COLLEGE TRANSITIONS AND DISTRESS TOLERANCE 28:21

2M ago28:21

28:21

Big life changes hit all of us differently, which is to say that not every teen is equally prepared for the dramatic academic, social, and emotional shift that comes with moving away from home. Amy and Mike invited counselor Katie Burchenal to discuss college transitions and distress tolerance. What are five things you will learn in this episode? W…

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624. THE DEMOGRAPHIC CLIFF IS HERE 26:15

3M ago26:15

26:15

The entire edifice of higher education and industry depends on a steady flow of students coming in and qualified graduates flowing out. What happens to the system when the crucial input of applicants drops dramatically? Amy and Mike invited journalist Jon Marcus to answer that very question, because the dreaded demographic cliff is here. What are f…

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623. THE MOST COMMON NEUROMYTHS 28:01

3M ago28:01

28:01

A widely held belief about brain function is that very little is truly understood in modern science. Unfortunately, most people probably know even less than they think! Amy and Mike invited education professional Gretchen Wegner to explore and debunk the most common neuromyths. What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. What exactly is…

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622. ADMISSIONS LESSONS FROM ADMISSIONS REPS 31:23

3M ago31:23

31:23

The opacity and complexity of elements of the college application process inspire endless speculation about what really matters. In many cases, though, the best place to find answers is with the colleges themselves. Amy and Mike invited educator John Durante to review admissions lessons learned from admissions representatives. What are five things …

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621. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: January 2025 29:27

3M ago29:27

29:27

A new year brings new excitement. The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Sometimes, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the in…

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620. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AS AN UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW 25:18

3M ago25:18

25:18

Considering how prevalent the topic of AI has become in business, leisure, and education, it was only a matter of time before college students would choose to focus on its study. Amy and Mike invited college dean Jennifer Stephan to explore what you need to know about artificial intelligence as an undergraduate major. What are five things you will …

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619. POST PANDEMIC LEARNING LOSS 30:22

4M ago30:22

30:22

The global onset of the coronavirus shut down schools, which interrupted the educational process for millions of students. The expectation was that deficits in fundamental areas would be made up once the world opened up again. Did that happen though? Amy and Mike invited education professional Nancy Weinstein to explore post-pandemic learning loss.…

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618. HOW THE COMMON DATA SET CAN HELP INTERPRET WHAT COLLEGES TELL YOU 25:25

4M ago25:25

25:25

Finding your best fit school requires a lot of smart research, so don’t overlook one of the best sources of institutional information available. Amy and Mike invited independent counselor Jane Gabin to discuss how the common data set can help interpret what colleges tell you. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the Common D…

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617. PREPARING TEENS FOR COLLEGE: ARE THEY READY? 28:14

4M ago28:14

28:14

Wanting to pursue higher education is not exactly the same as being ready for higher education and all that its pursuit entails, as too many students learn to their detriment. Amy and Mike invited educator Carey Dukes to explore just how prepared and ready most teens are for college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Are students…

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616. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: December 2024 29:45

4M ago29:45

29:45

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Once in a while, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and e…

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615. THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE INTERVIEWS 35:26

4M ago35:26

35:26

How odd is it that one of the most effective ways to learn about college applicants tends to be among the least frequent steps in the process. How valuable is direct conversation for evaluating prospective members of an educational community and what might the future hold? Amy and Mike invited college admissions expert Parke Muth to explore the imp…

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614. QUALITIES OF GREAT EDUCATORS AND COACHES 31:45

5M ago31:45

31:45

Just about anyone can become an educator or coach, but can anyone become great at it? Amy and Mike invited educator Dan Lerman to enumerate the qualities of great educators and coaches. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What are the foundational qualities of a great tutor or coach? What can be taught to tutors and how? How do you…

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613. IEC PROFILE: Alison Merzel 15:40

5M ago15:40

15:40

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Alison Merzel. Alison Merzel is the founder of AHM Advising LLC, an independent educational consulting practice focused on helping high school students and families find their best-fit post-secondary educational options. Pr…

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612. IEC PROFILE: Julie Spak 17:07

5M ago17:07

17:07

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Julie Spak. Since 1985, Julie has been connecting students to their futures in her work as a College Admissions Officer, Financial Aid Officer and Honors Program Counselor at the University of New Hampshire, where she recei…

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611. IEC PROFILE: Stef Mauler 17:17

5M ago17:17

17:17

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Stef Mauler, founder of the Mauler Institute™ and author of The Complete Candidate™. She began working in Ivy League admissions over 30 years ago. She met thousands of high school students and their families as they went th…

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610. IEC PROFILE: Michelle Siddons 16:20

5M ago16:20

16:20

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Michelle Siddons. Michelle is an Associate Member of IECA, a new member of NTPA, and has her Masters in Education from Seton Hall and undergraduate degree from Colgate University. Michelle has been helping high school stude…

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609. IEC PROFILE: Feiyang Liu 18:51

5M ago18:51

18:51

Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Feiyang Liu. As a naturally introverted high school student, Feiyang felt immense pressure to adopt a bubbly, inauthentic persona for my college applications. This led to a lack of fulfillment and a realization that pretend…

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Test Prep Dos and Don'ts with Rath Tutoring founder Eric Rath 46:01

5M ago46:01

46:01

If you're taking the SAT or ACT in the spring, it might be time to start thinking about test prep! Join Julia and special guest Eric Rath, Founder of Rath Tutoring, who has over twenty years of experience in test prep and tutoring, to talk about test prep dos and don'ts. Contact RathTutoring.com at [email protected] or 1-866-Rath-101 Find self-…

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608. HOW TEST PREP PREPARES YOU FOR COLLEGE 29:38

5M ago29:38

29:38

The successful outcome of preparing for the SAT & ACT can yield a massive return on investment, but the real value lies in the process itself. Amy and Mike invited educator Rob Pollak to explore how test prep prepares you for college. What are five things you will learn in this episode? Is test prep all about tips and tricks? How is standardized te…

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607. THE DIFFERENT ROLES OF SCHOOL AND PRIVATE COUNSELORS 29:36

5M ago29:36

29:36

Teens on the road to college tend to encounter a variety of counselors positioned to support them on their journeys. However, not every one of these counselors has the same job. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Margaret Rothe to define the different roles of school and private counselors. What are five things you will learn in this episo…

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Making College Affordable with Peg Keough from College Aid Pro 43:47

5M ago43:47

43:47

With the cost of college climbing every year, Julia sat down with Peg Keough, the Director of Education at College Aid Pro to learn more about the ways students and families can make college more affordable by making informed decisions about financial aid! __________________ Create your College Aid Pro free account: https://mycap.collegeaidpro.com/…

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College Admissions for Homeschool Families with Michele Evard and Holly Ramsey 30:10

5M ago30:10

30:10

Julia is joined by Michele Evard and Holly Ramsey, the authors of College Unmazed: Your Guide to Design & Document Your Homeschool Journey, which helps homeschool families prepare for successful college applications to their dream universities. __________________ Go to https://www.collegeunmazed.com/homeschool and use code HOMESCHOOL10 for 10% disc…

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606. HOW GRADING POLICIES INFLUENCE GRADE INFLATION 32:37

6M ago32:37

32:37

The fact that students are earning higher grades than ever without any appreciable increase in other assessments of academic ability should be well-known by now. Less understood are the root causes of this increasing phenomenon. Amy and Mike invited researchers Maia Goodman Young and Dan Goldhaber to dig into the data on how grading policies influe…

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605. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: November 2024 28:04

6M ago28:04

28:04

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Once in a while, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and e…

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College Admissions for STEM Programs 43:25

6M ago43:25

43:25

Is your student applying to a STEM program and you need to know what to include? It's time to get into the world of admissions for STEM majors with our resident expert Christina! ________ Get a free consultation with Christina at March Consulting! Sign up for a test prep course with Julia at Higher Scores!…

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Applying to Military Academies and ROTC with Lisa Rielage 41:21

6M ago41:21

41:21

Guest host Kat Clowes of March Consulting interviews military academy admissions expert Lisa Rielage from Admissions Decrypted! ______ Sign up for a free consultation with March Consulting! Check out Admissions Decrypted to work with Lisa! Explore the resources Lisa mentioned in the episode: Breaking Ice Breaking Glass by Sandra Stosz Service Acade…

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604. ALL ABOUT THE ACT TEST ENHANCEMENTS 31:25

6M ago31:25

31:25

The ACT has been remarkably stable since the last time the exam was “enhanced” in 1989. However, significant changes are coming more quickly than you might think to this influential college admissions exam. Amy and Mike invited ACT representative Catherine Hofmann to share all the details about the ACT Test Enhancements. What are five things you wi…

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603. BUILD A WINNING BRAND TO ACE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS 25:03

6M ago25:03

25:03

You don’t need to be a future business major to bring some marketing acumen to your application to higher education. Amy and Mike invited marketing professional Stacey Ross Cohen to review how to build a winning brand to ace college admissions. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How are college admissions and personal branding rel…

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Choosing a College Major 30:00

6M ago30:00

30:00

Working on college applications and not sure which major to choose? Will your application even be impacted by which program you're applying to? In short, yes! Join us for this episode as we get into the weeds on how and why to choose a college major before submitting your applications. ___________ For help with all of your major-related questions, …

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602. HOW ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR MORALE IS CHANGING ADMISSIONS 26:05

6M ago26:05

26:05

The current college admissions dynamic where selective schools routinely receive 10, 15, or even 20 times as many applications as they have available seats has been a tremendous source of stress for applicants and their families. But how are the professionals who have to manage these applications holding up? Amy and Mike invited author Teege Mettil…

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601. EXTEMP WITH AMY & MIKE: October 2024 39:27

6M ago39:27

39:27

The Tests and the Rest podcast has always been relentlessly focused on exploring important topics in testing, admissions, education, and learning with amazing expert guests. Once in a while, though, we enjoy an unstructured opportunity to discuss our own takes on major issues, upcoming events, and our endeavors at the intersection of business and e…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Testprep Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen