Few people view standardized tests with joy or fondness. It's hard to accept that a single number, derived from hasty answers to abstract questions, can play such a huge role in your future. My own experience as test-taker and test-teacher has convinced me that as a tool for evaluating students, standardized testing has its share of flaws.

But the tests aren't unfair or unbeatable; they challenge you to learn a specific language. I don't mean the fancy vocabulary you'll want in a verbal section, but the forms and patterns of the questions themselves. With thoughtful effort, any student can learn to understand the language of test-taking. As someone lucky enough to be fluent, I hope to share with others what I have gained.