Sixteen-year-old Malencia (Cia) Vale is chosen to participate in The Testing to attend the University; however, Cia is fearful when she figures out her friends who do not pass The Testing are disappearing.

Alyssa, a wood-cutter's daughter, gets lost during a storm and asks for shelter at the King's winter palace, where she takes a job as companion to the 11-year-old twin princesses. As she works at learning her new job, she begins to fall in love with the prince. But when she discovers a plot to overthrow the kingdom, she must use all her learning to save her new-found family.

Young ghosts Groana, Moana, and Shrieky must haunt three houses to pass their Halloween test, but residents of the third house do not scare easily.

Provides a review of the subjects and skills covered in the SAT, including six practice examinations (4 in the book and 2 online), tips for completing the test, and flash cards.

A local college professor comes to Ella Mentry School to help students learn basic history and improve their scores on a standardized test, using some very unusual techniques.