Getting ready for the SAT or ACT
Afraid of the big, bad tests? Here are some tips to plan when preparing to take the SAT or ACT.
SAT or ACT?
While more high schoolers still take the SAT than the ACT (1.5 million versus 1.3 million), virtually every college will accept either. The SAT is a logic and reasoning test; the ACT hews more closely to the high school curriculum. The ACT, considered the more straightforward test, has four sections, including science, and forgives gamblers (SAT takers, by contrast, are docked a quarter point for each incorrect answer). But the ACT has its challenges: The math goes up to trigonometry and precalculus (SAT math stops at Algebra II), and some find it a struggle to finish on time.
Should I opt for the ACT writing section?
Yes—because on the SAT, the writing section is required. A lot of schools consider the ACT comparable to the SAT, but the only way they can accept it as a replacement is if students take the ACT with writing.Last year, 41 percent of high schoolers who took the ACT opted for the writing section. It allows you to apply to a wider array of schools and is particularly useful if you're aiming high. The University of California system, for example, requires it.
What works best?
Prep starts on the first day of high school."Go to class every day, take notes, work with a study buddy, and get help early when you need it—don't wait! Cramming is less effective. It puts your grades in peril, throws your schedule out of whack, and makes you bad company.
Should I retake it?
Before you decide to retest, consider this. If you cannot improve your test score by 100 points (example: 710 plus 100 equals 810, which is not a possible score on the SAT), do not take the test again. Remember that colleges and universities will be looking at your SAT score percentile, not the actual score. College Board offers Score Choice, where you can choose which test scores to submit to your college/university of choice. However, more and more schools are requiring that you send ALL test scores, so it is advisable to take the SAT no more than three times.