Preparing for the SAT and ACT

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Photo by John Clement

Taking the SAT and the ACT are big steps on the path towards a higher education. If you’re a high school student who plans on going to college, chances are you’ll take one of these tests at some point, and knowing how each one suits you can help you be better prepared when the time comes.

 

What to Expect

Both tests cover several subjects, some of which are exclusive to either exam. The SAT contains reading & writing and math sections, while the ACT covers math, reading, English, and science. Both tests can be taken with an optional essay, which is recommended on applications for competitive schools.

The two tests are similar in length. The SAT lasts 3 hours, and with the essay it lasts 3 hours and 50 minutes. The ACT lasts 2 hours and 55 minutes, and with the essay it lasts 3 hours and 35 minutes.

Each test is scored differently. The SAT is based on a 1600-point scale, with 200 to 800 possible points to be earned in each section. The ACT is scored on a 36-point scale; each of its four multiple choice sections have 36 possible points to be earned, and the composite ACT score is the average of those scores.

 

Planning Ahead

Taking both the SAT and the ACT at least once each is a good strategy. According to assistant principal Ms. Leal, doing so will let you know firsthand which one you’re better at, and in turn you can prepare for potential retakes.

Most colleges accept both tests. Sending your scores to colleges needs to be done before their application deadlines, so it is best to get your testing done early.

“Junior year is the best time to take the tests and start submitting your scores,” Ms. Leal said. “By your senior year you should have already tested, and you are free to do more retakes if you want to try for a higher score on either one.”

 

Which one is harder?

Some students have have taken both tests and found the SAT less difficult. “I prefer the SAT,” said senior Jamilee Yern. “It was based more on memorization than the ACT since its questions were mostly evidence-based. The ACT was more focused on application and analysis, especially in its science section.”

“When I took the SAT,” senior Andy Pelegrino said, “it had a fair mix of both easy and hard questions. I felt that the ACT was generally rougher, though. Its questions were more complex; finding answers required more reading than the SAT to get to a solid conclusion.”

To senior Allison Ferrera, the SAT’s questions provided more room for error, and she points out that the ACT’s lower time window means there is not as much time to answer each question and review your work.

On the other hand, senior Christian Wesa preferred the ACT. He said that he did enough studying for the test through the online resource USA Test Prep, so he did not find it difficult at all. Senior Anthony Vega has only taken the ACT, but found it manageable. He did well his first time taking it, but he would have preferred more time.

 

The SAT is administered by College Board, and you can register for it at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/. The ACT, on the other hand, is administered by ACT Inc., and you can register for it at https://www.act.org/. Both organizations publish annual study guides, and there are online resources such as Khan Academy and USA Test Prep that are always available to help you prepare.