I always suggest that students take standardized tests as follows:
I am probably alone in this response but it has proven to work over my years of advising students and my own children. I suggests students take the SAT during the second half of their 10th grade year mostly to become familiar with it. Although most advisors would say just take the PSAT, they are not the same and since you do not get penalized for taking the SAT as often as you want with the higher scores being accepted, I just believe if I have to take the SAT/ACT for admission then why not test drive the real test rather than waiting until my junior and senior year and being unprepared for the process. It is not the information but the process that I believe students need to know early…the testing environment, the structure of the tests, a baseline of where they start and where they need to be for their preferred school so that they will have time to reach the mark. Take it early and definitely as soon as you complete algebra 2 and geometry you stand a better chance of doing your best on the math section because it is fresh in your mind.
Which test should you take? The SAT and ACT are two very different tests that are designed to test different things. The best way to figure out which test to take between the SAT and ACT is to try both beforehand. Most test prep companies offer free practice tests with no further obligation to sign up. There are some that even offer “hybrid” tests that have questions from both exams and project your likely scores on each test. At the very least, you can try the free practice tests on-line that are offered by Collegeboard.com and Act.org. Go with which ever test you do best on and that you feel most comfortable with.
My advice is that you take both the SAT and ACT once to see which test you do better on. You may hear that a certain type of student does better on one that the other but these circumstances are not normally consistent across the board. There are ways to take practice tests like the PSAT or ACT practice tests to get an idea of whether you score better on one test than the other.
Students can do “test runs” of both the SAT and ACT by taking their pre-tests, the PSAT and PLAN. Almost all high schools offer the PSAT for sophomores and increasingly give the option to take the PLAN as well.
Take the SAT and the ACT, decide which test shows your abilities to the best advantage, and concentrate your effort on that standardized exam for high school juniors. I agree with the Education Conservancy’s statement that a student does not need to take a standardized test more than twice. If you are an organized and focused person you can buy a test prep book and “do it yourself”, if you need a distraction free environment you may need a test prep tutor or class. First, though, I recommend that you take both tests this spring. Who knows? You may be happy with your scores and in that case, you are finished with standardized testing and can concentrate on the other parts of your college application process. If you are not a “good tester”, take heart: many, many colleges and universities are joining the “no standardized test required” crowd (see www.fairtest.org for a list). Most studies show that the SAT does not predict college success as much as grades and other factors do. More and more colleges are catching on and offering paths to admission which do not require submission of test scores.
Take the SAT and the ACT, decide which test shows your abilities to the best advantage, and concentrate your effort on that standardized exam for juniors. I agree with the Education Conservancy’s statement that a student does not need to take a standardized test more than twice. If you are an organized and focused person you can buy a test prep book and “do it yourself”, if you need a distraction free environment you may need a test prep tutor or class. First, though, I recommend that you take both tests this spring. Who knows? You may be happy with your scores and in that case, you are finished with standardized testing and can concentrate on the other parts of your college application process. If you are not a “good tester”, take heart: many, many colleges and universities are joining the “no standardized test required” crowd (see www.fairtest.org for a list). Most studies show that the SAT does not predict college success as much as grades and other factors do. More and more colleges are catching on and offering paths to admission which do not require submission of test scores.
Take the SAT and the ACT, decide which test shows your abilities to the best advantage, and concentrate your effort on that standardized test. I agree with the Education Conservancy’s statement that a student does not need to take a standardized test more than twice. If you are an organized and focused person you can buy a test prep book and “do it yourself”, if you need a distraction free environment you may need a test prep tutor or class. First, though, I recommend that you take both tests this spring. Who knows? You may be happy with your scores and in that case, you are finished with standardized testing and can concentrate on the other parts of your college application process. If you are not a “good tester”, take heart: many, many colleges and universities are joining the “no standardized test required” crowd (see www.fairtest.org for a list). Most studies show that the SAT does not predict college success as much as grades and other factors do. More and more colleges are catching on and offering paths to admission which do not require submission of test scores.
Students should consider the colleges they wish to apply to when determining whether they will take the SAT, ACT or both. Some colleges may have a strong preference or may only accept one of these exams. Many colleges will accept either exam. Do NOT wait until your senior year to take these exams. Plan to take the SAT and/or ACT during your junior year of high school. You may retake the exams as many times as you want to and know that any lower scores that you subsequently receive will not replace higher scores. Some students may retake these exams over and over in hopes of obtaining a certain score, as many universities have stringent requirements.
While the ACT and SAT are generally accepted interchangeably, their differences may appeal to one person over another. The SAT will penalize you for guessing, but the ACT doesn’t. The ACT covers science, while the SAT doesn’t. Some students do well on one over the other, some do well on both and still others have no success on either. It is really a factor of your schedule when it comes to timing the tests. Most students take them for the first time in junior year. Some students will retake the exam after studying harder, working with a tutor or test prep program. If you don’t do anything differently between test dates, the likelihood of your score changing is slim. Remember, test scores are just one piece of the application picture and at test optional schools they aren’t even a factor.
So Many Choices….So Little Time!
4 Basic Test Strategies for Students
The best way to find out which test (SAT or ACT) suits you best is to take some practice exams, the PLAN in 10th grade and the PSAT in 10th grade.
I recommend that a person take both the ACT and the SAT in the spring of junior year. Based on your performance and test preference, you should then take either the SAT or ACT in the fall of senior year.
Some of this will depend upon what the schools want and need, for there is a wide variation in requirements. Some schools want only SAT I or ACT, some want SAT II subject tests, some will take the ACT in lieu of the SAT II, and some are test optional, but might want to see some graded work. Be sure you know what each place requires. Some may not require them for admissions but may for scholarship consideration. As to how often to take them, that may well depend, at least in part, on how well you do. A low first-time score gives you a sense of what your weaknesses are and may serve as a wake-up call about the need to do some test prep. Generally, it is wise to take the basic SAT or ACT at least twice, once as a junior and again as a senior—and if you are applying early decision, it had best be the first date in your senior year–but beyond that it may will depend on your own performance.
For the most part, students take both and then use the data as a benchmark to determine which plays up their strengths. Once this is identified, then we determine how much work they need to put into studying and retaking a test based on the type of college programs they are interested in attending.
The primary college admissions standardized tests are the SAT Reasoning Test and the ACT. Some institutions ask for one, some ask for the other, and some will accept either or both. Also keep in mind that some of the schools you are considering may require one or more SAT Subject Tests, which are focused on particular areas. Some institutions will also ask for the ACT Writing Test. These requirements will be indicated on the institutional websites.
Students should try to take a diagnostic SAT and ACT test in Sophomore or early Junior year to determine which one of the two options are more appropriate for them. Many students find that they are much more comfortable with one over the other. If that’s the case, then the student can eliminate the stress and time constraints associated with studying for both standardized test options, when one will do just fine.
Every college has its requirements, and the test dates are a matter of public record. As far as multiple tests, if your scores keep increasing, keep going. Start early in the 11th grade so you’ll have plenty of time to take all necessary tests & re-test if necessary.
First, I would recommend that all students take both the SAT and ACT in the Spring of your Junior year to get a feel for the test. Make sure you sign-up for the ACT plus Writing which will make sure both of your tests will be accepted almost universally. In addition, it is important to review the requirements of universities that you are applying to. Some universities will ask for Subject Tests or specific testing deadlines. Based on the scores you receive in the Spring, you can craft a study plan over the summer for a re-test in the Fall. I also recommend that students take the earlier versions of the test (PSAT or Plan) as available in preparation.
Which test to take? I tell students to take both the SAT and the ACT. Depending upon your particular strengths and weaknesses, you may perform much better on one test than the other. Think about how you felt about taking each test. Did you understand the format? Was one more stressful than the other for you? Once you’ve figured out a preference you can focus on prepping for that test.
Act is more content driven, the sat is more of an aptitude test.
Students should start out with diagnostic tests for the SAT and ACT and should focus on prepping for the test with the higher starting score. The ACT is another standardized test that colleges will use to evaluate how well a student will do in college. It is scored differently than the SAT, with a maximum score of a 36, instead of a 2400. It is also structured differently than the SAT, with four sections: Math, Reading, Writing, and Science. The other difference is that the essay on the ACT is not required, whereas it is required on the SAT. Students are not required to take both tests and a student should probably decide which test to take after taking diagnostic tests for both. If a student does considerably better in one than the other, then the student should focus on preparing for that test.
Your test plan will be unique to you, your strengths, and where you’re likely applying. Most students take the PLAN or PSAT in 10th-11th grade. All juniors should take the ACT and SAT at least once. These tests are different; one is not easier than the other. Once you determine which test format best matches your strengths, retake it to improve your scores. Because colleges and universities will use students’ best scores, most opt to take tests two or three times. In addition, students applying to some highly selective schools may be required to take SAT Subject Tests, and international students may need additional tests such as the TOEFL.
At a minimum, juniors should take the ACT and SAT once, but many students re-test multiple times to achieve their personal best scores. If you want to re-test, focus on whichever standardized test best highlights your academic strengths. You can retake both the SAT and ACT senior year, but pay attention to application deadlines—some fall test dates may be too late. Students applying to highly selective schools also may be required to take SAT Subject Tests, and international students may need additional tests such as the TOEFL. Specific details on which tests you need and when you need to complete them will depend on where you choose to apply. Check with each college and university to make sure you satisfy all testing requirements.
If English is not your first language, you will want to take the TOEFL exam. It is computerized and very convenient as far as tests are concerned.
have a goal in mind and find out the requirements about different type of schools in terms of the standarized tests. ACT and SAT are both good for selective schools. try not to take it more than three times. Take SATII as early as possible between 3 to 5 subjects for highly selective admissions.
Students should plan on taking both college entrance tests, the SAT and the ACT, during their junior year of high school. This will allow time to study and retake the tests. The last chance to do will be the fall of senior year.
I recommend all students take both the SAT and the ACT. Why do both? Every college in the country will accept either test and have no preference for which set of test scores you submit. The SAT is more of a reasoning test while the ACT is more of an achievement test, so some students do much better on one over the other. It’s impossible to tell before taking the test which one will leave you with a higher score, so it’s in your best interest to take both. The SAT has three parts: Critical Reading, Math and Writing. The ACT has four main components: English, Math, Reading and Science with a fifth, optional Writing component. Most colleges do want to see the optional Writing scores if you choose to take the ACT.
I tell my students to try both the SAT and ACT but only retake the test with which he or she is really most comfortable. Some students are fortunate enough to do well on the first try, but that isn’t the norm. Depending on the timing and preparation, student performance varies. Also, I’ve found that high school seniors taking standardized tests in the fall often do very well; they are relaxed and know what to expect. Certainly, a student should take the SAT or ACT no more than three times. Regarding SAT Subject Tests, a student should take the test when the material is freshest in his or her mind, usually in June of that academic year (sometimes in May). Hopefully, the timing of the test won’t interfere with AP tests (if in May) or finals (if in June). The student can take up to three at one sitting; he or she should take advantage of that and just report the top scores.
If you’re taking standardized tests, consider looking into SAT subject tests. These are 1-hour achievement tests in five general subject areas. Some colleges, mostly the more highly selective ones, either require or recommend that students take these in addition to the SAT. You need to look up the colleges in which you are interested in to determine which subject tests each requires. These subject tests are offered on the same test dates as the regular SAT. A student can take up to three tests on a particular test date. The best time to take subject tests is right after you have completed the course in a particular area.
Trying to figure out how many times to take the test? Once you take the SAT and the ACT, you will be able to see if your score is higher on one over the other. You may want to choose the one on which you scored the best and take it a second time. Look up the colleges in which you are interested in to see how your scores compare to the mid-50% of students they usually accept. In rare incidences, you may choose to take a test for a third time. After taking a test three times, your score is unlikely to improve with additional attempts.
Trying to figure out when you should take your standardized test(s)? The best time to take your first round of tests (both the SAT and the ACT) is in the spring of your junior year. After you have taken the tests once and see which one you did better on, you may want to take that test a second time in May or June of junior year or in the fall of senior year. It would be wise for you to look at all your academic obligations for junior and senior year. In addition to taking the SAT and ACT, many of you may take AP exams in May. You need to allow plenty of study time to keep your grades in every subject as high as possible. Prepare a calendar with all of your commitments and time your standardized test-taking dates with these in mind.
I recommend referencing your college application list to determine which tests to take. Of course, please remember if a college or university requires an ACT or and SAT score, they will accept either test and convert the score. Unless there are unusual circumstances, I recommend students take the ACT or the SAT only up to two times: once in the spring semester of the Junior year and, if needed, again in the fall semester of the Senior year.
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