Is your High School Student Ready to Take the PSAT, SAT or ACT?

The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is one of the most important tests we can take in our lifetime. 

One purpose is to predict how students will perform academically as college freshmen, but more importantly - and the more commonly known purpose of the test - is to help college admissions officers make acceptance decisions, because it provides a single, standardized means of comparison. 

This test is a major factor in determining the college your teen will be attending, which, in turn, will contribute to the course your child takes in his or her adult career choices and success.  Classes taken, grades earned, activities participated in, and many other elements are also major determining factors, along with these test scores, used in college acceptance.

The SAT is said to be a predictable test that can be prepared for.  Most people do believe that SAT success can be improved through practice, and most sites recommend at least two months to practice for it.  There are websites with online programs, classes available at different locations, and assistance through programs with the high schools.  The PSAT, or Practice SAT, can be taken as early as sophomore year, and it is recommended to take it in both the sophomore and junior years. 

When students receive their scores from their PSAT, they will also receive the test booklet they used and a report showing both the correct answer and the answer they chose.  This is excellent preparation for the SAT.   In addition to helping prepare for the SAT, the PSAT gives feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study, allows you to see how your performance on an admissions test may compare with others applying to that college, and allows students to enter competitions for scholarships in their junior year. Plus, those who earn strong scores may be courted by colleges and universities.

Not all schools require the SAT for acceptance.  Unlike in the past, most schools will allow students to take either the SAT Reasoning Test - with the SAT Subject tests being optional - or the ACT (American College Testing Assessment) for UC’s and private schools. 

The SAT and ACT are different types of tests – sometimes, a person scores higher on one than the other, depending on which type of test best suits their strengths, although it seems that most students perform comparably on both tests.   If you have time, your student can take practice tests, available online for free or low-cost, and see which one he or she does best on.

The SAT also offers Subject Tests in literature, math, history, science and languages other than English.  These tests measure your knowledge and abilities in the specific area being tested, and should be taken as close as possible to completion of an Advanced Placement (AP) course in the corresponding subject in junior year.  Though these tests are not required by many schools, a high score on one or more subject tests may make your SAT scores look more attractive.

The Kaplan website summarized the differences in the two tests quite well - “The ACT is a content-based test, whereas the SAT tests critical thinking and problem-solving. This perception is one reason many educators (off the record) express a preference for the ACT - because they believe that the ACT is closer to testing the 'core curriculum' taught in most school classrooms."

• The ACT includes a science reasoning test; the SAT does not.
• The ACT math section includes trigonometry.
• The SAT tests vocabulary much more than the ACT.
• The SAT is not entirely multiple choice.
• The SAT has a guessing penalty; the ACT does not.
• The ACT tests English grammar; the SAT does not. “

Take care when deciding to take the test, and when to re-take the tests for a higher score.  For the SAT, some colleges will take the highest math and verbal scores even if they were earned on different test dates, some will take the highest combined score on a particular date, and some will take the average of all scores.  Regardless, every single score earned is part of the permanent record which the colleges will see, so don’t take the test unless you are prepared - and it may not be a good thing to take the test as many times as you can.

This works differently for the ACT.  The ACT offers to send three free score reports to colleges immediately after taking each test.  This saves a bit of money, but could backfire if your scores are not as high as you anticipated.  It is far better to wait and send the colleges your best scores after you are done with all your testing than risk poor scores being sent.

Hillsdale High School had a fantastic chart on its website that I will share with you below.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SAT REASONING TEST & THE ACT?

SAT Reasoning Test

ACT

1/3 Critical Reading: 1/3rd sentence completion, 2/3rd  critical reading (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, fiction)

25% English usage: ½ punctuation, grammar & usage, sentence structure; ½ writing strategy, organization, style

25% critical reading (social studies, natural sciences, fiction, humanities)

1/3 Math: pre-algebra, elementary & intermediate algebra, geometry.  1/5th of problems are word problems.

25% Math: 58% pre-algebra, elementary & intermediate algebra, 38% geom., and 7% trig.  No word problems.

Science: No science component

1/3 Writing: required component. 49 multiple-choice questions, 30 minute essay.

25% Science: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning & problem-solving skills required in science.

Writing: optional

¼ point deducted for each wrong answer

No deductions for wrong answers

Duration: 3 hours 45 minutes excluding breaks.

Duration: 3 hours + 30 minutes for optional writing, excluding breaks.

Accepted/required by almost all western 4-year colleges & universities (but not BYU) & eastern schools.  

Accepted by almost all 4-year colleges & universities. Some southeastern/mid-western schools prefer/require ACT

Cost: $47.00, (excl. late fees, etc.)

Cost: $48.00 with optional writing, $33.00 without, (excl. late fees, etc.)

Good luck to all your students in their testing and their college goals.  Good luck to all  families in helping their child accomplish all that they can.  I’m sure that we all realize that a child succeeds far better with parental support and assistance, and this is a project that would benefits from utilizing as many helpful resources as possible.