Not sure whether to take SATs or ACTs?

Question

I am going to be a Sr. in HS and haven't taken the SATs or ACTs yet but I am soon going to schedule to take one of them. I'm not sure which would best suit me. I did take SAT prep courses in Jr year and did pretty well with them but have not taken any PSATs which makes me afraid I won't do well. On the other hand, I have no ACT preparation but heard it is shorter and covers more things you've learned in high school. Can anyone suggest one or the other (based on experience) or if not, at least some pros/cons to both.

Answer 1

It really depends what college you want to go too. Different colleges require different tests. Ususally higher level private colleges require the SAT, while state universities and such require the ACT. Check with the college you plan to attend before you sign up for one or the other.  I believe the SAT is somewhat harder, but If you're worried about the ACT, they do allow you to retake it.

You're still young. If you don't feel prepared, take some time and prepare. When you sign up to take the ACT, they give you at least one practice test that has the same kind of questions with the same number of them that the actual ACT has. It is basically just an old test that they gave last year. They'll tell you the exact times you have to do each section in and such, so you can give yourself the test. Maybe go to the library and find some prep books if you're really worried.

But if you're smart and prepare a little, you'll do fine. I got a 28 myself, which was actually in the 93rd percentile...and I barely got any sleep the night before the test, and I took it very early in the morning.

Answer 2

I took both.  That is usually a good idea if possible.  Schools usually ask for either one of them and are not particular which one.  If you take both, use the one you did better on.

In my case, I did a little better on the ACT.

Answer 3

I'd say stick with what you know. Speaking as someone who's taken both, I found the ACT to be wayy harder and it covered a lot of the curriculum from high school, but also covered things I had never learned about.

Answer 4

I would try both, as they are different tests and many people find they score higher on one than the other.

If you're only going to choose one though, i would go with the SAT because you've prepped for it.

Answer 5

If you were younger I'd say prep for both of them and see which your better at. But someone whose going to be a senior in High school doesn't have that kind of time. Id say go for the SAT, your already familiar with it, right now you have the summer so Id say just keep working at it and practicing. They say there is no way to study for the SAT but there actually is. The SAT is based on on reading, witting, and math (but you probably refer to them with more formal names) For reading,  just read as many example passages as you can so that you become better acquainted with College type reading passages and can understand them better, this will also help you with your vocab. For the essay section you should definatley practice writing essays once a week. And for math its simple: your tested on three areas Algebra 1 Algebra2 and Geomatry.  You have probably studied these subjects already and if you just take time to brush up on them so you know them inside out you'll do spectacular. Your probably wondering - where do I get all this practice material? Well, I can recommend three GREAT books: "The Official SAT study guide"- this book has 8 practice tests ( created by the makers of the SAT), and helps review everything with you ,  "  Amsco's Preparing for the SAT mathematics" - this book helps you with ALL the math sections so you know them perfectly and it teaches you secret shortcuts, finally there's "500 words you need to know for the SAT" ALOT of these words were on the test and  helped me with my critical reading, and essay as well. These books are not that expensive and are at any book store. remember, you can retake either of them its just what your better at and how much time you have at this point, ALSO if you go to the collegeboard website they also have a practice test and samples that will help. Sorry if my answer put you to sleep. But no matter what answer you choose remember to practice! Cause part of your senior year is applying to colleges so you need to get results from one of these tests as soon as possible. good luck.

Answer 6

SAT mark you down for wrong answers as well as guesses. if you don't know an answer on SAT you have to leave it blank. and on the ACT you don't get marked down for guesses. they encourage you to guess if you don't know. i personally would take the act. you have a better cchance. when you guess you have a 25% chance of the right answer rather than 0%

Answer 7

SATs are more reasoning and ACTs are more speedreading and stuff you can actually study for. Nothing's worse than memorizing 500 vocab words for one morning, which is why I think the ACTs are better. All the questions are either given in the passage or in the table or something you learned in high school, and the SATs are more complex math and random vocab words to just p**s people like us off. I definitely thought the ACT was better. Also, since you're class of 09 like me...we don't get to choose our SAT scores like the "youngens" under us ;). But the ACT does let us choose which score to send. So, I'd take the ACT and study hard for it over the summer and into the fall.

Hope  this helps.