Sat's and Act's and PSATS? ahhhh! confused?!?

Question

What do i need to do to get into an ivy league college in terms of all the tests : ACT? SAT? ETC...

PLZ explain them to me and tell me when i should start studying and wat they mean, and basically evrything about them...dont give me websites, ive tried and i thinkk i need a real person...thx.

Answer 1

It is all relative: What Ivy league school(s) are you looking at? And most importantly: WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN????

Short Summary: Ivy League Schools want super high scores:

SAT:CR+M=1370+

ACT: 30-32+

They want 2-3 SAT subject test w scores: 680+

If you are a freshman you shouldn't worry too much, just study prepare for the SAT and if your proactive take the PSAT. In your Sophomore year you need to take the PSAT to get a rough idea of where you place and to put some numbers in your head. Junior year is crunch year, this is when colleges look at you, you should take challenging courses and take the real SAT several times (2+). If you did well on the PSAT last year you should take it again in the beginning of the year, except it is called the NMSQT, it is purely for scholarship purposes and does not affect how you get into college. Unless you know you did absolutely amazing on the SATs you should take the SATs once more in the beginning of your senior year.

OK. The ACT is mainly a mid-western test, but it is gaining popularity in some places. Most colleges will accept it, but they will want SAT scores as well. Some people find that they do crappy on the SAT but are gods on the ACT, you never know so you might as well pay the $45 to find out. Also the ACT is more knowledge based where as the SAT is more reasoning based. Unlike the SAT, there are no penalty for wrong answers.

There are also the SAT II/ SAT subject test, however, only some colleges require them. Bad news is almost all Ivy leagues due. For most of them its any 3 of your choosing, but it varies. The subject test are pretty much what they sound like you can google them for more specifics.

The SAT comprises of three sections ranging from 200-800 points. Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. The ACT has a flat score range of 1-36 (the writing section is optional, but all ivy leagues are going to require it.) While the SAT subject test our identical to a single section of the SAT. Also most colleges still do not know how to file the writing portion of the SAT. As long as you did not do exceedingly poorly or exceedingly well (most people do worse,) you shouldn't worry about it too much.

If you have any additional questions feel free to e-mail me (I had to go through the same experience this year.) It could be more helpful if I knew exactly what grade you were in. Hope I was helpful.

Answer 2

Take the PSAT before in Soph. year and the SATs or ACTs in Junior year.Focus on just one of the tests,that way you can practise that test and do it better.I'm international and we dont get the ACT in my city,so I have to take the SAT.I practised for only a week and wasn't nervous and got a 2240.I'm not satisfied but there's no way I can take the test again as I'm retaking maths 2 in october and I dont have any time after that for testing.I used Barron's book and the Official study guide.

2.Do extra curriculars that'll help.If you want science or engineering or architechture,dont go around writing stories.Write programs instead.That said,dont BE FAKE.If you are multitalented,say so.It cant harm you.For eg,I'm going for engg. so I'll focus on my science exhibitions and projects but I'll also talk about my passion about writing stories,swimming and dancing.Hey! I cant help it,I'm not simgle textured.Colleges want well rounded people.

3.DONT LIE on the essays.Be true and potray your passions.That'll do!

Answer 3

PSAT - Preliminary SAT.  Can be taken for pure practice grade 10.  Take in grade 11 to be in the running for National Merit Scholarships.  Also great practice for the actual SAT.

SAT - as someone else pointed out - more a measurement of aptitude than knowledge / prior learning.

Scores of all tests taken reported to colleges.

ACT - More a measurement of what you have already learned.

Scores of only one test (that you specify) reported to colleges.

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What do i need to do to get into an ivy league college in terms of all the tests : ACT? SAT? ETC..

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Some colleges accept one or the other, some both, some have a preference.  You need to check with each college to which you intend to apply.

The typical scores are going to  vary from college to college - but for Ivy League you easily need to be above the 90th percentile.

We recently visited the College of William and Mary.  An admissions officer said their "typical" student scored between a 28 - 33 on the ACT.

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When should you start studying?

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My opinion is NOW.  If you do like most and start studying a month before (e.g. cramming) you are just wasting your time.

Start taking sample tests to understand areas in which you are weak.  Work on improving.

Take the ACT next chance you get - see how you do + is good practice.

Be sure to take the PSAT during grade 10 and 11.

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My son has a goal of attending an Ivy League.  He started preparing for the ACT in 7th grade.  He has now taken the test twice (9th grade).  He will be taking the PSAT next year (10th) and the following year (11th).  

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You also need 2 or 3 extracurriculars that you are very involved with.  Don't join a bunch of stuff just to pad your college application - they don't like to see that.

Do "something" besides getting great test scores to make yourself stand out from the crowd.

Answer 4

PSATs are just pretests so you can look at what you need to study so you will be more prepared when you take the real thing. The ACT and the SAT are similar except that the ACT includes a science section. Colleges usually look at them equally. I would suggest taking them both and sending the colleges that you apply to the scores of the test that you did better on. I myself found the ACT easier just it felt like you had less time than the SAT, buts maybe thats just me. If possible you should enroll in prep classes, if you are unable to do that then you could purchase a prep book. Also remember to look over math from previous years to refresh your memory. Good luck =)

Answer 5

Your school counselor would be the best person to talk to about these things.

Answer 6

Okay, I'm going to be a senior next year, and I've done this and that, so I think I'm a potential candidate to rely on. Honestly for be I studied like crazy for both the SAT and ACT and got the same exact (or similar) scores for both tests, so that made me kind of angry. Nevertheless, for Ivyleage colleges I would suggest you to shoot for above 30 on the ACT and 2100 on the SAT. Most people think if you just get above a 2000 on the SAT, it will suffice, but generally it's difficult to be admitted to such a pretigious university with just above a 2000. Also, at my school there are students who got into the University of Penn with just a 28 on the ACT. However, note that they were extremely nervous prior to the decisions. I know someone who got into Cornell with a 2060. Other than that, my other friends who got into Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Dartmouth, UPenn all got above a 2100 and most had a 2200 or above.

My counselor told me that the SATs are 30% of the college decisions. My counselor is very informed, for he sends tons of students to ivyleague schools per year. I would suggest you to focus just on ONE test. The ACT and the SAT are standarized tests, but they are very different. Trust me, everyone told me that the ACTs were easier than the SATs but then there so different. I can't say there easier.

If your not a good test taker I would go for the ACT, because you could memorize some of the rules and math formulas, along with science. However, the SAT is really about aptitude. I took the test three times and recieved the same score every time, and this is the case for most of my friends who had studied. People make lame excuses about falling asleep during the test, but really they get the same score when they take the test later "awake." So, the decision is really up to you, and get started! I started studying in my freshmen year and only got a 2050. Imagine if I didn't study!