SAT or ACT: Which is right for you
Parents often find themselves at an impasse about the admissions test that is most suitable to take their kid. Most parents opt for one test which is most popular with colleges within their region. For instance it is the ACT is more popular among students in Arcadia, Temple City, Monrovia and Greater Los Angeles, whereas the SAT is more well-known in California. It’s not due to the fact that colleges in these areas solely require either one either way. Indeed, I don’t have a single college in any of the three states that has one or the other test. Students should therefore pick the test that is most suitable for them.
The most effective approach for almost every student is to complete both tests. Students can choose not to submit the results for any test until they are at the right level. For instance, if that a student is planning to take both tests in this spring in their senior year, but isn’t certain what they’ll get. They may decide not to give the results to any schools until they learn what they scored. There is a cost however it could be worth it to alleviate some anxiety. If they’re satisfied with their scores, they may choose to take them and forward them to the colleges they’re applying. Or, they can choose to take the test again and send the results.
Another reason to consider both is that certain students might perform better on one test than on the other. This could be due to the skills of a student that make them better equipped for one test over the other. For instance students who are familiar with the most important math formulas are more likely to score in the ACT because these helpful formulas aren’t included in the instructions for the test. Instead, students have to be familiar with these formulas. However the formulas mentioned above are included in the SAT instructions, so students are not required to learn or remember these formulas.
Sometimes, a student might feel more comfortable with the format and format of one test than the other. I have a student who scored well with test ACT math section, but did poorly in the SAT math section. The difference was evident in both practice and real tests. She scored above the 60th percentile for the ACT math section, and in 40th percentile on the SAT math section. The sole explanation I came with was that the format of the ACT made her more comfortable. The two tests give the student feedback which the student will use to determine if another test is an option and the test they should take to concentrate their study. If the student scores significantly more well on one of the tests, they ought to be studying for and taking that test over and over.