What You Didn’t Know About the ACT and SAT
Written by Sierra Outerbridge
Updated SAT and ACT dates below!
If you are a Senior, it’s that time of year to see if you can get that SAT or ACT score. Whether it’s for a scholarship, your dream school, or a specific program, students across the country are all trying to figure out this standardized testing thing. If you are a Junior, maybe you are trying to figure out which one to take or what this whole college application process is about. Either way, if you are a high school student, you have probably heard something about these two tests and some rumors that go along with them.
This post is dedicated to bringing some clarity to the myths that I hear most often from students and parents about the SAT and ACT.
Myth #1: It matters which test you take (ACT vs SAT) when applying to colleges.
This myth is probably the one I hear the most. Oftentimes, I am asked which one is better for a student to get into a specific school. The truth is that it does not matter which test you take for the admissions process. Colleges accept the SAT and the ACT with the same weight. So which test should you take? Well, it all depends on the test-taker. Try each test once, preferably during your Junior year, and see which one you gravitate towards more. Once you figure out which test is better for you, focus your energy studying for one of the tests and plan to take it again the second semester of your Junior year. So in the end, it will matter which one you take because you want to be able to take the test that works best for you. However, colleges value both the SAT and ACT the same!
Myth #2: You have to know all of the content and answers.
Students often think that if they don’t know the content of the question, they should just guess without thinking it through. However, the reality is that most students will not know some of the content on the tests since they cover a vast amount of information. Even though you might not know the answer from what you learned in class, you can still make an educated guess using logic. You can look at the questions and identify the most likely answer. This strategy will take practice, but it is an important one to learn instead of trying to memorize every possible vocabulary word in the dictionary. Either way, you should try and make an educated guess on both the SAT and ACT — you will not receive a penalty for answering a question incorrectly and you will receive points for every correct answer.
Myth #3: It’s too difficult to improve your score.
You can improve your score, but it isn’t going to happen overnight. Seeing an improved SAT or ACT score is not going to improve with rote practice either. Significant improvement on the SAT and ACT requires two main components: consistent, daily practice and an understanding of the tests. Practicing everyday does not always mean a full hour or two. Instead, try to do practice problems in a more manageable timeframe to practice consistently. Seeing the problems daily will help you start to notice patterns in the test questions and help you figure out what types of problems are on the test. If you don’t practice consistently, your brain will struggle to pick up on the patterns in the test and your time isn’t spent as well as it could be. You also will do better once you understand how the tests work. The tests are determining whether or not you understand the information you’ve learned in your classes as well as your ability to logically choose the correct answer if you don’t know or can’t remember the correct answer. Learning how the test works will help you spend your practice time on content you need to improve and focus your practice. Finally, these two exams test your stamina. By the end of a 3 hour test, you are probably exhausted and your brain is struggling to figure out what you are even reading. Practicing everyday will definitely increase your stamina, but it is also helpful to do a couple of full-length practice tests before your actual test date in order to practice pacing yourself and increase your test-taking endurance.
Myth #4: Due to COVID-19, schools are going test optional so it doesn’t matter if I have to take the SAT and ACT.
Though it is true that many schools have gone test-optional for this upcoming admissions year because of the coronavirus, there are a few reasons you should still do well on the SAT or ACT. Many of these schools still require test scores for their scholarships. College is not cheap and scholarships can be a helpful way to relieve the cost. Doing well on the SAT or ACT can equate to dollars towards your education — do your best and work hard on these tests in order to open up more opportunities for scholarships. It also is important for the schools that are still requiring the SAT or ACT. Choosing a college or university is not an easy decision, but feel free to explore your options. Getting a good SAT or ACT score will expand your options to schools that require tests and schools that are test optional.
I know that taking the SAT and ACT seem like just another thing to do on the extensive list that is applying for college, but I know that you all can do it! You can improve your score and do it in a timely fashion. We’d love to chat with you about strategies and what it looks like to work with one of our coaches for ACT prep!
