SAT or ACT: Which One Should You Take?
As Independent Educational Consultants, we are often asked to whether to take the SAT or ACT. Since colleges accept the SAT and ACT equally, we typically advise students to determine which test suits them best and prepare for that one.
Test prep experts, Global Elite Prep, discuss the variables to consider when planning test prep.
Once you determine which test to take, here are some tips on how best to prepare.
Preparing for Standardized Tests
- Decide if you do better learning in a group class or with one-on-one tutoring. Both are effective, but some kids do better in one setting or another.
- Allow enough time to prepare. Most students do better when they have ample time to prepare. Allow at least three or four months of preparation before the test. Work around your schedule to determine the best time to do prep and take your first test. New test dates have recently been added by both SAT and ACT. The SAT will offer an August test starting in 2017.
- Figure out if you need and are eligible for extended time. We’ve had several clients improve their scores dramatically by getting the proper documentation to prove they need extended time. The process for receiving accommodations has recently been streamlined. Read our post for more information.
Requesting SAT/ACT accommodations just got easier
- Practice, Practice, Practice. The more you practice taking the tests, the more comfortable you will be in a real setting. It’s just like prepping for a sport or rehearsing for a show.