ACT vs SAT

The intent of this blog post is not to repeat what you should have heard multiple times by now. Any number of sources can tell you how long the test is, how many questions there are, if it is legal to bring in your pet ferret to help you bubble in answers, etc. My goal is to give you a different point of view when it comes to these dreaded examinations.

Truth be told, standardized tests are just a series of predictable questions and answers that are presented under the guise of useless situations. I mean, who cares how many different combinations of sandwiches you can make at a deli, because, really, who is going to buy that many sandwiches? But, alas, I digress.

The point here today is to help you figure out which test you should take.

“But shouldn’t I take both, blogger person?”

Well sure, if you have the time, energy, and money to take both, then why not? Most students I know, however, would much rather spend their free time doing something a little more fun than spending time studying for ANOTHER type of test. Notice I did say more fun, because some people —- including me — do find some sick sort of pleasure in taking standardized tests. I think for your own sanity, though, it would be easier to focus your energy on one test and do that test well.

However, if you have your heart set on taking both, please go right ahead. Otherwise, to help you figure out which test is truly for you, please refer to the questions below.

1. Book Smart or Street Smart?

Generally speaking, the more hardworking, studious and booksmart students tend to fare better on the ACT because it is a content-based test made up of questions that tend to be more straightforward. The base of knowledge required might be a tad wider, but the questions are easier to decipher.
Bright underachievers and good test takers, tend to do better on the SAT since it is a reasoning-based test. The test takes all the things you learned in school, and packages up into 160 cryptic little questions. In fact, those who have a natural knack for acing tests without studying hard might be able to achieve a reasonably high score without investing too much effort in test prep. We can all scowl at them later.
If you aren’t sure, then move on to the next question.

2. Are you a slow reader? Do you struggle with reading long passages?

If so, I would suggest you try the ACT. Reading comprehension was the section I loathed the most when I took standardized tests, and I find the ACT Reading a lot easier to handle than the SAT Critical Reading. As a point of reference, notice the use of the word “critical” in the SAT. Not okay. Furthermore, SAT Critical Reading will have you compare/contrast passages on at least two separate occasions, including two long passages of at least 400 words. On the ACT, the only time when you will have to compare/contrast passages is on the Science section. Go figure.

If reading doesn’t phase you, move on the next question.

3. Do you think critically on your feet?

If so, the SAT may be a better test for you since the questions are designed to be convoluted. Tricky even. I also find the SAT to be a little less formulaic than the ACT, so thinking caps need to be fully functional for the test. Otherwise, you may want to consider taking the ACT, because both the content and style of question are easier to study.

4. But what about Math?

Math Smath. At the end of the day, I find the Math sections to be of similar difficulty. The ACT content covers more advanced topics (book smarts) while the SAT offers simpler content presented in a trickier fashion. (street smarts).

If after all these, you are still unsure, please feel free to take practice tests. After all, practice tests will be your biggest ally in your journey to mastering either the SAT or ACT.

Disclaimer: The above points of distinction are what I have discovered from my personal experience. Also, they tend to apply to students who don’t fall on either extremes of the spectrum. If you are already scoring extremely high or extremely low on the tests, choosing one test over the other shouldn’t make much of a difference to you.

If you want to try some practice tests, check out the official links below.

http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/ (ACT Sample Test)

http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-test (SAT Sample Test)

If you need more information on where to get authentic practice tests, feel free to contact me

Which ACT book should I buy?

I have been in this situation many, many times myself. I am at the bookstore looking at what seems to be an entire wall of test prep books. Each one I pull from the shelf has a brightly colored cover with phrases like Proven Techniques!, Higher Score Guaranteed!,  or Learn Everything While You Sleep!

The truth is, ACT and SAT is a huge industry, and many companies want to trick innocent high school students into buying their books, so they'll do whatever it takes to get you to spend money on their product. Having been an ACT tutor for years, I have leafed through just about every prep book on the market and here is what I have discovered: Just about every practice test I have seen is a rewritten version of an actual exam offered by the real ACT.


So, save yourself some time and just go with the Real ACT Prep Guide. Consider every other version a Folex: it may look real, but in the end, the screws fall out and you end up wondering why you spent your money in the first place. In redesigning the questions, the counterfeit test writers lose some of the original intent and content that the real ACT writers had originally intended.

If you are interested in additional practice materials, please send an e-mail to ACTsecrets@gmail.com

How many times should I take the ACT?

One of the things that distinguishes the ACT from the SAT is that the ACT allows you the option to take the test up to 12 times and submit your best score.

Nobody in their right mind should take the test 12 times, so how many times should you actually take it?

My suggestion is two to three times. No more, no less. If by the third time, you still aren't reaching your goal score -- even with adequate preparation -- you should cut your losses.

I once had a student so determined to reach his score that he took the test 6 times. I offered him as much help as I could, but even so, his results never improved.

One way to space out the exams is out is to take the test once in the fall of your Junior year, and once in the winter/spring of your Junior year. If you are still unsatisfied, try once more during the beginning of your Senior year. However, if you really want to get the test over with, you can register for back-to-back test dates. The choice is ultimately up to you.

Just a friendly reminder that the deadline for the February 2012 ACT is this Friday!