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
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