College Admission Exams SAT vs ACT
SAT vs ACT Many students and parents begin the college prep process by comparing the ACT and SAT. Two of the most common questions they ask are: Is the ACT easier than the SAT? Do colleges prefer scores from the SAT or ACT? The SAT and ACT generally test the same types of content. Both ACT and SAT scores are used for college admissions and merit-based scholarships. The biggest differences between the tests are that the ACT has a Science Test, and there s one SAT Math Section for which you cannot use a calculator. Most colleges don't prefer one test over the other.
ACT versus SAT: How do I choose? Students are increasingly taking both the SAT and ACT. Changes made to the SAT in 2016 have made it easier than ever to prep for both tests concurrently and earn competitive scores on both!
Overall SAT Study Tips Eliminate 3 Wrong Answers The most important rule to remember for the SAT is that there is only one correct answer for each question, and you should be able to eliminate all the others. This means that your number one strategy on the test is process of elimination. If you're struggling with a question, try to find reasons to rule out most of the answers rather than reasons why certain options could work. Learn to be extremely picky about which answers to eliminate. This especially applies to the Reading and Writing sections. If a question seems subjective, keep reminding yourself that it s an illusion. All incorrect choices are incorrect for good reasons, and it s your job to find those reasons until you narrow your answers down to one possibility.
Pay Attention to Connotation and Context SAT Reading Tips This tip is critical for answering tough questions in the Reading section. Look for words that indicate positive or negative connotation in the part of the passage that the question references. This can help you to eliminate at least a couple of choices even if you have no idea which of the remaining choices is correct. Read Passages Strategically Try to nail down a good passage reading strategy for the SAT before test day. This will save you time and stress later. There are a few methods you might use depending on how comfortable you are with the test and where you are in your reading comprehension skills.
Method 1: Skim the Passage First SAT Reading Tips This is the method I would be most inclined to recommend. You can get a sense of the main ideas of the passage without wasting too much time reading it closely. To skim effectively, just read the introductory paragraph, conclusion paragraph, and first and last sentences of each body paragraph. Method 2: Skip Straight to the Questions Because the SAT gives you line numbers for questions on the Reading section, skipping the passage altogether can be an effective initial strategy. If you do this, you should answer questions about small details in the passage first, so you end up reading a bit of the passage while answering questions. Then, when you move on to main idea questions later, you ll already have a solid sense of the message of the passage as a whole. Method 3: Read the Passage in Full If you re both a quick and thorough reader, you might be able to pull this off without any problems. Just make sure it s not slowing you down. There's more material to read on the new SAT, so this strategy might be less feasible than it was in the past. If you're reading this way and find you can save a few minutes (and not lose any points) by using one of the other methods, then you should do that instead. It s always better to have extra time at the end so you can double-check your answers! Get Interested in the Passages If you want to retain information as you re reading passages on the SAT, the best way to do it is to force yourself to engage with the material. Treat this as a learning experience, not a chore, and you ll find it much easier to remember what happened in the passage. If your brain is in wow, interesting mode rather than blah, blah, just have to get to the questions mode, you ll have a more pleasant experience on the test and a better time answering the questions overall.
Focus on Filling Content Gaps First SAT Math Tips If you have problems with basic math skills, it doesn t matter how many practice SAT questions you do you re going to have to fix those knowledge gaps before you can improve your SAT Math score. If you notice you re missing practice SAT Math questions because you are uncomfortable in a certain content area, work on your content weaknesses before you do anything else. This is the fastest way to improve your scores dramatically. You can go from here to fix other types of mistakes that are more surface-level (such as reading questions wrong or basic carelessness). Underline Key Parts of the Question You should use this tip on the math section if you've been missing questions by accidentally solving for the wrong value. Underline what you need to find in the question so you don t get confused during the calculation process. Sometimes math questions ask you to solve for a value that necessitates solving for something else along the way. That something else will often be one of the incorrect answer choices (though this sort of tricky incorrect answer choice is less likely to show up on the new SAT). Many students accidentally pick the trick answer choice because they lose track of the value that they were originally supposed to find. You can avoid this by underlining relevant parts of the question to maintain your focus. Memorize Formulas Although the SAT math section does provide you with a list of formulas, you ll lose time and momentum by constantly turning back to reference them. It's best to have all the formulas memorized beforehand. Check out our article on the formulas you need to know for the SAT Math section to make sure you re prepared.
SAT Essay Tips Analyze, Then Write Essay prompts on the new SAT ask you to analyze an argument presented in a passage. The graders want to see that you fully grasp the author's point and can write a clear explanation of how he or she builds the argument. You have fifty minutes for the essay, and you should spend a good 10-15 minutes making sure you understand exactly what the author is saying and how you'll outline your essay based on your analysis. Use Specific Evidence Don't just describe how the author builds the argument in your own words; prove your points with specific examples. When you're first reading through the passage, underline sentences or phrases that provide evidence of the author's persuasive techniques. Direct quotes should be used in your essay to reinforce the most important points.
Get Ready the Night Before SAT Test Day Tips On the morning of the test, you'll inevitably be nervous. There's a lot of stuff you need to bring to the SAT, and you don't want to forget something at the last minute while you're distracted by your nerves. Here's a checklist to ensure that this doesn't happen: Admission ticket Photo ID #2 pencils and eraser Calculator We also recommend that you bring snacks and water Skip Difficult Questions This is a key tip if you struggle with time pressure on the SAT. If you're having trouble with a question, skip it and move on before you waste too much time. Lingering on hard questions could cost you easy points if it means you re not getting to questions later in the section. For the Math and Reading sections, don t spend more than a minute trying to figure out each question. For the Writing section, don t spend more than 30 seconds. Circle any questions that you skip so that they re easier for you to pick out when you go back through the section. You might find that after you ve answered the rest of the questions, you ll feel less pressure and be able to think more clearly on questions that initially stumped you. If you still can't figure out the answer, take a guess! The new SAT has no guessing penalty, so it's always better to guess than to leave a question blank. Double-Check Your Answers While it's tempting to take a rest if you have extra time at the end of an SAT section, you should always double-check your answers first. When you initially make your way through each section, circle questions that you re unsure about so you can double-check strategically. If you have lots of extra time, you might even go through and check every single one of your answers. This way you ll pick up on any careless mistakes you might have made if you were rushing or missed a key word in a question.
ACT Tips and Tricks Test Overview English: 45 Minutes 75 Questions Math: 60 Minutes 60 Questions Reading: 35 Minutes 40 Questions Science: 35 Minutes 40 Questions Writing: 40 Minutes Read Prompt / Plan / Write Essay
General ACT Test Taking Tips The ACT contains multiple-choice tests in four areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. Each of these tests contains questions that offer either four or five answer choices from which you are to choose the correct, or best answer. Pace Yourself: Time limits set for each section require time management skills Read the directions for each test carefully: The English, reading, and science tests ask for the best answer. Do not respond as soon as you identify a correct answer. Read and consider all choices. Read each question carefully: It is important to understand what each question asks. Answer the easy questions first: A strategy for taking the ACT is to answer the easy questions first and skip the difficult questions. After answering all the easy questions go back and answer the more difficult questions. Use logic on more difficult questions: When you return to the more difficult questions, try to use logic to eliminate incorrect answers to a question. Eliminate incorrect answers. Answer EVERY question: Your score on the tests will be based ONLY on the number of questions that you answered correctly. THERE IS NO PENALTY FOR GUESSING. Review your work: If there is time left after you have answered every question in a test, go back and check your work on that test.
English ACT Test Taking Tips Listen to your brain. Read aloud silently. If it sounds right to you, it probably is. Avoid redundancy. Wordiness and redundancy are never rewarded. Usually, the fewer the words that you use, the better. Take DELETE and NO CHANGE seriously. DELETE is a viable answer choice when it eliminates redundant or irrelevant statements. Don t forget to consider the NO CHANGE answer choice. Just because a portion of the passage is underlined does not mean that there is something wrong with it. Try the answer choices. Read each of the choices back into the sentence and then select the one that is grammatically correct and/or clearly expresses the idea. Simplify answer choices. If one part of the answer choice is wrong, the whole answer choice is wrong! Don t make new mistakes. Do not select an answer choice that introduces a new error to the sentence. Match the author. When choosing answer choices, make sure they match the author s strategy and style. Stay organized. Ideas within each essay should flow in a logical sequence.
Math ACT Test Taking Tips Draw pictures. It really helps to visualize the problem. Your sketches can be quick and a little messy. You should create tables and write out equations too. Think before computing. Look for a way to reason through the problem. Don t just go for your calculator. When you do use your calculator, try to have an idea of what your answer should be. Answer the question that they ask you. Cross out any irrelevant information given in the question. Complete all the steps in the problem don t quit early. Check the choices. Take a quick peek at the choices as you read the problem. They can provide clues about how to proceed. Test the answers. When trying answer choices, start with the middle value. Because the answers are arranged in order, you can eliminate answer choices based on if the middle value is too high or too low. Use stand-ins. Use this strategy when you have variables in the question and some of the same variables in the answer choices. Simplify the answer choices by substituting numbers for the variables. Simplify the question. When reading word problems, translate them into mathematical equations and then use substitution.
Reading ACT Test Taking Tips Read the question stems first. Make notes in the passage. When the questions refer to specific lines or words, you may be able to answer the questions right away. Don t study the passage. The ACT reading test is in an open-book format. You do not need to memorize the information for a long period of time. Read loosely and only dwell on information that you are sure is important because you need it to answer a question. Read for the main idea. The main idea is comprised of topic, scope, and purpose. Skim the passage. Do not stop on unfamiliar words the first time through. You may not need to know the meaning of a word to answer the questions. Just try to gain a general understanding of the structure of the passage. Read and answer the questions. Paraphrase the question to ensure an understanding of what it is asking you. Refer back to the passage. Questions should be answered based on the information in the passage. If a question contains references to specific lines, read a little before and a little after the lines mentioned. Predict an answer. After finding relevant information in the passage, try to answer the question in your mind before looking at the answer choices. Use the process of elimination. It is reliable but slow. Use it when you cannot predict an answer or your prediction is not listed as an answer choice. Move around. Don t be afraid to skip around within the ten-question group that accompanies each passage.
Science ACT Test Taking Tips Prioritize. Choose passages in the format you like the most and with information that is the least confusing. Think first. Understand the main idea(s) presented in the passage before reading the questions. Use common sense to avoid being tricked by distractors. Be trendy. Note any relationships between variables or trends in the data represented in charts or graphs. Don t be scared by complex vocabulary. The ACT usually defines terms that are absolutely essential to your understanding. Don t waste time trying to pronounce these new terms either.
Writing ACT Test Taking Tips Carefully read the prompt. Be certain you understand the prompt completely. When an essay argues something that is never mentioned, the highest score it can earn is a 3 on a six-point scale. Think about the prompt. Take the time to formulate your opinion. There is no correct position to take. You just have to be able to defend your opinion. Plan your essay. This is the most important stage of the essay-writing process. Be persuasive. Make sure you have compelling reasons and examples to support your position. Place the issue in a broader context. Consider the other side. Be sure to address how someone might challenge or question your position. Write your essay out on the answer pages. Do not worry about the number of examples included in your essay or the length of your essay. Focus on the quality and cohesiveness of your ideas. Review your essay. If you have time at the end, reread your essay. Correct any mistakes in grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling. Recopy any words that are difficult to read. Make your essay as polished as you can in the time allowed.
PSAT Scores Understanding Your PSAT Scores
Common FAQ s How do I register? When should I take it? How many times should I take it? Should I choose to take the essay?
How do I prepare SAT Prep https://www.khanacademy.org/sat?utm_source=cb-hp-abtest-ctrl&utm_medium= cb418-cb&utm_content=ct&utm_campaign=practice ACT Prep https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparati on.html https://houghstudentservices.weebly.com/actsat.html
Resources https://blog.prepscholar.com/sat-tips-and-tricks-you-must-use https://blog.prepscholar.com/critical-sat-math-formulas-you-must-know https://www.princetonreview.com/college/sat-act https://www.collegeboard.org/ https://www.act.org/