My rising junior (ADHD but tests well and usually doesn’t need extra time) has done practice tests (with no prep) for both SAT and ACT and scored practically equivalent on both for the composite (though did better on math for ACT than SAT, slightly odd as math is their strongest subject). They didn’t have a preference for one over the other in terms of the actual test taking itself. So, trying to figure out which one to choose for the “real” test. Their main target school is TO - its CDS shows of those that submit tests, which is around 35% of incoming students, almost three times as many submit SAT as ACT. Also, the student’s practice scores (which will presumably improve as they will prep for the actual test) look noticeably better in the middle 50 for SAT than ACT for these. Is this enough of a reason to choose SAT? What else should we be looking at?
Can you take both?
Which is earlier and easier to access from where you live?
Hopefully the target school isn’t TO for you!!
Good luck.
They can take both, but their school is organizing an onsite SAT in March or April so that will be easiest for sure. I want to focus on one as if all goes well it’s really just one school they’ll be doing it for! (Likely backup option is a CA public which don’t look at tests)
It takes time, prep and money to take both. Just take an SAT/ACT diagnostic test. They’re quick, cheap and then you’ll know.
Hmm, but that site says
“ 2023: The College Board upended the landscape: Tests are now being delivered in multiple formats (online and paper) creates too much variance in test experience for us to accurately account for.”
So if the school offers the SAT, then see if the one school you are interested in superscores. If so, take the SAT.
This way you had two cracks at one apple.
Yes, that’s a good enough reason. The fact that your school is organizing an onsite SAT further justifies the reason to focus on the SAT.
Note that the fact that most students submit the SAT is irrelevant. Colleges readily accept both.
My sense is the distribution of SAT/ACT at different colleges is largely just a function of the relative mix of states represented at those colleges, as either the SAT or ACT can be significantly more common in different states.
So in cases where it is clear the better test for your student is not the most common one in your state or some college, that is fine, you can still do that one.
But conversely, if you see no notable difference and your school makes it easier to do one or the other, that is fine too.
My daughter also did equally well between ACT/SAT timed practice tests. We lived in a state that required the ACT for graduation so she just took that. Do what’s logistically easiest!
Most of mine took both, they scored a bit better on tbd ACT.
Thanks for pointing that out! I just typed the link from memory because it has historically been so useful.
For each test, are there specific types of questions that the student did incorrectly that targeted preparation can make a significant improvement on, or are the incorrect answers evenly distributed across all types of questions? The former could allow for more time-efficient preparation on the specific types of questions, rather than every type of question on the test.
My S25 is also very strong in Math (AP Calc AB Junior year) and just missed NM on the PSAT by about 10 points. However, his first real SAT he only got a 1430 so he decided to try the ACT. After 4 tutoring sessions he scored a 35 on the first try! I’ve heard alot of kids that have traditionally been strong at Math scoring higher on the ACT for some reason.
Mine were very strong in math so that makes sense.
You can definitely take both, and the key here is really potential for improvement.
ACT is very fast-paced. Questions tend to be pretty straight forward, and the test is a bit longer (changes are coming next May, however)… You’re looking at about 215 questions in 2h55min.
SAT, on the other hand, is shorter and slower. The questions are more tricky and goes a bit more in depth. No science for the SAT either.
IMO, it’s really a question of depth or pace. I personally prefer SAT for the length – test fatigue is real! Also, which practice test did the student do? Some early practice tests are known to be easier than the actual test…
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