To SAT or ACT? Let’s break it down
Taking the SAT or ACT in college can definitely feel a little bit painful. If you’re applying to a school that requires, or considers, one of these tests (typically private schools), you might have some questions on your mind. This page lists some tips and resources, as well as some guidance when it comes to deciding whether or not to send in scores if the school you’re applying to is “test-optional”.
Let’s start with a discussion of whether or not to submit these scores…
Now that many private schools are test-optional (lots of public schools don’t even require these exams for transfers), the question of whether or not to take the test, or send in test scores, is on a lot of people’s minds. Here’s my response to this:
- There are students who have transferred to top schools without sending in test scores. It is possible to get in without them.
- Personally, I would almost always advise that a student at least try to prepare to take an exam if it's a realistic option for them. Most of us can actually perform well on these exams with adequate preparation, especially if we follow the logic that these tests are meant to measure your success in your first year of college (though I’m happy to agree that they don't do what they are “meant” to do). Moreover, the bar is thankfully lower for transfer students, meaning the expectation of what score you have is not as high as first year year students.
- If you truly feel that taking the exam will not benefit you, that is a personal decision that only you can make! I’ve met people who knew the tests would be too anxiety provoking, or simply did not want to send in their scores, and sent in only their GPAs. Schools that are test-optional explicitly write that they have accepted both students who did and who did not submit scores. So, only you know what’s best for you.
- If you’re on the fence, I’d advise you to think about what your application looks like at the moment, and what a test score might be able to do for you. If you have gotten lower scores in one subject, or generally aren’t the most pleased with your GPA, a strong score on that topic in the SAT/ACT, or a generally high score on those exams, might make you feel better about your application.
Okay, now if you are considering taking one of these exams, the next question is usually… which one?
As someone who took both, I'll share with you my personal opinion. I’ll also lay out some simple facts for you to make the best decision for yourself (you can, of course, take both).
The SAT is split into two sections, each with a maximum score of 800. They are then added together to get your total score. I think the SAT is great if math is your strong suit. If you can get near perfect in math, and then practice the english to score as highly as possible, you’re probably going to be just fine. My peers who did well on the SAT seemed, to me, to be more confident in math.
I think if math is something that makes you nervous, you may want to try the ACT. Technically you could use the same logic as above for English, but as someone who really gets nervous with math, I think having just 1/4 of the exam being math really helped me a lot mentally. I also felt that the science section was a little more English-based than expected. Some of the answers, in prep and reality, felt like they could be discovered by simply reading and understanding what was being asked of you.
That is a bit of a binary split and I recognize everyone’s different. You can try to take one of each practice exam and see what feels more comfortable for you. Don’t forget that a big part of taking a test is your mental approach to the exam, and whichever situation is less stressful is likely one in which you will do better.
Here are some simple, cost-effective resources to help you with your test-prep:
Khan Academy Test Prep SAT Prep
While I haven’t personally used Khan Academy for SAT Prep, I have heard great things about it, and it’s a cost effective approach to begin practicing if you’re planning on taking the SAT.
Princeton Review ACT Prep Book
This resource is a recommendation from my own personal experience. I used this book, and for once in my life, started from the front cover and made it to the end. Actually sitting with pencil and paper and timing myself, and also reading through their tips, helped me feel really prepared for the ACT. Super worth it, then you can use the gigantic book to drain your tofu or something.
Still have questions? Leave a comment on any of our videos on social media and we’ll make sure to get you the answers you need.