SAT or ACT? That is the Question…

It’s no secret that the SAT and/or the ACT are important. However, most people don’t understand why it is so important to focus on these tests. Your SAT/ACT score is the only thing that is still completely in your control. By the time you are a junior in high school, significantly raising your GPA is mathematically impossible, and improving class ranking has you relying on other people’s failures. With the right amount of studying, you can see a tangible increase in your SAT/ACT test score. Improving your test score can generate thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars in college savings.

It all goes back to the rankings, such as those done by US News and World Report or the Princeton Review. The academic profile of incoming freshman classes plays a large part in these rankings. The logic is simple- if a lot of high-scoring students are attending a certain school, it must be a good school! And although there are a lot of problems with standardized tests, it remains the one thing that is a level playing field across the nation. While a GPA of 4.0 might be the equivalent of a 3.8 at a school across town, a 2100 on the SAT is the same from Hawaii to Maine. As a result, colleges are continually going after kids with better SAT/ACT scores in order to move up the rankings.

Increasing your test score does more than increase your chances of getting scholarships- it increases the number of schools where you would be a good fit. Applying to schools where you are a good fit is absolutely critical. So how do you improve your test score?

First, determine which test is right for you. Each test requires two different test-taking strategies- the way you study for the SATs will not equate to the ACTs. If you end up taking both tests multiple times, you’ll invest a lot of extra studying time. To make the most of your study time and improve test scores, take a diagnostic test. The diagnostic test is 3 ½ hours long and will determine if you are stronger at the SAT or ACT. The results will also break down each section to show you where you need to improve. You can then focus all of your efforts studying for just that one test!

Your sophomore or junior year is the perfect time to take the Diagnostic Test, schedule your test date and start studying. Once you’ve determined which test is right for you, we suggest you schedule your SAT/ACT test the first time in early spring/winter (Dec/Jan) and then again in late spring (March/May) of your junior year. This will give you plenty of time to improve your score if you are not happy with the first one. If you are a sophomore, once you’ve determined your test strength, start studying for that specific test and schedule your testing dates as early as the Fall of your junior year.  When the award letters start rolling in, you’ll be happy you put forth the effort!

If you would like to learn more about how you can have your student take the Diagnostic Test give us a call at (425) 242-5179.