Is The SAT or the ACT Better for College?

If you’ve been fretting over which standardized test to take, we come to you with good news: it doesn’t matter which test you take! Below you’ll find our tips:

Here’s what you should do:

  • Take an SAT/ACT Diagnostic test

  • See which you do better on and decide which test you prefer.

  • Study for the test that you prefer. To get more specific, set up a long-term preparation plan that you can actually keep up with. We understand that preparing early doesn’t sound appealing to sophomores, but it’s truly the best move. Junior year is busy, you’re going to have a lot going on, and it’s just not ideal to wait.

Here’s what you shouldn’t do:

  • Stress over which test is better for months. Time is crucial here, and you’re far better off simply deciding which test to take and then studying, then researching the differences between the tests. The tests are different, but it doesn’t matter which one you take. This is why taking both is key --- you can move forward with the one that you like more.

  • Over prepare for your diagnostic tests. Just take both and see which one feels better!

  • Formally sit for both tests. Rumor has it that there are high school students who are taking both tests, and worse yet, studying for both tests. If you take one thing away from this blog post, it should be that you should only be studying for one test. If you’re currently on this path, reallocate that time to getting better grades and pursuing your extracurricular activities.

We get it: sometimes it’s easier to stress over details and make to-do lists than it is to actually get the train moving and start studying for a test. We’ve been doing this for a while, and rarely do we work with students who don’t need (or at least want) to retake their standardized tests. This means that instead of wondering which test to take, you should just get started with the process. Remind yourself that both tests are perfectly acceptable in the eyes of your dream college, and trust your gut about which test feels better.

 

If you need help mapping out the college process, contact us here.