Taking the SAT and the ACT

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with having DC take both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with having DC take both?

Nothing if DC can handle. Prep for one test takes a lot of time. Prepping for two takes even more... Why not find out which one works better for your DC and focus on that one?? No colleges ask for both tests.

[Anonymous]

Is one much easier than the other? If so, I would take that one.

[Anonymous]

DD a rising senior took both last spring - the new SAT and the ACT. She did not do a bit of prep except she was forced to take the PSAT fall of junior year. She did much better on the new SAT probably because with no real prep and the longer time for answers, the SAT was easier for her. She also said the PSAT and SAT were the same in difficulty.

The order she took them: Nov PSAT, March ACT, April SAT.

It seems to me with the new SAT more or less copying the ACT that prepping for ACT would be best and then just take the SAT. ACT requires a faster answering speed.

She's not interested in going straight to college - has another passion but will apply to colleges because we'll make her. Luckily she is one and done with her SAT score. FWIW, she is not applying to Ivies and would have to prep to get the scores needed for that.

Younger DS will definitely need to prep though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD a rising senior took both last spring - the new SAT and the ACT. She did not do a bit of prep except she was forced to take the PSAT fall of junior year. She did much better on the new SAT probably because with no real prep and the longer time for answers, the SAT was easier for her. She also said the PSAT and SAT were the same in difficulty.

The order she took them: Nov PSAT, March ACT, April SAT.

It seems to me with the new SAT more or less copying the ACT that prepping for ACT would be best and then just take the SAT. ACT requires a faster answering speed.

She's not interested in going straight to college - has another passion but will apply to colleges because we'll make her. Luckily she is one and done with her SAT score. FWIW, she is not applying to Ivies and would have to prep to get the scores needed for that.

Younger DS will definitely need to prep though.

This is true. As more and more kids take ACT, SAT had no choice but to redesign the test. Looking more like ACT questions.

[Anonymous]

All 3 of our children took both. It was not really a big deal for them and they certainly didn't complain or have any problems doing both. It did involve prep specific to each test, though. Each child ended up using the SAT scores (because that was the score preferred by the ED school) but it was good to have the ACT scores as back-up.

My preconception still stands that the ACT is used more in the Mid-West while the SAT is the preferred for the East and West coasts. I hear that more and more schools are moving to accepting either/both. We felt that having both scores gave our children flexibility as they narrowed down their school preferences.

[Anonymous]

My DD seems to do better on the ACT. Having said that, she's taking a prep course this summer aimed at covering both tests, although there are a few sessions devoted to just the ACT. We're told this strategy is possible because the new SAT is now pretty similar to the ACT.

[Anonymous]

DC did far better on the ACT than the SAT. If the colleges don't ask for both scores, they will only get the ACT.

Btw, two of DC's friends got a 32 score and say they are done, finito, not retaking. Many kids are just burnt out on standardized testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
All 3 of our children took both. It was not really a big deal for them and they certainly didn't complain or have any problems doing both. It did involve prep specific to each test, though. Each child ended up using the SAT scores (because that was the score preferred by the ED school) but it was good to have the ACT scores as back-up.

My preconception still stands that the ACT is used more in the Mid-West while the SAT is the preferred for the East and West coasts. I hear that more and more schools are moving to accepting either/both. We felt that having both scores gave our children flexibility as they narrowed down their school preferences.

There is not one school on the East ad West coasts that I am aware of that does not take or prefers one test over the other. Please provide the link for schools on the East and West coasts that 'prefer' the SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
All 3 of our children took both. It was not really a big deal for them and they certainly didn't complain or have any problems doing both. It did involve prep specific to each test, though. Each child ended up using the SAT scores (because that was the score preferred by the ED school) but it was good to have the ACT scores as back-up.

My preconception still stands that the ACT is used more in the Mid-West while the SAT is the preferred for the East and West coasts. I hear that more and more schools are moving to accepting either/both. We felt that having both scores gave our children flexibility as they narrowed down their school preferences.

Here's an article that might address your preconception though you are right that years ago there was a preference. That was then, this is now.

http://blog.prepscholar.com/what-do-ivy-league-schools-think-of-the-act

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
All 3 of our children took both. It was not really a big deal for them and they certainly didn't complain or have any problems doing both. It did involve prep specific to each test, though. Each child ended up using the SAT scores (because that was the score preferred by the ED school) but it was good to have the ACT scores as back-up.

My preconception still stands that the ACT is used more in the Mid-West while the SAT is the preferred for the East and West coasts. I hear that more and more schools are moving to accepting either/both. We felt that having both scores gave our children flexibility as they narrowed down their school preferences.

There is not one school on the East ad West coasts that I am aware of that does not take or prefers one test over the other. Please provide the link for schools on the East and West coasts that 'prefer' the SAT.

NP - colleges don't prefer one over the other. colleges don't ask for both either - providing ACT w/ writing.

[Anonymous]

As of this past spring, the tests are virtually identical. Prepping for one is essentially prepping for both. So take both

[Anonymous]

There are some small but significant differences. My DS likes the fast pace of the ACT better along with the dedicated science section (as opposed to SAT where science questions are spread out). Many schools do not require subject tests if you take the ACT with writing, so less overall testing may be necessary. All 4-year colleges accept both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As of this past spring, the tests are virtually identical. Prepping for one is essentially prepping for both. So take both

If you take one and do well, be "one and done". There is absolutely no reason to put DC through both. Schools do not award extra "poits" to those who did it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
All 3 of our children took both. It was not really a big deal for them and they certainly didn't complain or have any problems doing both. It did involve prep specific to each test, though. Each child ended up using the SAT scores (because that was the score preferred by the ED school) but it was good to have the ACT scores as back-up.

My preconception still stands that the ACT is used more in the Mid-West while the SAT is the preferred for the East and West coasts. I hear that more and more schools are moving to accepting either/both. We felt that having both scores gave our children flexibility as they narrowed down their school preferences.

There is not one school on the East ad West coasts that I am aware of that does not take or prefers one test over the other. Please provide the link for schools on the East and West coasts that 'prefer' the SAT.

Snark at me and I'll snark right back. Our three children are, between them, at 2 HYPs. They all went ED. We asked which test(s) would be better and we did what we were advised. You want a link to schools, figure it out.

If you feel that your child should only take and submit the ACT score (or only take and submit the SAT score(s) for that matter) then that is your choice. But don't attack me because of your insecurities about it.

In the future you might want to consider the old adage 'you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'. I am usually very happy to discuss our experiences and share our lessons learned. But I will not stand for being attacked and I will not help people who are rude. I am done responding and will not be returning to this thread. Flame away.