ACT or SAT?

[Anonymous]

Which did your ADHD/anxiety average student fare best with? Trying to choose best option to prep for.

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering too!

[Anonymous]

Have them take a practice test of each - you can do them online for free with something like Princeton Review or some tutoring places will offer a free practice test to pitch you for their services.

My DS with ADHD did that last summer (online). Score ranges were pretty similar but he preferred the SAT so prepped for that.

FWIW, the ACT is a much faster paced test so if you can't do the "try both" approach, with ADHD/Anxiety I'd lean toward the SAT.

[Anonymous]

So if a child has low processing speed, they’re better off taking the SAT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if a child has low processing speed, they’re better off taking the SAT?

Not necessarily. My ADHD inattentive child with low processing speed (on medication) did better on the ACT practice test than the PSAT or full length SAT practice. Invested a fair amount of time in ACT prep and scored really well.

I think perhaps having 4 separate sections on the ACT helped because it broke things up more, but who knows. Take a practice of each in 10th, and decide which to concentrate on.

[Anonymous]

ACT for your child Op

[Anonymous]

OP, there is no general answer that is applicable to your kid. Have them take a practice of each one and go from there.

[Anonymous]

When did you start prepping your kids? Whom did you use? I have no illusions that my DD will do “well” but I’d like her to keep her anxiety in check and POTENTIALLY be able to apply to a college that isn’t test-optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if a child has low processing speed, they’re better off taking the SAT?

If a child has processing speed, they should have a 504 plan at school providing extra time and also apply for extra time on the SAT/ACT? Do you have that?

[Anonymous]

+1 on take a practice test. then go with the one that "felt better". her choice, not yours.
Get your papers in order for extended time.
Above all, make sure your child knows that she is not a test score. whatever she gets, she will find a great school for her and do fine in life.

[Anonymous]

It is easier to get extra time approved for the SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have them take a practice test of each - you can do them online for free with something like Princeton Review or some tutoring places will offer a free practice test to pitch you for their services.

My DS with ADHD did that last summer (online). Score ranges were pretty similar but he preferred the SAT so prepped for that.

FWIW, the ACT is a much faster paced test so if you can't do the "try both" approach, with ADHD/Anxiety I'd lean toward the SAT.

Our experience was that extended time “went farther” on the ACT.

[Anonymous]

ACT got dc higher scores

[Anonymous]

Same here. High score on ACT first time and with prep on science section, great scores 2 nd time. Easier time getting the extended time for ACT vs SAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is easier to get extra time approved for the SAT.

Why is this? I have a middle schooler so I’m not in this stage yet but he definitely needs extended time on these tests like he’s been getting in school for 5 years. What do you need to get this accommodation besides history of IEP/504?