Ms. Deb's Test Prep

Score changes when students test again

Here are some general points about score change that may help you advise your students.

• 55 percent of juniors taking the test improved their scores as seniors.
• 35 percent had score drops.
• 10 percent had no change.
• The higher a student’s scores as a junior, the more likely that student’s subsequent scores will drop.
• The lower the initial scores, the more likely the scores will go up.
• On average, juniors repeating the SAT as seniors improved their combined critical reading, mathematics, and writing scores by approximately 40 points.
• About 1 in 25 gained 100 or more points on critical reading or mathematics, and about 1 in 90 lost 100 or more points.

from The College Board (Creators of the SAT)

Teenagers who earn high ACT scores are more likely to:

• Possess a strong memory.
• Be fast readers.
• Process information swiftly.

Teenagers who earn high SAT scores are more likely to:

• Possess a strong vocabulary.
• Be a strong reader.
• Enjoy test-taking strategies.

Teenagers who ace the ACT are able to speed through the test. The ACT, for instance, requires a student to answer 40 questions in the reading section in 35 minutes. In comparison, the SAT reading section seems downright leisurely. Students receive 70 minutes to answer 54 SAT reading questions.

The ACT also tests a student’s memory because, unlike the SAT, it doesn’t provide the lines in the reading passages where answers can be found.

Just looking at the ACT’s time constraints and memorization demands, you might think the SAT is the preferable test, but that won’t be the case for everyone.

Some students like the ACT because it’s more straight forward. The ACT, for instance, doesn’t contain obscure vocabulary and the reading passages aren’t tough. In comparison, the SAT reading section is loaded with tricky questions. Even though the SAT typically directs students to the very line in a reading passage where the answer can be found, pinpointing the correct answer can still be tortuous.

Unlike the ACT, the SAT also demands a strong vocabulary because it peppers the sentence completion section of the test and the reading passages with words like assiduous and inchoate.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505145_162-37241433/sat-and-act-which-is-the-better-test/?tag=mwuser

You can certainly take both OR you can focus your study efforts on one test and maximize your score! 

According to Erica, over at ultimatesatverbal.blogspot.com, you should:

Take the SAT if:

• Your verbal skills are significantly stronger than your math skills: the SAT only covers through Algebra II; the ACT covers through Trigonometry

• You’re a naturally good standardized tester who’s good at spotting traps in questions

• You have a strong sense of logic

• You’re good at seeing “big picture” ideas and deal well with abstraction

• You have a large vocabulary and read extensively on your own

• You’re willing to spend time figuring out how the College Board wants you to think

Take the ACT if:

• You’re much stronger in Math than you are in English: if you’re ok at English but great at Math, ACT English is usually a lot more manageable than SAT English.

• You don’t have a large vocabulary and don’t have months to spend memorizing vocab. words

• You’re a fast reader. This is very important: the biggest issue that most students have with ACT Reading Comp. is the time limit. Even if you don’t read a lot on your own, chances are you’ll do decently if you can get through all four passage/question sets.

• You’re a straightforward, detail-oriented thinker

• You don’t want to bother strategizing about how to lose the fewest points: SAT takes off .25 points for every question you get wrong, ACT takes none

Generally, the SAT is more of a logic-based test. If you learn the strategies and can recognize the patterns, you can beat it. The ACT is more straight-forward, tests higher level math and includes a science section.

Colleges accept both - so choose the one that’s best for you!