I’ve yet to meet a student who actually enjoyed taking the SAT or ACT. The tests are long, they take up perfectly good Saturdays, and they’re tests.
Standardized testing may not be fun, but it plays an important role in college admissions. The tide is starting to change with the rise in Test Optional colleges, but for now, testing and test planning are a big part of the college planning process.
Today, I wanted to address some of the most common questions we hear from families about the testing process. Let’s dig in!
should my student take The SAT or the ACT?
“It depends” isn’t a very satisfying answer, but it’s the truth! Ideally, students should be exposed to both tests. The popularity of the PSAT ticks one box, but there are fewer options for the ACT.
If possible, students should try and take both tests to establish a baseline for both. If there’s a big difference in scores, then focus on the higher-scoring test. If the scores are about the same, which test did your student like better?
When should my student start thinking about testing and test prep?
Generally, junior year is a good time to start thinking about testing.
Of course, there are some exceptions. Advanced students - particularly those advanced in math and who have completed Algebra 2 - may choose to start preparing before the end of sophomore year. Likewise, some recruited athletes may need to provide a preliminary score to coaches early in the recruiting process.
When should my student take the test?
Break out the calendar and think long term.
I recommend that most students test more than once, and test prep provider Applerouth generally suggests that students doing test prep should plan to take the test 3 times. Make sure that your student is building in enough time to retest as many times as they feel comfortable. You don’t want to test too far into senior year because of early deadlines and the added work of college applications.
You also don’t want your student testing during other high pressure or extra busy times. Fall athletes may want to plan to test in the spring and vice versa for spring athletes. Think about activities like plays, recitals, competitions, or other big events.
In high school, my friends and I made the mistake of taking the SAT the same day as junior prom. When I look back on that memory, all I remember is how tired and cranky we were from five hours of testing!
Should we invest in test prep?
Most students don’t sit down and get a perfect score the first time, so there’s almost always room for improvement. Nearly all students will benefit from some sort of test prep, but it’s not one-size-fits-all. We help our students develop testing plans, and everybody’s plan is a little bit different.
The more self-directed and disciplined students can be just fine working through an ACT book or using the free SAT resources at Khan Academy. But many students can benefit from the extra assistance provided by a test prep tutor. It can be an investment, but it’s one that can pay off in the long run.
Many colleges and universities use test scores (along with other factors) when determining merit scholarships. Take an out-of-state public school like the University of South Carolina. They publish the average test scores on their scholarships website. A student who moves just one point from a 29 to a 30 on the ACT could see a significant increase in merit aid over the course of four years. You can see big returns on this investment!
Hopefully this helps answer some of your burning questions about standardized tests.
Happy testing!