One of the most stress-inducing experiences that a high schooler can undergo is taking a standardized test, the one they believe will be the ultimate key to gaining admission to their dream university. This leaves many students wondering: how should I prepare and take the right test to boost my chances of getting into a top university?
The process of college applications has grown complicated because universities have continuously changed their testing protocols in recent years and shifted their application focus as hundreds of schools went test-optional during the pandemic. However, recently, the majority of private schools have reinstated their requirements, with 80 percent of schools being test-optional and 20 percent being test-requirement.
This spike has shown that it’s imperative for students to take a standardized test to stand out among other applicants and prove their skills. Not to mention that many non-merit and merit-based scholarships require or are boosted by a high test score.
The Standardized Assessment Test (SAT), as well as the American College Testing (ACT), are the main testing options accepted in consideration for admission to universities across the country. Admissions officers claim they show no preference for receiving either test score on an application, so which test will best meet your needs?
While the tests are similar experiences, they contain a wide variety of differences, ranging from section material and the $68 fee to time per question and included tools. Testers have found that each test covers basic math and English, but the structural outlines vary based on which test you take.
The SAT is composed of two sections, two reading and writing modules, and two math modules. The reading and writing modules emphasize testing one’s general knowledge of vocabulary, writing structure, punctuation, and other skills. Throughout the math modules, students are challenged with using critical thinking to solve a variety of problems containing basic algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. This two-module structure allows the SAT to be an adaptive test, grading the student’s answers after the first module, and giving an easier or harder difficulty for the next module.
Meanwhile, the ACT contains not only English, reading comprehension, and mathematics sections, but also two more optional sections to test specific areas of strength. The science section is commonly taken by individuals who hope to enter the STEM field, as the questions pertain to analyzing and interpreting scientific data.
The other optional section includes writing a structured essay, testing the student’s writing skills, and analysis. Both of these opportunities increase the price of testing by $25 per optional section, and availability may vary based on the location. Depending on your strengths in writing or science, these opportunities can be a beneficial option for certain career paths.
When taking the ACT, it’s important to note that it’s a faster-paced test, since it allows students roughly one minute per question, while the SAT allows students to have a minute and a half. This changes the environment based on time allotted, which may have varying effects on testers, as some work better under pressure and others struggle with it.
One of the biggest differences noted by an anonymous student who took both tests was the tools provided in the SAT math section versus the ACT math section. They said, “The SAT offers a Desmos graphing calculator and the ACT doesn’t, which I found helpful.”
The assistance of this calculator has appeared to be a main factor in the success of many successful high scorers on the SAT, and has been a major change in recent years as the practice of standardized testing shifted from paper-focused to digital.
The ACT offers both a paper and an online version; in recent years, the SAT has transitioned to exclusively digital. This changes the experience for testers who are used to taking paper tests, as opposed to testers who have experience taking digital versions.
Regardless of the differences, both tests have one major concept in common: studying is imperative and can help students meet their goals and impress universities.
There is an extensive variety of preparation resources available to students, as the Princeton Review and various other organizations offer private courses for both tests, as well as websites such as Khan Academy offering free SAT prep courses and practice questions.
Senior Nisreen Makati claimed that, “Taking the private course was beneficial because it helped me and I scored much higher than I thought I would have.” By studying in advance, students have grown familiar with the material, showing great improvement when taking it again.
Additionally, it’s common for students to neglect the English sections, as they tend to hyperfocus on math because they already “know English.” This mindset drags down the scores in this department because slang isn’t what the test focuses on; it focuses on the standard English conventions.
Students don’t realize how different formal grammar is from everyday slang, and by studying these rules, testers have shown astronomical growth in the English portions.
Overall, the SAT and ACT are both extremely beneficial options for students looking to apply to top-tier colleges, and depending on your areas of strength and goals for the future, you might want to consider which test will best prepare you for the road ahead.