ACT or SAT? How to pick the test that’s right for you

One of the most common questions we hear from students at Creative Dimensions is, “Should I take the SAT, the ACT, or both?”

Chances are that you have asking that same question, and possibly these too . . .

Which test suits me best? Some students do score noticeably higher on one test or the other, but that is unusual. The best strategy is to prepare and take both tests, then see which suits you better.

Which test is preferred by the colleges where I will apply? This question is difficult to answer. The answer lies partly in the application requirements that are stated by the colleges you are considering, so be sure to check their websites. (Note that although the Fisk Guide and other college reference books list test requirements, the information on college websites may be more up-to-date.) The problem is that if an admissions officer secretly prefers one of the tests, he or she will probably not share that information with applicants – especially if his or her college states that it accept either test.

If a college says that standardized tests are optional, should I submit my scores anyway? If you have strong scores that support your application, you should go ahead and submit them. If you score markedly higher on either the SAT or the ACT, then that is the test score you should submit.

If I take a test and don’t do well, will colleges find out and reject me? Relax! You have control over how the results of both tests will be reported to colleges. You can take either test for practice, without having scores reported. But be careful! Students have made mistakes, checked the wrong boxes, and mistakenly sent the wrong test scores to colleges. So be certain to understand your options about having your test scores reported to colleges. See the table on the next page (“Are all scores sent to schools?”) and review the score-reporting options on both the ACT and SAT Websites (see the table on the next page).

Information You Need to Know . . .

Website and Toll-Free Number	http://www.actstudent.org (319) 337-1270	http://sat.collegeboard.com/register (866) 756-7346
What are the test dates for 2010-1011?	9/11; 10/23; 12/11; 2/12; 4/09; 6/11	10/9; 11/6; 12/4; 1/22; 3/12; 5/7; 6/04
What is the structure of the test?	Five sections: English, math, reading, science reasoning, writing (optional) and one experimental section.	Ten sections: 3 critical reading, 3 math, 3 writing and one experimental section.
What is the content of the test?	MATH: up to trigonometry SCIENCE: charts, graphs and data interpretation READING: four passages, one each of prose fiction, social science, humanities and natural sciences ENGLISH: stress on grammar WRITING: (optional) persuasive essay	MATH: up to geometry and algebra II CRITICAL READING: sentence completions, short and long reading passages, reading comprehension WRITING: grammar, usage, word choice and essay
How long is the test?	3 hours plus an optional 30-minute writing sample	3 hours 45 minutes
Is there a penalty for wrong answers?	No	Yes, ¼ point for each wrong answer in multiple-choice questions
How is the test scored?	1-36 for each subject, averaged for a composite score; 2-12 for the writing test	200-800 per section, added together for a combined score of 1600-2400
Are all scores sent to schools?	No. There is a “score choice” option that lets students specify which schools will receive scores, and which scores the schools will see (visit http://www.actstudent.org/scores/send/index.html to review your options)	No. The SAT recommends that all colleges receive all scores, but offers a variety of reporting options (visit http://sat.collegeboard.com/register/sat-score-choice to review them)
Are there other uses for the exam?	Scholarship purposes and certain statewide testing programs	Scholarship purposes
When is the best time to register?	At least 4 weeks before test date; be sure to take the test early enough to meet colleges application deadlines	At least 6 weeks before test date; be sure to take the test early enough to meet college application deadlines

Active Reading for the SAT and ACT

“My mind wanders whenever I start a reading passage on the SAT,” a student

says. “I have to go back and reread passages because I wasn’t paying attention.”

“My biggest problems occur when I get to the questions,” another student comments. “That’s when I realize that I’ve missed parts of the big picture – the main idea, the supporting ideas, the tone, the author’s outlook, whatever the question is asking me to evaluate.”

How can you avoid pitfalls like these? Lots of experts recommend “active reading.” Books and blogs have been written about it.

So what is ACTIVE reading, and how can you use it when you are tackling the reading passages on standardized tests?  Here are some pointers from Creative Dimensions.

• Be sure to read the questions as carefully as you read the passage. “After all, the correct answers are found in the questions – answers that the student must then find in the passage,” says Dr. Andrea Blumenthal of Creative Dimensions, who notes that by the time many students get to the questions, they feel too rushed to read carefully enough to understand what is being asked. They need a plan to eliminate the wrong answers.
• Engage the test by marking it up with a pencil while you are reading. (Some students also use their pencils to move their eyes forward as they read, and use speed reading techniques.) Circle and/or underline important words, phrases, and concepts – and note them in the margins. These elements must be guided by the main idea. Just be sure not to mark everything, because the main points have to stand out.
• Understand the most common structure of reading passages. In virtually all passages (except some narrative and expository passages, see below), you will generally find the main idea in the first paragraph. (Underline it!) Then a statement in each of the following paragraph will relate to that main idea by supporting it, providing evidence, or refuting it. Find those statements, underline them, and understand their relationship to the main idea. Many of the questions will hinge on those relationships.
• Remember, a different reading approach is needed for narrative or expository reading passages. Often in these passages, there is no “main idea” in the first paragraph, nor are there points that support that main idea in the paragraphs that follow. The questions that follow such passages will often ask you to determine the tone of the text (“The author’s viewpoint could best be described as . . .”) or will ask you to make inferences from the text (“The author of the passage would probably agree with all of the following statements except . . . “) Your Creative Dimensions verbal tutor will explain specialized strategies to you.

A Meeting of the Minds

Think of the test as an encounter between your logical processes and the logical processes of the author. Learn to engage in these processes while you read:

1. Identify the main idea (and underline it).
2. Pinpoint the kind of argument or narrative that the author uses to communicate the main idea.
3. Learn to detect inferences – unwritten meanings that are found “between and beyond the lines.”
4. Underline words that stand out because they are emphatic, funny, ironic or negative. They are your clues to the author’s attitude and the tone of the passage.
5. Spot and underline relevant details and statements, which usually stand out from the surrounding text.
6. Underline statements in italics or quotations marks. More than 90% of the time, you will be asked about them.
7. Make sure to read the italicized intro (blurb) if there is one – and underline important information.

Practice, Practice . . .

By applying the strategies that your Creative Dimensions tutor will explain, you can master the art of active reading for the SAT and ACT! Get ready to tone your thinking muscles – and watch your test scores rise.

Welcome to the Creative Dimensions Blog!

Please check back soon for our exciting first blog post.