Test Preparation

While there is overlap between these two tests in terms of the core content tested, there are some significant differences. Overall, the ACT Math places a greater emphasis on math formulas and classroom concepts, while the SAT emphasizes problem solving and critical thinking. The ACT Reading tends to be more literal and straightforward than the SAT Reading. As a whole, the ACT provides far less time per question than the SAT, making the sections in that test much harder to finish. Lastly, there is a “Science” section on the ACT whereas the SAT tests only Reading, Grammar and Math.

The Digital SAT is 2 hours and 20 minutes long. The test is adaptive, which means its difficulty level changes dynamically according to how a student performs. The test has two sections, Reading/Writing and Math, and each section is divided into two modules. For each section, all students have the same questions in Module 1, but students who do well in Module 1 will encounter a harder difficulty level in Module 2. Higher difficulty questions are worth more points toward a student's score.

Reading and Writing: 64 minutes

• Module 1: 32 minutes, 27 questions

• Module 2: 32 minutes, 27 questions

Math: 70 minutes

• Module 1: 35 minutes, 22 questions

• Module 2: 35 minutes, 22 questions

The ACT is 3-hours long (3-hours and 30-minutes with breaks). If you choose to take the ACT with optional essay, the test takes 4 hours.

• 45-minute grammar (75 questions)

• 60-minute math (60 questions)

• 35-minute reading (40 questions)

• 35-minute science (40 questions)

• (30-minute optional essay)

While we cannot tell you precisely why the ACT includes “science” and the SAT does not, we can tell you that the science on the ACT is not very “scientific.” Students may benefit from knowledge of science or an interest in science, but this section is really about interpreting data in the form of graphs, tables, and illustrations.

We recommend that students take at least one official SAT and one official ACT before committing exclusively to either test. Normally our students begin by taking a diagnostic SAT test. Occasionally students or their parents prefer to start with the ACT. Either way, students devote specific time and practice to one test, including tutoring sessions and regular full-length timed practice tests. After students take their first official SAT, we transition to weekly ACT prep. Once a student has taken his or her first official SAT and ACT tests, we are able to determine which test suits that student best. In many cases it becomes obvious to our tutors quite early in the process.

We recommend that 11th graders sign up for either the December or March SAT as their first official test, as long as they’re able to devote enough time to prepare in the summer or fall leading up to their official test date. If you’re planning on taking the December SAT it’s obviously beneficial to utilize the summer months to prepare ahead of this test. That said, we have many students who begin their preparation in August and take their first official SAT in December. If students prefer to start with ACT prep, we recommend either the February or April ACT as their first official test date.

Although students will experience strong, and even sometimes incredible, progress, it’s important to note that students do not typically score their highest on their first official SAT and ACT tests. However, the first official tests are vital in helping students get familiar with the test, the environment, the pacing, and the overall experience. Not surprisingly, students feel much more confident and relaxed when taking their second and third tests. That said, we always have students who score extraordinarily high on their first official SAT and ACT tests.

When registering for your SAT and ACT tests, make sure you sign up for tests “with essay,” which is what most colleges require or prefer. IMPORTANT: make sure to also sign up for the “Question and Answer” (for SAT) and “Test Information Release” (for ACT) when offered for your test dates. These services provide students with a copy of their actual test booklet as well as a detailed score report. This is a tremendous tool for students (and tutors) to see which questions were answered incorrectly and whether the mistakes were careless or fundamental. For the SAT, the “Question and Answer” service ($20) is available for the August, May, and October test dates. For the ACT, the “Test Information Release” ($20) is available for the April, June, and December test dates.

Students today have the advantage of “Score Choice” on the SAT. Score Choice allows students to send only the SAT scores they want to send to colleges. Colleges will then combine the highest scores from each part of submitted tests to reach what’s known as a “Super Score.” So, let’s say a student scores very high in Reading on the March SAT… That student can then focus on the Math sections on subsequent SAT tests, knowing that he or she has a high Reading score essentially “in the bank.” The super score not only alleviates intense pressure for students, but it also helps students maximize time and effort during the tutoring and testing process.

Many parents and students ask: Do colleges super-score the ACT? The answer is “yes” AND “no.” Some colleges do and some don’t. As you begin scheduling your ACT, SAT, and SAT subject tests, it’s important for students to review the admissions pages on college websites to find out which tests each college requires and how the tests are evaluated.