Many parents and students call and ask, "Do schools prefer the SAT? Isn't the ACT just for math and science people? Which test is easier? What's the difference?" Throughout the nineties, choosing whether to take the SAT or the ACT was a simple task. Generally, if you lived in the Midwest, the Rockies, or the South, you took the ACT, and if you lived near either coast, you took the SAT, but it's no longer quite that simple. 

Today, all four year colleges accept either the ACT or the SAT, with no preference for one over the other, and some students submit scores from both. The ACT has grown in popularity, and now roughly the same percentage of students take the ACT as the SAT. What test should you prep for?  What’s the difference? 

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Length
ACT: 215 questions divided into 4 sections (English, Math, Reading, Science); 205 minutes long including optional 30 minute writing section 

SAT: 170 questions divided into 10 sections (3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing, 1 experimental section not counted into the score); 225 minutes long.

SAT is longer, so fidgety students may prefer the ACT, but the ACT requires students to move very quickly through the test, so slower readers may prefer the SAT. 

Types of Questions
ACT: More straightforward questions based on content knowledge (in grammar, usage & math); difficulty level of questions is random
SAT: Trickier, more logic-based questions; questions get more difficult as you move through each section (with the exception of chronological reading passages)

If you are a very bright underachiever, the SAT may be a better test for you as it focuses less on content knowledge and more on aptitude and reasoning. If you study hard well in advance to earn high marks, the ACT may be a better fit as much of it is based on content knowledge that can be memorized. 

Points Off
ACT: No penalty for incorrect answers.
SAT: ¼ point off for incorrect answers. No points off for blank answers.

Science
ACT: Includes a science reasoning section mostly based on ability to interpret data.
SAT: Does not include a science section.

Keep in mind that usually only one question in the ACT science section is based on previous knowledge in science. It's mostly interpreting data,so students who score well in reading comprehension often also earn high marks in ACT science. 

Math
ACT: Math through trigonometry with no formulas provided (a bit tougher).
SAT: Math through Algebra II with formulas provided.

Writing
ACT: Optional (30 minutes) and not factored into the score, although most schools prefer to see it. It’s usually a high interest persuasive essay question.
SAT: Required (25 minutes at the beginning of the test), and usually asks for examples from literature and history.

English
ACT: Tests more usage, grammar and rhetorical skills, and questions are more intuitive (which sentence sounds right?).
SAT: Requires an excellent knowledge of vocabulary and word roots.

Scoring
ACT: 36 possible points
SAT: 2400 possible points (200-800 points per section)

Experts recommend taking a full length practice test of each exam to see which feels better. If you think you’ll do better on one, and it feels better for you, go with that test. 

Both the ACT and the SAT allow score choice, meaning you choose which scores to send to schools, and students are allowed to take both tests; however, most find it much less stressful to focus on preparing for one. 

Studies show a strong correlation between formal one-on-one test prep with a tutor and increased scores, so make time for study and test prep prior to the test as often possible! Daily practice, the number of full-length practice tests taken prior to the test, and working with an expert to refine practice and work through problems all significantly impact student test scores.

Great scores aren't all that matter in terms of getting into your dream school, but they can make a huge difference in at least making the first cut, so pick a test, make a study schedule, and study hard! 

As the school year winds down, many students are looking forward to taking a break from the books with the onset of warm weather. While all kids deserve a break from sitting in school all day, research shows that the average student falls significantly behind over the summer.



According to summerlearning.org, most kids lose about 2.6 months of math skills over the summer and lower income students lose more than 2 months of reading. Parents dread the idea of having their students start the next school year feeling behind and less confident because they’ve slipped behind in math and reading.

What can parents do to prevent summer learning loss while allowing students to have a fun, active summer? Here are a few quick tips to help keep skills sharp and minds inspired over the summer. 

1. Read, read, read! Encourage kids to grab a book and read outside, read on the beach, read before bed, and read with others. Post a chart listing every book kids finish reading over the summer, and encourage the whole family to participate and share with weekly book talks. Barnes and Noble is giving away a free book for every eight read, so get reading!

2. Set aside 10-20 minutes a day for a math refresher. Great web resources such as mathletics.com and IXL math provide great web resources for K-12 students to refresh at home. On a road trip or flight, portable video games such as Personal Trainer for Nintendo DS in addition to a ton of learning apps for smartphones and tablets are fun ways K-12 students to practice math skills at their level while on the road.

3. Incorporate learning into daily activities—let kids learn about money by giving them a small allowance or letting them budget a given amount for shopping. Cook with kids to teach fractions and reinforce following directions with recipes. Let kids help build things or design & make clothes to learn about measurement and geometry.

4. Make writing fun by using summer as an opportunity for kids to get creative with writing. Hone in on kids’ interests and channel them into writing. From writing a play, to creating a blog, to writing formal letters to favorite authors or athletes, to writing and submitting a poem or short story to an online magazine, to having a pen pal, or writing a comment to a newspaper, summer writing empowers kids and helps them develop a love for the written word without the restrictions of the classroom.

5. Hiring a summer reading, writing, or math enrichment tutor for younger students, or a test-prep tutor for older students helps ensure time is made for summer learning, and provides an outside mentor to work with students.

6. Test prep (ISEE, SSAT, PSAT, SAT & ACT) is especially effective over the summer as it both reinforces academic skills, and allows kids to prepare without the added stress of school and homework. Summer is also a great time for kids to take a homeschool course to lighten their academic load during the year. Check out our summer programs for great deals!

Keeping kids up to speed over the summer takes just a few hours a week, and can be fun and engaging. Studies repeatedly show huge academic losses in the summer months, and these losses can be easily prevented with a simple course of action. Learning shouldn’t stop just because school does, and summertime allows kids to explore their own intellectual curiosity.