In today’s highly competitive society, getting into the right college has become more important than ever, and, of course, most colleges require a standardized test for admission. For many years, the SAT was the only game in town, but in recent years, the ACT has been steadily gaining in popularity and recently surpassed the SAT as the more popular test. So how do you decide which test is the right test for you? The SAT or ACT? Take the following quiz and find out!
1. Do you prefer:
a. to apply your knowledge of the material more directly to the questions asked?
b. to employ test-taking strategies in order to answer the questions?
2. Do you prefer:
a. completing all your work in one subject area before moving on to the next?
b. working on shorter individual sections, with the different subjects interspersed throughout?
3. Do you prefer:
a. knowing what categories of topics you are going to be reading about on a test?
b. being surprised by the topics you are going to be reading about?
4. Do you prefer:
a. essay questions that relate to the lives of high school students (For example, should schools have uniforms?)?
b. essay questions that ask about abstract ideas (For example, do people learn who they are only when forced into action?)?
5. How do you feel about science?
a. I’d love to have science on my college entrance exam.
b. I’d prefer not to have science on my college entrance exam.
So you have a choice to make about the SAT or ACT. If you chose option 1 more frequently, the ACT is most likely the test for you. If you chose option 2 more frequently, the SAT is most likely the test for you! You should take a practice test of each of the exams to see how you score, but never underestimate the power of your personal preference. It is important to feel comfortable with whichever test you choose, so choose wisely and good luck!
By Vera Wexler, Private Tutor
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