<p>I took the SAT in June and received a 2310
CR 770
M 800
W 740
I will take it again in December - and I think I have a good shot at getting a 2400.</p>
<p>However, regardless of my performance on the SAT, I will have to take the ACT for scholarship purposes. With this in mind, how best can I prepare for it? and what should I expect?</p>
<p>After reading some of these threads/personal experience on the PLAN test, it seems like the ACT is more geared toward what you learn in school. I'm most worried about the essay...those sample ones are like 5 pages with 6 paragraphs or something. The quality of writing isn't that good, but part of that is because the topic area they give you is MUCH more limited than SAT topics. If I can receive 12s on SAT essays, could I do the same on an ACT essay? I know that the 2 page max is pretty much a must for SAT essays to earn 12s, but what about the ACT? Is length/5 paragraph structure a given as well?</p>
<p>Moreover, since the essay is independent of the actual composite score, is it a problem if I get something like a 36, but a 7 essay? The SAT would harshly penalize you for getting a 7 --- by dropping your writing score. What do colleges do with this optional writing score?</p>
<p>any1 who is stressing over the ACT but got a 2310 really needs to go out and enjoy life, if you ask me. And how can colleges prefer 1 test over another?</p>
<p>It’s for a state-sponsored scholarship that requires the ACT, nothing too big.
I’m not really worried about it, I just thought maybe I should know something about the test before I take it…
I didn’t mean to come off as conceited. Whatever, thanks for the responses anyway :/</p>
<p>Go to your local library and get a practice book(s), which sould fully prepare you for the test. </p>
<p>Personally, I think the ACT is easier than the SAT. The English test is a breeze if you are good with grammar. Definitely practice timing with the reading test, as time plays a huge factor. Good luck with the science!</p>
<p>My situation was slightly similar to yours, so I took both ACT and SAT. I know some kids who are your standard ~2400’s SAT-wise, and would never get above a 33 on the ACT. Bottom line: time is a huge issue, and questions are easier. You should worry more about time managment than about whether questions are more curriculum related or whatever.. I don’t buy any of that. Kids who have never been remotely close to having timing issues on the SAT will probably feel a time crunch for the ACT. If you are a reasonably quick test-taker, you should expect a 33 or higher. </p>
<p>I personally think ACT essays are easier because you don’t really have to come up with examples. Although the question topics are narrow, they are usually very relevant to the lives of most high schoolers (Should we allow uniforms in public HS, shoudl Wikipedia be banned from research projects, should volunteering requirements exist, etc). Most topics are designed so that the average HS student has a firm opinion either way, and has a lot to say. Time limit is 30 mins compared to 25 for the SAT, but you’re given more pages to write on (I think it’s 4, I only used 3 pgs, and I don’t think anyone can humanly formulate a 4 pg essay in 30 minutes lol). I think most 12s on the ACT write more than 2 pages.. probably somewhere between 2.5 and 3 pages. I received a 12 on the SAT too, and I think that you should expect at least an 11 on the ACT essay since, like I said, I found it easier. The 5 pgraph standard structure still holds. </p>
<p>Getting a 7 on the ACT essay will only affect your english/writing composite, a special score that I don’t remember if colleges consider. Nevertheless, based on your performance on the SAT, I don’t think you will approach a 7 on the ACT unless you don’t try, and you should definitely try :).</p>
<p>Given that you got a 2310 SAT, I would say that you will probably score a 34+ on the ACT (which converts to about a 2250+ SAT score). However, the math on the ACT is much more like high school math, and is very similar to the math you see on SAT II’s. I’m going to say that the reading is easier, but you also have less time to do it and ditto with the English (mc writing on the SAT). Also, the science section can be a pain, but the ACT science section is mostly based on your reasoning skills, so I think you’ll do well given your high SAT scores. Lastly, the essay on the ACT is significantly easier than the SAT writing. First off, you have 30 minutes on the ACT to write your essay (5 minutes longer than the SAT, which at least to me, was a big deal) and the essay topics are more political than philosophical, so it’s easier to think of examples and for a high schooler in general to write about.</p>
<p>The ACT and SAT are two different tests. It is possible for one to score significantly better or worse on either (ie me, I got a 2010 SAT and 33 ACT). However, I would say that it is more likely than not that you will score very highly on your ACT (by highly I mean 32+).</p>
<p>longer = better? where did you read that? if that’s true, then that is BS. Concise is better to most teachers. I guarantee longer essays are repetitive, which to most high school english teachers is a bad thing</p>