I’m a junior now, and have taken neither the SAT nor ACT yet. However, I know that I can get a pretty good score on the old SAT this fall if I just study a little bit (My PSAT scores were 80, 76, and 69 for writing, math, and cr last year). However, I have literally not touched a single ACT prep book. All I did was one practice test; I realized that although I got most of the questions right (enough to get around a 33-35), I was wayyyy overtime, especially on reading. If I had followed the time restrictions, I would’ve gotten a 29-32. This just means that I know most of the content, but I would basically need to spend a lot of time doing practice tests to get my speed up. I am going to be reeeeally busy junior year, and I’d like to spend my time doing more meaningful things like studying for math competitions or USABO, so I’m thinking about not taking the ACT as long as I can get a good score on the SAT this fall.
However, I live in the Midwest, and basically everyone takes both the ACT and SAT. Our school even sets a date in March for all the students to take the ACT once for free. So it might look a little odd for me not to have an ACT score on a college app. I was just wondering if you guys think it’s okay and I should focus on other priorities with the limited time I have, or if it’s worth it to spend some time getting a good ACT score? I don’t want this to put me at a disadvantage when applying to a highly selective school
No. For admissions, there is no advantage in taking both. If you only want to take one, just take one. Unless stated otherwise, there in no preference for one over the other.
You mention you live in the Midwest and your school even sets a date in March for all srtudents to take the ACT. I am not sure to which state you are referring, but if you have a March test date you are in a state that gives the ACT as part of its testing done for the state for school districts to report under No Child Left Behind Laws. It is possible you are required to take it, either by your state or your high school district, and you best determine that before deciding to skip it, but even if optional you should seriously consider taking it. It costs nothing to do so. Your high school likely has an ACT prep program that leads up to the test which may also cost you nothing, And you should not skip the free ACT exam based on an assumption you will do worse on it than the SAT.
I was searching for a similar thread topic, and found this. My D is from Illinois as well, and has the opposite situation She just received her scores from her first ACT (October) (C34 - E:35 M:35 R:35 S:32 and Writing:29). Since we are in IL, she will still take the ACT a second time at her school, hoping to raise her Composite Score by a point (although they don’t take it with writing b/c the state, who I think pays for the test, is too cheap).
I’m wondering if she needs to worry about taking the SAT, or if she can skip it? She may need a confirming SAT score, but I’m not sure we’ll be able to figure this out once we get her PSAT score back, especially with the new format/scoring. Probably safer to spend some time and take it just in case?