Mixing SAT and ACT

Test Preparation
1

<p>So here's the dilemma, likely the result of my overthinking things:</p>

<p>Son is doing an intensive 10 day SAT/college application prep course now (yes, the full residential treatment) with plans to take his SAT (1st time) in October. Meanwhile, we have him also signed up for ACT with writing in September which will be right between his SAT prep course and his SAT test. He has a 33 on an ACT without writing already but needs to redo with writing (bummer and poor planning, I know). He didn't do whole lot of ACT prep before the last test which we did just to see how he'd do.</p>

<p>Given all the differences between the ACT and the SAT in terms of time management, the testing focus, and test taking strategy, is it stupid to throw the ACT right in the middle of his SAT 'run'? Will it throw him off his rhythm, so to speak? Or maybe human brains are flexible enough to make the adjustment and transition?</p>

<p>He could probably take the ACT either in late October or even in December as an alternative. Or if he does well on his SAT's (will we get our money's worth?), I guess we could skip the ACT altogether. It's just that as he seems to do well on the ACT, it'd be nice to have a score that we could use at most schools.</p>

2

<p>He should be fine to take them with the schedule you are describing, especially if he got a 33 the first ACT - also, most schools just want to peruse the writing score on the ACT, but since it is not used in the composite (33), they do not put much weight upon it, unless of course you are under a 9/10…also, most schools will take the highest composite score, so even if he scores lower on the next ACT with writing, they will take the 33 and the writing score from the other test date. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks, springisintheair. He’s awful at writing so we’ll see how he does.</p>