<p>Hi,
My son took the ACT in 9 th grade without any prep and scored 19. He is in 11 th grade now and we'll like him to prep well before taking it again. He did not finish most sections the first time around and was very anxious as it was his first standardized test. He took the October SAT with little prep and scored 1960.
I'll appreciate any advise on strategies and books or courses to use. Thanks.</p>
<p>Why can’t he write the SAT again?
If he prepares well, he can easily get a 2100+.
That said, the best sources for the SAT are : the Official CollegeBoard book (finish all the 10 papers here) and the Online Course from CollegeBoard (even more papers here).</p>
<p>Find Xiggi’s SAT tips on CC, they help.</p>
<p>I’ve heard differing opinions on books like Barrons and Princeton Review. Someone else who’s actually used these books might be more able to comment. </p>
<p>As for the list of words, the more the better lol :P</p>
<p>Thanks for your response. I thought he needed to do the ACT too for some universities since we are in the Midwest.</p>
<p>I don’t know any schools that require both. If you are sure your child is SAT type than ACT, skip ACT and focus on SAT prep. If I were you, though, I would have him take at least one practice ACT to see how he does. May be he does better with ACT.</p>
<p>As for tips, practice, practice, and more practice. Taking test without prep is not wise, IMO.</p>
<p>Mombygrace, from my understanding, the ACT is more curriculum-based and the SAT is more reasoning-based. Most kids will do better on one than the other. If he scored a 19 in 9th grade, chances are he will do quite well now that he has 2 more years of high school under his belt. It’s a good idea (if one can afford it) for kids to take both just to see which one will yield the higher score. My son has always done better on the ACT, so that’s the one we’ve prepped for and he’s taken it multiple times to get the score he needs for the scholarship he wants. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks. I’ll have him do an ACT practice test from the red book and see how he does.</p>
<p>I think he could improve 10 points. I took the plan test w/o prep in sophomore year and got like a 25 (including 20 on reading), then a 34 on the real thing in junior year w/o much prep.</p>
<p>He will like to take both the ACT and the SAT in the new year. Is it possible to prep for both at the same time or does it get too confusing? Thanks</p>
<p>the PLAN test predicted I would get a 18-22 on the ACT, took it for the first time and got a 35
take that as you will, in my opinion if you practice enough you will be pleased with your results</p>
<p>I agree. If you can have him take both. The difference for my son between sat and act was pretty significant. Timing yourself on the act is key. Many who don’t do we’ll don’t finish sections so a quick reader will do very well.</p>
<p>Thanks again. He is not a fast reader at all, and that’s one area we have struggled with improving. Any ideas?</p>
<p>take the sat.</p>