SAT or ACT?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Hi. I'm a junior student considering if SAT is better choice for me, or ACT is.
I'm a science-oriented student, but I know that ACT science isn't about scientific knowledge - being more of scientific reading, I don't think it would be a big boost.
I've taken some practice tests, and I get 2000s-2100s (highest at 2170) on SAT and 31-33 (usually 32) on ACT - so being similar in estimated score conversion.
For SAT, usual break down of my score is
CR: low-600s~mid-600s
M: high-700s~800 (most likely 800)
WMC: low-700~mid-700s
For ACT, usual break down of my score is
E: around 32
M: around 35
R: around 30
S: around 34
As being a science-student, if there's intense literary/art passage in CR & Reading, I get most of imply questions wrong. Also, my vocab is somewhat junk, resulting in 4-6 wrong only in Sentence Completion of SAT.
What would be a good choice for me, in terms of the plausibility of improving my score? As I have a year left, I'm looking forward to choosing the right test for me, and boost the score by investing 1-3 hrs every weekday.
Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Since you are a junior I recommend prepping for the SAT so that you can do well on the PSAT. If you can make NMF there are a number of colleges that will provide good scholarships.</p>

3

<p>Oh, I forgot to mention that. I’m an international student, so we take PSAT, but isn’t considered as NMSQT… Yeah, if I were an American student, I would have selected SAT as ‘Erin’s Dad’ has mentioned, but for me, NMF isn’t a consideration. Anyways, thanks for mentioning :)</p>

4

<p>Take both of them ~~~ The admissions guys at the colleges are supposed to take the higher of the two scores anyway. At least that’s what they do in my area.</p>

5

<p>i would take both of them (each at least once, no more than 3 times). You have equivalent scores in both based on practice tests.</p>

6

<p>The ACT score range is slightly higher based on </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.act.org/solutions/college-career-readiness/compare-act-sat/”>http://www.act.org/solutions/college-career-readiness/compare-act-sat/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>so it is possible that your “aptitude” is slightly higher for ACT, but it is not by much.</p>

<p>but the more obvious thing to do is prep for both (1/2 as much each) and take both tests. Advantages:

  1. less boring
  2. safer
  3. crossover test taking skills learned in ACT prep book may help in hard SAT problems and vice versa</p>
7

<p>Hmm… thanks for your replies.
Another thing I’m so concerned is that I get many sentence completion questions incorrect in CR. (partially due to the fact that I’m an international student)
Some of the people I know say that ACT is better for me, as there isn’t explicit questions that ask vocabulary, while others say that there’s no difference - it is still measured implicitly.
Could anyone tell me what is ‘more right’?
Thanks :)</p>

8

<p>I would just keep practicing ~ the test isn’t for another month and a half (assuming the October test date). There are only 19 sentence completions on the SAT ~ and only 5 or 6 are considered difficult. Some are easy, and the others are medium difficulty ~~~ so it’s not like they’re all difficult. One other point: Colleges will take into account the fact that you’re an international student (or speak english as a second language).</p>

9

<p>Thanks a lot for replies :slight_smile: Have a nice day</p>