How does preparing for the SAT prepare you for the ACT?
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It doesn’t. If you want to prepare for ACT, you use ACT preparation materials. If you’re looking for a shortcut, this isn’t it
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Got it. I didn’t think the content and skills tested were fundamentally different. I know it’s “faster” but have no experience with the test. What’s so different between the prep materials and how you’d prepare for one vs the other?
I’ll defer to one of our resident test tutors on specifics
There are some differences. Read this article: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/act-vs-sat-how-to-decide-which-test-to-take
Although modifications were made to the SAT that made it more content focused and less aptitude focused, it is still felt that the ACT, more than the SAT, is aligned with testing the content of what one learned in school. This is somewhat confirmed by the fact that ACT scores declined more than did SAT scores, after the pandemic, which interrupted normal schooling.
In general, the way to prepare for the ACT is to do many, many practice exam sections at home, while also reviewing the content that one gets wrong. Don’t be afraid of the Science section, which is largely about data interpretation, for which practice makes perfect. A person would have to do a very comprehensive review of high school math in order to do well on the math section. The English section relies upon reading comprehension (you need to learn how to choose the most correct answer, as opposed to the most convoluted but possibly correct answer), and you have to know correct grammar and correct punctuation. The test requires that you work correctly and quickly.
Probably the best way to decide which is best is for the student to take a timed practice test at home of each one. The PSAT is a good preview for the SAT, but the only way to tell about the ACT is to do a practice test. Then grade them, and see how the student felt about them each. The student may feel that it’s obvious which one works better for them. My kid who did this was not even commendation level on the PSAT, but after doing what I outlined above, got a 36 on the ACT.
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Isn’t that how one preps for the SAT? At least it’s what my kids did.
Is that not thee case with the SAT?
I seem to know several kids that had a lowish 1500s SAT and subsequently a 36 on the ACT. It made me wonder if it is worth sitting for the ACT at least once, even though we technically prepped for the SAT.
ACT is a faster test (more questions per minute), so strictly adhering to time limits on practice tests is a must.
This is a good overview of the differences: SAT vs. ACT: Which One Should You Take? – Experts Corner | Applerouth
Of course, these differences will not be applicable when digital SAT comes on the seen in 8 months (and this Fall’s PSAT/NMSQT) because that test is different, and only 2 hours long.