What is the general thought processes on when to take these tests? I know historically (from the dark ages) that it was Fall of your Senior year in HS but it seems there are kids that took it this summer, did well and wont be taking it again. (Can your tests be two years old and still valid?) Should kids take one or both --is one better suited for different skills? I cant get my head around all of this.
If you’re an honors track student, prep summer before sophomore year. If regular track, summer after sophomore year. In either case, the goal is to have all your tests in your range by end of junior year. Last available testing session will be between fall and January of senior year, depending on individual college deadlines. But by then, most students need go be doing applications and essays, not test prep.
I had my kids do practice tests at home to choose between SAT and ACT. You usually only need one.
What is the reasoning for summer before sophomore year prep? I understand summer before junior year because of the national merit PSATs.
That is some odd advice. Have never heard anyone suggest prep prior to Sophomore year, unless to do simple “word of the day” alerts. Based on sophomore year testing through the preACT and PSAT10 (the school will administer these), you might get a sense that one test is indicated over another. (My kid performed equally so no big help there.) If scores are really high, your kid might be ready to test early, which is fall of junior year. Prep work taking place the summer before junior year. (Also, there is now an August test which is nice.) PSAT won’t take place until mid-October and results take several months, so it isn’t as helpful for assessing strengths/weaknesses.)
Many kids need fall of their junior year to get some more math under their belt and/or to properly focus on the test and the necessary preparation, in which case spring is a good time to test. Also, summer before senior year can offers a few options for “one last try.”
Some kids do better with one test or the other. They have somewhat different slants. I don’t know anything about the redesigned SAT, but historically the ACT was based more on actual subject matter whereas the SAT was more logic and theoretical oriented, hence some students did comparatively better on one or the other.
I recommend taking both tests spring of junior year. Based on the results, you might be satisfied or you might see that the scores on one or the other are more promising (although not quite what you want) and you can study up, to improve the score and retest the summer before senior year or early in senior year.
If the student might want to take subject tests, you have to plan for that because you can’t take subject tests and the regular SAT on the same day, and you only have so many opportunities in the fall of senior year to get scores reported before deadlines, and yes, if possible, students would do well to be done with or mostly done with testing by then, and concentrating on applications.
For some its just the way the questions are worded. My daughter still hates the SAT 1220 vs 30 ACT sophomore.
Tutorial books are $15 cheap it doesnt hurt to go over if your child wants to.
@carpoolingma Kids on the honors track are often reading and doing math ahead of grade level and can get a college-ready score on the SAT or ACT early. They are also likely to be taking extra tests such as SAT subject tests, APs, and IBs, so getting one out of the way earlier in high school frees time to study for those.
Strong kids we know prep aggressively before junior year and knock off the SAT and PSAT within a few weeks of each other in October. They are effectively the same test and colleges seem to have no problem with the early scores. These are kids who are expecting to be NM semifinalists. Some point out that a few highly selective colleges require you to submit all scores (Yale, Rice, etc) so they might as well make it count and only have to go through the intense preparation process once.
One of the beautiful things about BS is that they have a college counseling team that has been through this many many times and can advise on the best timeline. From my own BS experience, the suggestion was to take SAT and/or ACT for the first time in the early Spring of junior year and retaking (if needed) later in the Spring. Personally, I’d suggest trying to get all standardized testing done by the end of junior year, with senior year focusing on applications, not testing.
Some students do better with one vs the other. They can try practice tests to see which is more suitable for them. Personally, I just took the SAT. Just be aware that if a student takes both that there are some colleges which require all testing history to be sent in.
There are some colleges (very few) which will have time limitations on scores. So you should check with the target colleges (or with the College Counseling office). However, the vast majority of colleges will not care in which year the tests were taken.
IME, kids that are advanced in one or more subjects are probably already taking AP exams as a sophomore, and are better served taking Subject Tests instead SAT/ACT sophomore year, if they are sufficiently prepared for those subjects. But the timeline really depends upon the individual student.
My kids were told which test to take (after PSAT and surprise practice ACT in 10th grade) and when they were taking them (twice 1st semester of 11th grade). I’m sure parents can argue otherwise if they have a reason, but we just went with the recommendations, which worked out well enough (except for D having a bad day and going down on 2nd SAT). @Center do you get any recommendations?
@skieurope That rings true. I think ds will be taking an AP test and probably 2 subject tests in the spring of soph year. My older child took the SAT and ACT in fall and spring of Jr year, but she didn’t have AP and subject tests, plus she was the year of the new SAT so it was all different. This thread is helpful!
I agree with @AroundHere My daughter prepped in spring of sophomore year, took the test once and was done. She was taking precalc that year so she had sufficient math. She was very thankful not to have to take the test junior year as academics were more difficult and she had EC leadership positions. Junior spring was spent prepping for APs and SAT subject tests. In addition, having her scores gave us a better handle on which colleges to visit junior year.
@twinsmama no recs. Also, I dont understand these subject tests. What is the point?
Is it the case that if you take the ACT you dont need to take subject tests?
^Depends on the school. Many of the most selective colleges require or “recommend” subject tests. And I don’t particularly get the point either.
@Center SAT subject tests measure HS level achievement (as opposed to AP which are supposed to measure college level achievement). ACT has some of this included in the test.
As with everything else college related what you need will vary. S sent ACT scores to all 11 school. I don’t remember how many asked for subject tests but he sent them if required or recommended. He sent them to most of the schools but there were 1-2 that said no subject test neede and 1-2 that said no subject test with ACT.
S17 was done with all testing by May of Junior year (one SAT in Nov because of old/new format, one ACT in April, 4 subject tests from 9-11, 1-2/year).
Math 2 Subject test is recommended following pre-Calc so that can vary by student.
Thanks all.
Do most prep schools offer SAT/ACT prep during the school year? I’m having trouble wrapping my head around when DS could take these tests also. PSAT in October (11th) but they took away the January SAT which is what I thought would be a perfect time! (prep over holiday break). ACT seems to offer more options; but wanted to focus on PSAT / SAT first as we figured those are more synergistic. ACT probably summer before Senior year (hoping more time allows for higher score).
Some schools he is interested in do require/recommend SAT Subject Tests. He is doing one on 8/26, and will do another next August (but arrghh if he needs that date for regular SAT retake). We are hoping for a one-and-done with all these, then using best to submit.
Our BS does test prep throughout the year. They build it into the class day, as well as have 1-on-1 sessions with tutors as test-time approaches. We have been very happy with this system and with DS’ tutor. He was able to raise his ACT score 8 points between test 1 and test 3. The school’s Trustees have apparently thrown a lot of money toward this, and we really appreciate it, since it means a much better score than we think DS could have gotten on his own just reading prep books.
Choate facilitated test prep courses onsite but taught by an outside provider. Both actual ACT and SAT tests were administered on campus as Choate is a test center, so very convenient for students. Not sure if any of this has changed as we’ve been gone two years.