I am currently in the summer before my junior year. At first, I was planning on taking the ACT, but after lots of research I’m thinking about taking both. I know the tests have their differences. I’m planning on studying from August onward. I really want to get both tests done by November 2016 (December at latest) because I really do not want to stress myself out over these tests for the entire school year, and I would rather get through them to ensure I have more time to study for classes, maintain good grades and have time for extracurriculars and other interests for most of the year. I’m taking more AP’s this coming year, and all of my other classes are at a honors or college level. Even when studying for the SAT/ACT, I need to study for classes as well and ensure my grades don’t drop a lot during the first quarter of the school year. I want to study for the SAT/ACT in the most efficient way possible. I’m not completely set on taking both tests, but there is quite a big chance that I will. But If I do decide to do so, would it be better to study for only one of the tests, getting as much experience as possible with the types of questions that test asks (taking both tests but only really preparing well for one)? Or would it be better to split my time and prepare for both tests, but less in depth? Would studying for one still prepare me for the other? Should I really take both exams? Sorry I have so many questions and thank you for all the advice!
The first step is to download a free copy of each test from the respective websites (Collegeboard.org and ACT.org) and take them under timed conditions. You may perform equally well on both, but you will probably prefer one over the other. Nobody can really tell you which test is better for you because everyone has different strengths and weaknesses that will influence how well he/she does on the test.
There is not one book/system that will cover both tests completely. Of course Reading, Grammar, and Math are the same across both tests, but each test structures its questions differently, making it not practical to take an overall approach. You would be better to pick one test and work with it as much as possible, so that you can start to recognize the patterning of the passages and questions. Many of my students in the past have spent time studying for the SAT and then later took the ACT, but found the time constraints brutally difficult. They found the ACT materials/questions easier, but there was no time to ponder the answers. So, while the information you study for one test will be applicable to both, the test structure and length can limit your success.
If you have time (and resources) its worth trying both tests at least once (even if just quality practice tests) to see if you have an affinity for one over the other. If you find you do, then you could choose to prep specifically for that one.
FWIW, my S did a decent amount of prep for the PSAT. He got around 1470. We then had him take his first ACT soon after, just in case having the fresh PSAT prep helped. He got a 34 ACT (with basically no ACT-specific prep) which I think is better than his PSAT score. He clicked better with the ACT, thought it does seem that prepping for one helped him with the other.
Also, try a practice SAT or PSAT soon. If you do well, you should consider taking the PSAT in Oct for national merit.