<p>Within the past two months, I got a 1750 on the SAT and a 28 on the ACT, without any prep for either test. Clearly, I am better suited for the ACT, especially because the ACT doesn't penalize test takers for wrong answers. I was thinking of prepping for just the ACT this summer and taking it again next fall. However, a mom whose son currently attends UCLA told me the other night that the UCs prefer the SAT over the ACT, and that private schools prefer the ACT over the SAT. Is this true? I want to know whether or not I should prepare for both tests this summer, and take the two of them in the fall. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>No. Almost all colleges I’ve ever heard of say they don’t care which one you take; there are always rumors going around that some top schools would prefer to see the SAT, but there isn’t any strong evidence of that.</p>
<p>UCs don’t care; they convert all of your scores into a UC score regardless of whether you took ACT or SAT…just realize that you still have to take 2 SAT IIs </p>
<p>Here is the UC conversion chart, for reference: [UC</a> Admissions](<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/exam_eligibility.html]UC”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/paths_to_adm/freshman/exam_eligibility.html)</p>
<p>Thanks so much! Does anyone have suggestions for the best method of ACT test prep this summer then? Tutor vs. books?</p>
<p>^ Books, provided you are good at motivating yourself to study (you need to be self-motivated to do the homework if you have a tutor as well, but you’ll have someone to be accountable to which makes it easier). Prep classes and tutors are generally not worth the expense. Either way, get the Real ACT Prep Guide from the makers of the ACT. It has several practice tests and lots of review problems for every section.</p>