<p>OK- Here's what I'm thinking....</p>
<p>I should take the ACT test first.... why?
-If I do poorly, I just don't have to send the scores, and I will take the SAT. If i do well, i can avoid taking the SAT.</p>
<p>Also, with the SAT, I know that I'm going to need some subject tests, so if i do score poorly, then colleges will definitely see all of my scores.</p>
<p>Does anyone know of a reason to take the SAT first? It seems like if you take the ACT first, its just like a "practice run" that you can count if you want to while the SAT is like written in blood.</p>
<p>It's really only a worry if you're going to take SAT IIs b/c a school needs them, or if you have a bad SAT earlier and a great SAT later.</p>
<p>Get both the SAT and ACT practice tests from your GC- you'll probably want to get some prep books too, such as The</a> Real ACT Prep Guide, and the The</a> Official SAT Study Guide. The first has three official tests, the latter has eight official tests. A lot of other books (such as the Barrons) have better prep material and have answer explanations, but they aren't official tests...they are "SAT-like" questions.</p>
<p>In the end, a lot of people can score highly on both the SAT and the ACT. It's hard to make an accurate assumption that you did "well" on the ACT without seeing performance on an SAT.</p>
<p>If you really want to schedule a test, take the ACT- you don't need to send the results if you do badly. I'd prep in the meantime, try each test, and see which you score better on out of 2 or 3 practice tests.</p>
<p>Personally, my ACT score is higher...the ACT questions are more straightforward, but there is MUCH more of a time crunch. I've seen classmates do significantly better on the SAT. Also, I'd consider the SAT to be a more "prepable" test- you can learn more about how questions are asked, rather than what questions are asking.</p>
<p>I know all about the differences, and i figure i might as well take a shot at both.</p>
<p>So I'm right in thinking that if I am going to do both (and take sub tests, as i know most of the colleges i'm looking at require them), then it WOULD make sense to take act first.</p>
<p>Yeah...I'd take the ACT first if I were you. Definitely try it. If you do amazingly well on it, you can skip the waste of money, time, and overall hassle of SAT I prep + test taking.</p>
<p>Some colleges want SAT I + Subject tests OR the Act w/ writing. Some schools want either or main test AND the subject tests. You should check your schools (or, if you're not sure, potential schools) to see if this applies to you.</p>