This is probably the most common question I get.  We prepare students for both. We emphasize the SAT for two reasons.  First, around 80% of our students use their SAT score because it is far more susceptible to practice.  In most cases, practicing and learning the test can increase scores.  And preparing for the SAT makes the ACT seem “easier.” The ACT can seem more straightforward.

The principal reason we can’t be 100% certain which test a student will do better on is that we cannot precisely replicate the testing conditions so that we know how a student will react to the severe time constraints students encounter in taking the ACT.  We prepare the students here for both tests and coordinate the preparations.

There are differences in the two tests.  The structures of the two tests are described on the next pages.

The SAT was originally designed to be an aptitude test.  In more recent years, they have tried to describe it as an academic assessment and reasoning test.  But it still keeps aptitude elements in its questions.  Being aware of those elements and preparing for them is one of the keys to increasing SAT test scores.

The ACT claims it measures what it says is academic achievement.  It is more staightforward and is less “tricky” than the SAT. There are more questions on the ACT and less time to take it.  The ACT depends more on pacing and speed because it relies on time as a factor of difficulty.  The ACT may be a fairer test and friendlier because it asks questions that students are used to seeing, however certain elements of the ACT like the advanced math questions (trigonometry), some of the reading, and science section make it more difficult for substance.  The ACT is much more time pressured and is broken into fewer longer format content tests which require steady concentration.

 The two tests have different structures:

 SAT  STRUCTURE

The test is divided into ten sections. You will have two writing skills sections, a 25 minute section and a 10 minute section.  You will have three verbal sections, two 25 minute sections and one 20 minute section.  The test will also have three math sections, two 25 minute sections and one 20 minute section.  The test will start with a 25 minute essay.  The sections will generally be organized like this:

VERBAL SECTION

24 Question Section (25 minutes)
8 Sentence Completion
16 Reading Comprehension

24 Question Section (25 minutes)
5 Sentence Completion
19 Reading Comprehension

19 Question Section (20 minutes)
6 Sentence Completion
13 Reading Comprehension

MATH SECTION

20 Question Section (25 minutes)
20 Multiple Choice Questions

18 Question Section (25 minutes)
8 Multiple Choice Questions
10 Student Produced Responses

16 Question Section (20 minutes)
16 Multiple Choice Questions

WRITING SKILLS SECTION

35 Question Section (25 minutes)
11 Improve the Sentence Questions
18 Identify the Error Questions
6   Improve the Paragraph Questions

14 Question Section (10 minutes)
14 Improve the Sentence Questions

ESSAY  (25 Minutes)

There will be a tenth section. It won’t be labeled as such but this will be an Experimental section. It won’t count for you or against you. The experimental section will manifest itself either as another 25 minute verbal section, or another 25 minute math section. We strongly suggest you just treat every section as a real one.

ACT  STUCTURE

English Test
Content/skills                                  Percent                                          Questions
Usage/mechanics                               53%                                                    40
Punctuation                                         13%                                                     10
Grammar and usage                            16%                                                     12
Sentence structure                               24%                                                     18

Rhetorical skills                                 47%                                                    35
Strategy                                               16%                                                     12
Organization                                       15%                                                     11
Style                                                    16%                                                     12

Mathematics Test
Content                                           Percent                                           Questions
Pre-algebra                                          23%                                                     14
Elementary algebra                             17%                                                     10
Intermediate algebra                           15%                                                     9
Coordinate geometry                          15%                                                     9
Plane geometry                                   23%                                                     14
Trigonometry                                      7%                                                       4

Reading Test
Content                                           Percent                                            Questions
Humanities                                          25%                                                     10
Prose fiction                                        25%                                                     10
Social studies                                      25%                                                     10
Natural sciences                                 25%                                                     10

Science Test
Scientific content can be from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Earth/Space sciences.

Format                                           Percent                                Questions
Data representation                             38%                                         15
Research summaries                            45%                                         18
Conflicting viewpoints                         17%                                         7

The post Which test should we take – SAT or ACT? appeared first on The Study Hall.

January and February — Register for the SAT and SAT IIs and the ACT. Begin to make a preliminary list of which colleges you would like to attend. Meet with your school counselor to prepare a more specific list of colleges to explore. Get your social security number.

March — Write to colleges on your list and evaluate the literature sent to you.  Take the SAT March 9.

April — When selecting your senior courses be sure to continue challenging yourself.  Look into summer jobs.   Take the ACT April 13.

May – Take the SAT May 4.  Attend a college fair.  In May or June take the SAT II subject tests if appropriate.  Take Advanced Placement exams if appropriate.

June – Take the SAT June 1 and/or the ACT June 8.  Make wise use of your summer.  This is a good time to begin working on college essays.

SENIOR YEAR SCHEDULE

September — Sign up for October and November SATs, ACTs, and SAT IIs if  necessary.  Take ACT. Meet with school counselor to be sure that your college list is compatible with your academic and personal records.  Write to the colleges still on your list and request applications.  Plan visits to colleges.

October —   Take the SAT or SAT II.  Take the ACT, Attend annual college fairs investigating and making contact with those colleges to which you’ll probably apply.  Begin putting together information needed for applications.  This is the time to be finishing up your college essays.  If applying for early admission, send application at the end of this month.

November — Take the SAT  and SAT II tests.  Continue filing applications.  If appropriate, obtain your financial aid form.

December & January — Take the SAT.  Take the ACT.  Take any remaining tests that are necessary.  Be sure all your college applications are filed. Be sure your transcripts for your first semester grades are sent to the colleges to which you have applied. Remember to keep working on your grades throughout your senior year!

February, March, April, May — Remember to monitor your applications to be sure that all materials are sent and received on time. Take Advanced Placement exams if appropriate.  Request that your counselor send your final transcript to the college you will attend.

The post Schedule for Juniors and Seniors appeared first on The Study Hall.

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Henry,
Thanks for all your help with the SAT and ACT. I wanted to let you know my ACT scores and where I have been accepted to for your reference.
I decided to use my ACT to send to colleges. I improved from a 28 to 31. So far I have been accepted to Tulane, LSU, and Georgia and have at least $40000 in scholarships to each. I am waiting to hear from UT and Emory.
Thanks,
M

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I am finished taking test. Thank you so much for all your help! I really appreciate everything. I ended up getting a 31 overall. And a 36 on the math section.
thanks, a

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My son, H, scored a 34 on the ACT test. Thank you very much for your assistance in making this possible, B

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I’m not sure if you received my last email back in April but I wanted to let you know that I took the GMAT again and received a score of 620 a couple months ago. This fortunately was good enough to get me into SMU and UTD and I ultimately decided on SMU where I will be attending the Full-Time MBA program starting this Fall.
I can’t thank you enough for all your help!
N

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Hey Mr. Davis, thank you for all that you did for me, I couldn’t have gotten to the places I did without you!
G

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Henry,
Thanks for all of your help! I am very happy with my scores and I couldn’t have done it without Study Hall!

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Thank you, Henry,
M has been accepted to 3 or the 4 schools he has applied for ….still waiting on Texas. He is in TCU, Oklahoma, and Colorado –Boulder. This is an exciting time for him. Thank you for your work and program. Good Luck in your future. I know the kids really like coming to you.

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Hey Henry!
I just wanted to let you know that I got a 35 on the ACT- so I’m pretty much finished with standardized tests! Thanks so much for all of your help! Thanks!

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Hey Henry, it’s MJ. I got into A&M, my top choice for college. I got a 31 on my ACT, two points higher than my last time. I can’t tell you how much those practice tests helped, thank you!!!!

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Henry,
I took your preparation course awhile back got a 2090 (which isn’t half bad) on the SAT, with 700+ both in critical reading and math. Thanks for all the help!
M

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Hey Henry!
I just wanted to let you know that I got a 35 on the ACT- so I’m pretty much finished with standardized tests! Thanks so much for all of your help! Thanks!
~H

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Study Hall has really improved my Test Scores. Thanks to it, my SAT results went up at least 200 points
NJ

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It is really a great help in preparing for SAT’s and college.
K

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I was quite impressed with what she did get out of this web site. Her SAT score increased by 230 points. She could not believe it. This was with a week’s worth of studying. So this program really works. She is not a good test taker. It gave her points of how to take the test So Thank you!
BD

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Henry, just wanted to let you know that I took the GRE this morning and got a 151 on the Quantitative!!  I am elated and treating myself to a champagne lunch!  Thanks a million for all your help. A

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I have been using studyhalldallas.com for a couple of years and I cannot express how much it has helped me help my students. I have worked at a private tutoring company, with students k-12, and now that I have completed my Doctorate in Education, continue to use studyhalldallas.com resources for my freshman students. It is a valuable resource!
Sincerely,
Dr. L E

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Your method of teaching the SAT is far better than any other SAT practice book I can find! Keep up the good work!
J S

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Henry,
Thanks for all of your help! I am very happy with my scores and I couldn’t have done it without Study Hall!
K

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