ACT & SAT

Any high school student, especially seniors, can tell you one of the most stressful process is getting ready to apply to college.  Along with keeping their grades up and other activities, high school students will need to take either the ACT or SAT testing to get into the college they desire.  SyncroReviews is here to help in providing tips on how to prepare for the ACT or SAT testing and recommendations on the best preparation books and processes there are.

 

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Our review process:

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What are the ACT and SAT?

The American College Test (ACT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) are tests that high school students take for college admissions.  Both tests have the same types of content overall and depending on the score received from the ACT or SAT, it could also be used for merit-based scholarships for some colleges.  

Which test to take and do colleges have a preference?

Here are the key factors students should consider to help them decide which test to take:

1. Test Date / Test Location: each test offers different test dates and different test center locations.  Choosing the convenient option is perfectly reasonable.  The test center location will depend on each state and city.  You can register for the SAT at: The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board and ACT at: ACT – Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT.  But here are the 2022-2023 test dates across the U.S.:
2. Test Content: students should also consider what materials are included on the ACT and SAT and take whichever appeals to them or brings out their strengths most.  A student should assess their critical thinking skills and overall knowledge and factor in their science skills.  The biggest differences between the two tests are that the ACT has a Science test and there is one SAT math section for which a calculator is not permitted.  Generally, the SAT measures a student’s critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills for more complex issues.  The ACT also measures a student’s problem-solving skills, but with fact-based, straight-forward issues that are easier to decipher.  See the next sections to look further on the testing structure for both the ACT & SAT.
3. Student / College Preference: students may already have a list of colleges they want to apply for and some students may consider taking both tests.  In fact, some of the most selective schools are reporting that as much as ¼+ of their enrolled students submitted scores for both tests.  While taking both test is fine, it is however, rarely the best option as it is more efficient use of time and resources to focus on maximizing your score on just one of them.  Therefore, students should research if the college on their lists does in fact prefer one test over the other which students will then focus their efforts accordingly.

Many years ago, the decision to take the ACT or SAT determined largely on geography.  Students applying to Midwestern schools took the ACT and students applying to the East and West coast schools took the SAT.  However, those times have passed, and most colleges today express no preference of one test over the other.  Therefore, to decide which test to take, students should think about the factors listed above and should play to their key strengths because of the different structures of each exam.  In the next following sections, SyncroReviews provides a guide to the structures of both the ACT and SAT.

After understanding the ACT and SAT structures, students should also consider the recommended prep books in the table above to help prep for the test of choice.

Here’s a summary of the popularity between ACT vs. SAT test takers in the U.S.:

 

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The ACT Structure

The ACT measures the knowledge, understanding and skills a student have acquired throughout their years in school.  The areas of focus will be English, Math, Reading and Science.  All four sections consist of multiple-choice tests.  There is also an optional writing test at the end.  Although the writing test is optional, some colleges and universities require or accept ACT writing scores, so a student may consider taking the writing section.

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Let’s dive further into each section:

1. English: consist of 5 essays, or passages, each followed by a set of multiple-choice test questions.  The English section assess a student’s knowledge of word usage, sentence structure and rhetoric.  The approximate percentages of the test are devoted to the following categories:
   • Production of Writing (29-32%): this category requires a student to apply their understanding of the purpose and focus of a piece of writing.
   • Knowledge of Language (13-19%): requires a student to demonstrate effective language use through word choice and tone consistency.
   • Convention of Standard English (51-56%): requires a student to apply understanding of the standard English grammar, usage and mechanics to revise and edit text.
2. Math: designed to assess the math skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of grade 12.  The material covered emphasizes the major content areas that are prerequisites for entry-level courses in college math.  The approximate percentages of the test are devoted to the following categories:
   • Preparing for Higher Math (57-60%): this category is divided into 5 subcategories, number and quantity (7-10%); algebra (12-15%); functions (12-15%); geometry (12-15%); statistics and probability (8-12%).
   • Integrating Essential Skills (40-43%): measures how well a student can solve complex problems with rates & percentages; proportional relationships; area; surfaces area & volume; average & median; and expressing numbers in diverse ways.
   • The categories above will overlay with modeling, which overall measures how well a student use modeling skill across math topics.
3. Reading: comprises 4 sections, 3 of which contain one long prose passage and 1 that contains two shorter prose passages.  All passages represent the levels and kinds of text commonly encountered in first-year college curriculum and assess a student’s ability to recognize key ideas, writing styles and structure.  The approximate percentages of the test are devoted to the following categories:
   • Key Ideas and Details (55-60%): this category requires a student to determine central ideas & themes; summarize ideas accurately; understand relationships and draw logical conclusions.
   • Craft and Structure (25-30%): requires a student to determine words & phrase meanings; analyze an author’s word choice rhetorically; analyze text structure; understand an author’s purpose & perspective; analyze characters’ points of view.
   • Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (13-18%): requires a student to understand authors’ claims; differentiate between facts & opinions; use evidence to make connections between different text that are related by topic.
4. Science: measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.  Test content includes biology, chemistry, Earth/space science (geology, astronomy, meteorology) and physics.  Calculators are not permitted in the Science test.  The approximate percentages of the test are devoted to the following categories:
   • Interpretation of Data (45-55%): requires a student to manipulate and analyze scientific data presented in scientific tables, graphs and diagrams.
   • Scientific Investigation (20-30%): requires a student to understand experimental tools & procedures; design & compare, extend and modify experiments (predict the results of additional trials).
   • Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results (25-35%): requires a student to judge the validity of scientific information and formulate conclusions & predictions based on that information.
5. Writing Test (Optional): The writing test measures a student’s writing skills, specifically writing skills taught in high school English and in entry-level college composition courses. There will be a prompt that describes a complex issue and provides three different perspectives on the issue.  The student must evaluate the three perspectives, adopt one perspective (from the three choices or introduce a new one) and explain how the student’s perspective relates to the other perspectives provided.  Whether a student decides to take this optional writing test or not, it will not affect the student’s total score from the other test sections.  Rather, the writing test will have its own separate score and will be based on four domains:
   • Ideas and analysis: ability to generate productive ideas and engage critically in multiple perspectives on the given issue.
   • Development and support: ability to discuss ideas, offer rationale and support an argument.
   • Organization: ability to organize ideas with clarity and purpose.
   • Language use and conventions: ability to use written language to convey arguments with clarity.

 

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SAT Structure:

The SAT measures the skills and knowledge a student has acquired from high school and what a student need to succeed in college and career training.  The areas of focus will be Reading, Writing and Language and Math.  All three sections consist of multiple-choice questions, except 13 Math questions that require a student to generate a written response.  There is also an optional writing test at the end.  Although the writing test is optional, some colleges and universities require or accept SAT writing scores, so a student may consider taking the writing section.

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Here is more detailed information on each section:

1. Reading: measures a student’s ability to figure out the meaning of words or phrases in context, find or identify evidence to support claims in the passage(s) and decide how an author’s word choice shapes meaning, style and tone.  The Reading Test will provide students with passages they must read and questions that include line references to direct a student to relevant part(s) of the passage(s).
2. Writing and Language: measures the practical skills a student uses to spot and fix problems in writing.  The Writing and Language Test will ask students to be an editor and improve passages that were written especially for the test, which includes deliberate errors.  There are essentially five topics of focus:
   • Command of Evidence: questions that ask a student to improve the way passages develop information and ideas.
   • Words in Context: questions that ask a student to improve word choice.
   • Analysis in History/Social Studies & Science: questions that ask a student to make editorial decisions that improve the passages pertaining to history/social studies and science.
   • Expression of Ideas: questions that ask about a passage’s topic development, organization and effective language use or impact.
   • Standard English Conventions: questions that will ask to change sentence structure, word usages, clauses and punctuation.
3. Math: covers math practices, emphasizing problem solving, modeling, strategically using tools and algebraic structure.  The Math Test will measure a student’s ability to solve problems and use appropriate approaches or tools strategically.  20 questions do not permit the use of a calculator.  The rest of the 38 questions does permit using calculators.
4. Essay (Optional): measures a student’s reading, analysis and writing skills.  The SAT Essay is a lot like a typical college writing assignment, which a student will be asked to analyze a passage and use it as a basis for a well-written, well thought out response.  Whether a student decides to take this optional essay test or not, it will not affect the student’s total score from the other test sections.  Rather, the essay test will have its own separate score and will be based on three dimensions:
   • Reading
   • Analysis
   • Writing

 

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Preparation Strategies

Before taking the ACT or SAT, make sure to be prepared well in advance:

1. Know what to expect on test day.  Carefully review all information, including the test-day checklist in the booklet provided by www.actstudent.org and www.collegeboard.org.
2. Take practice tests.  You can take online practice tests provided on both the ACT and SAT website or other websites such as www.khanacademy.com.  However, for more thorough practice, you should consider the preparation books SyncroReviews recommends in the product table above.  These preparation books provide you a thorough review of each subject on each test, practice questions & explanations, skills diagnostic to see where your weaknesses are and includes supplemental materials to help you study for the tests.
3. Get plenty of rest the night before and eat a hearty breakfast the morning of the test day.

On test day, you should:

1. Report on time to your assigned test center site by the time stated on your paper ticket.  Usually, you will want to get there by 7:45am to check-in.
2. Bring with you the following items for check-in:
   • An acceptable photo ID
   • Your paper ticket that shows you are registered for the test
   • If taking the ACT or SAT on paper, bring sharpened, soft lead #2 pencils and good erasers.
   • A watch to pace yourself
   • A permitted calculator that may be used on certain math sections.  You should visit www.actstudent.org and www.collegeboard.org to see the allowed calculators you can bring.

The following suggestions apply during test-taking for both the ACT and SAT:

1. Pace yourself: the time limits set for each test give everyone enough time to finish all questions.  You will want to pace yourself to avoid spending too much time on one passage or puzzling over an answer to a specific question.  Go on to other questions and come back if there is time.  For each test, subtract the number of minutes you estimate you will spend reading the information provided, then divide the total number of remaining minutes allowed by the number of questions to determine the estimated minutes you should spend on each question.  If possible, leave enough time to review your work and come back to those questions that were most difficult for you.
2. Read the directions and questions carefully: before beginning each test, read the directions carefully.  Then make sure you understand exactly what the questions are asking.  Some questions will require you to go through several steps to find the best answer, while others can be answered more quickly.
3. Answer the easy questions first: a recommended strategy is to answer the easy questions and skip the questions you find difficult.  After answering the easy questions, go back and answer the more difficult questions if time allows.
4. Use logic on more difficult questions: you should try to use logic for difficult questions to eliminate incorrect answers.  Compare answer choices to each other and note how they differ.  This will allow you to see clues on what the question requires.  Eliminate as many incorrect answers as possible, then make an educated guess from the remaining answers.
5. Answer every question: your score on the tests will be based only on the number of questions you answer correctly.  There is no penalty for guessing.  So, try to answer every question within the time allowed for each test.
6. Review your work: if there is time left after answering every question on a test, go back and check your work.  You will not be allowed to go back to any other test to correct any answers after time has been called on each test.
7. Be precise in marking responses: if you are taking the ACT or SAT on paper, be sure to properly fill in the appropriate answer box.  Make sure the number of the line of your answer matches to the number of the question you are answering and that you mark only one answer to that question.  If you are taking the ACT or SAT online, be sure you selected the intended response.
8. Erase completely: if you want to change an answer, be sure to use a soft eraser that will erase completely and not smudge.  Do not cross out any answers or use correction fluid or tape.  Smudges or unintended marks will cause errors in scoring.