This guide provides everything you and your child need to know to conquer the ACT including ACT vs. SAT, ACT test dates, and how to prepare for the ACT.
There are multiple factors that colleges review during the admissions process including:
grades in college prep courses,
grade point average (GPA),
ACT/SAT scores,
extra curricular activities,
college essay and
letters of recommendation.
Pro Tip: What many people don't know is that your ACT score can drastically determine the colleges your child gets admitted to. This is because the ACT is a standardized test that puts all students on an even playing field no matter the competitiveness of their school. If your child doesn't have an ideal GPA, a strong ACT score can get them noticed by their favorite college.
I have been tutoring ACT prep for more than 10 years and noticed there isn't a single resource that provides all the necessary information including SAT vs ACT, ACT test dates and how to prepare for the ACT. Preparing for the ACT can be an overwhelming process but,
I hope this easy-to-read guide leaves you and your child better equipped to reach your child's ACT goals. Let's dive in!
Which Test Should My Child Take? - SAT VS. ACT
First things first, should your child take the SAT or ACT? The answer is, it depends.
No college has a preference between the two tests. Colleges will accept either but there are multiple differences between the SAT and ACT.
**The SAT has gone digital and they have also changed many aspects of the test. See below for changes.
The main differences include the time per question, the weighted score of each subject, and the testing platforms are different : SAT is DIGITAL.
The number of questions on the SAT vary based on their new adaptive testing software. To learn more about SAT adaptive testing, visit college board link provided here: https://blog.collegeboard.org/what-digital-sat-adaptive-testing
I recommend the SAT if (in order of importance):
your child is strong in math.
your child is adaptive and is not phased by the change to a digital testing format.
I recommend the ACT if (in order of importance):
your child is more of an all around good student meaning they have average or above average grades in most of their high school classes,
your child usually finishes a test in the amount of time given,
your child works better with tests that are not in digital format.
The SAT math section accounts for 50% of your child's SAT score while the ACT weighs each subject equally. The SAT tends to be viewed more as an aptitude test while the ACT has been more closely associated with testing your child on their overall understanding of the high school curriculum.
If you are still on the fence, I recommend your child take both the SAT and ACT and then continue prepping for the test your child felt most comfortable taking.
When Should My Child Take the ACT?
Your child should take the ACT their junior year of high school. I recommend that you plan out a couple ACT test dates for your child to take the the test multiple times. This will result in their best score.
The ACT test dates provided are for the United States, US territories, and Puerto Rico and are scheduled many times during the year.
The first time your child takes the exam, don't have them study because the first time will act as a benchmark for what your child already understands. The first time should be taken in the fall of their junior year. Then provide approximately 2-3 months of disciplined studying to focus on the subjects and sub-categories your child struggled with. Schedule to take the test a second time, either in the spring of their junior year or summer going into senior year.
Pro Tip: Superscoring is when your child can take the test multiple times and pull their best scores for each subject from all the ACT tests they took. Super scoring can raise your child's composite score which in turn can get them admitted into more competitive colleges.
For example: My child took the test three times in December 2020, February 2021, and April 2021. Her scores are presented below and the highest score in each subject is pulled to form the super score.
Note: Most colleges will accept ACT super score but not all. Check with each college your child is interested in attending to determine if they accept ACT super score.
Pro Pro Tip: It is the unpopular opinion among children but I recommend your child takes the second test during the beginning of summer into senior year. Why, you ask? This will allow your child to study for the ACT without having to juggle their regular school work, after school activities, and AP testing (which usually occur in the spring).
Alright, let's get serious. Let's talk about how your child should prepare for the ACT.
How Should My Child Prepare for the ACT?
Your child shouldn't study ALL the material that's on the ACT, only what they don't know! Here are some helpful tips on how to determine what your child needs to study to get their best score.
As I discussed previously, I recommend your child doesn't study before they take the first test. Now your child should still try because the results of the first test will determine how much studying they need to do before they take the test a second time. Again, it is important to start studying around 2-3 months before they intend take the test again.
Here are steps on how to prepare for the ACT:
1) Thoroughly evaluate your child's ACT results from the first time they took the test. Observe each sub-category for all subjects. The detailed results will look something like this.
2) Focus only on subject material where your child needs improvement which will maximize their score and be efficient with their time.
3) If their sub-category score is less then 70%, most likely your child needs to review the material associated with that sub-category. For example, this child received a 33% in the sub-category "Statistics and Probability" and therefore should review this material. Create a "crash course" for each sub-category and provide ACT practice problems so they can see how the material is applied.
Pro Tip: I highly recommend hiring a tutor to ensure your child stays on track and does the necessary studying to meet their ACT goals. Summit Academic has the best tutors and we curate a crash course for each sub-category specifically for your child including ACT practice problems.
After your child has reviewed necessary material, it is time to focus on test taking skills.
Your child needs to be familiar with the test layout, time available per question and needs to build self-confidence so they can perform well under pressure. The best way to prepare for the ACT and address these necessary skills is to complete multiple practice tests.
First, focus on the test layout.
Let your child go through practice questions without worrying about time. This will give them the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the test.
Next, introduce a visible timer while your child answers practice problems.
This will let them understand what 36-60 seconds feels like for each question and also they can get used to the pressure of being timed.
Yes, you and your child can prepare for the ACT alone but having a tutor that creates a detailed plan specifically for your child and their ACT goals can lead to a higher ACT score. Hiring a tutor will enable your family to have more quality time together instead of arguing about studying for the ACT, and will give you piece of mind that your child is actively moving towards their ACT goals.
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