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Our Sylvan college test preparation experts answer some of the most common questions and concerns about the SAT and ACT. If you have other questions, please call 1-888-EDUCATE to speak with your local Sylvan test preparation expert.
The SAT Reasoning Test is a three hour and 45 minute (not including breaks) standardized test that is broken into 10 sections: seven 25-minute sections, two 20-minute sections and one 10-minute section.
There is no such thing as a good score or a bad score on the SAT (or a passing or failing score). Every score needs to be judged versus how it compares to your GPA and to the median scores of students accepted by the colleges that you want to attend.
To get an idea of how your score stacks up, take a look at the median scores of some popular colleges. Remember, however, that these aren't cut-offs or guarantees. Just because your score is higher than a school's median does not guarantee that you will get in, and it doesn't mean that you won't have a chance if your score is lower than the median.
You can take the SAT as many times as you like, but you probably should plan on taking it no more than two or three times. (Let's face it, you have better things to do with your life than SAT test preparation forever.) Many students and parents fear that colleges will frown on multiple scores, but almost all schools now consider students' highest scores when evaluating them for admission. Some schools take the highest combined score (the sum of the math and verbal sections) from a single sitting, while other schools take students' highest math score from any test date and combine it with their highest verbal score from any test date. In neither case is repeating the SAT detrimental.
Thinking of an overall test preparation schedule is more effective than thinking about a single ÒbestÓ test date. Most students applying to competitive colleges now take the SAT I Reasoning Test more than once. A typical schedule involves taking the PSAT in October of the junior year (some schools also have their students take it as sophomores), and then taking the SAT I Reasoning Test in March or May of the junior year. This allows a student to take the SAT II subject tests in June of the junior year (perfect timing for subjects that you will not be studying over the summer), and still keeps the fall test dates open to repeat the SAT I Reasoning Test. Take a look at the schedule of upcoming test dates.
No. This is a popular misconception probably arising from the fact that the SAT is a scaled test. Some students believe that it's better to take the SAT when lower scoring students take the exam so that the scaling is more favorable. This is completely false. The SAT is scaled so that scores from any test date are comparable. Although there is inevitably some minor variation in the difficulty of questions from test to test, this is adjusted in the scaling. It is true, however, that an individual student may find one test significantly harder than another. The words used or the math involved may simply have been harder for that particular student. This is one of the reasons why Sylvan's test preparation experts recommend taking the SAT more than once.
If you have a documented physical or learning disability and normally receive extra time on your tests in school, then you are eligible to get extra time on the SAT as well. If you have a physical or learning disability and feel that you need extra time on the SAT but you do NOT normally receive extra time in school, then you must request an exception. In either case, there are a number of steps that you and/or your parents must take. It is a good idea to get started early by finding out who your school's Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities is and consulting with him.
Probably not. If you got sick halfway through the exam and couldn't finish, then canceling your scores might make sense. Otherwise, Sylvan finds that students are notoriously bad at judging their performance on the exam. Students who are convinced they got everything right, for example, may have missed all of the traps on the hard problems and thought that things were easier than they really were. On the other hand, students that come away feeling like they missed ÒeverythingÓ may be focusing too much on a few problems that tripped them up. Since almost all colleges will evaluate your application based upon your highest SAT scores, it almost never makes sense to void your scores.
Your school guidance counselor or college counseling department should have current copies of the SAT Registration Bulletin. The bulletin has detailed information on registration fees and procedures as well as the current testing dates and deadlines. You can complete the registration application by mail, or you can do it online at collegeboard.com. If you have taken the SAT before, you can re-register by phone at 1-800-SAT-SCORE (1-800-728-7267).
About two weeks after you take the test, your scores will be available online for free or by phone for an additional fee (1-800-SAT-SCORE). About three weeks after your test, score reports will be mailed to you and the colleges that you have designated.
You can get a copy only if you request one and pay for it. Then you can get it only for certain test dates. The Question-and-Answer Service for the SAT Reasoning Test is available only on certain test dates. If you sign up for any of these test dates, Sylvan strongly recommends getting the Question-and-Answer Service. You'll receive a copy of your exam about six weeks after your test date, and it can be useful in helping you assess what you did right and wrong. For any other test date, or for the SAT Subject Tests, there is no way to obtain a copy of your exam.
The SAT Subject Tests are an additional group of standardized tests that some of the most competitive colleges require of their students for admission. Unlike the more general SAT Reasoning Test, the SAT Subject Tests evaluate your knowledge in a variety of subject areas.
The PSAT was designed to be a warm-up for the SAT, but it has taken on an importance of its own because of its use by the National Merit program. Both the PSAT and SAT have a writing section; however, despite the name of the section, there is no writing involved on the PSAT — it is actually a multiple-choice grammar test, including word choice and usage, sentence errors and paragraph improvements. Eligibility for the National Merit program is determined by the Selection Index, which is the sum of a student's score on the math, critical reading and writing skills sections.
The ACT is essentially an alternative to the SAT. It is particularly popular in the Midwest, while the SAT is more common on the coasts. The ACT tests a broader range of material than the SAT Reasoning Test (in some ways it is more similar to the SAT Subject Tests) and some students perform better on it than they do on the SAT. Almost all colleges will accept either SAT or ACT scores (although some states prefer one over the other), so taking the ACT in addition to the SAT can give you another shot at improving your odds. If you do poorly on the ACT you can simply choose not to report your score. (Make sure that you don't sign up to send your score to any college automatically).
Generally, students will first take the ACT in the spring of junior year and then take it again in the fall of senior year.
This depends on where you are in your high school career, whether you will need to take any SAT Subject Tests, and your own personal test preparation schedule. The following are the three most popular times for students to prepare.
No, this is a myth. Tests on all dates are of the same level of difficulty; there is no reason to take these tests on one date over another in the hopes that one will be easier. Your only consideration should be taking all necessary tests at the times that allow you to do your bestÑtest preparation or no test preparation.
Many students and parents are under the impression that repeating the ACT is not a good idea. They often feel that multiple scores will Òlook badÓ or that good scores will merely be averaged with weaker scores. Both points are incorrect. First of all, you have the ability to submit your highest scores. If you have taken the ACT multiple times, ACT will send colleges only the score from the date you specify.
In addition, virtually all colleges use students' highest scores in evaluating their applications. They choose the highest scores in one of two ways. Some schools combine the highest English, math, reading or science reasoning scores from one test date with the highest English, math, reading, or science reasoning scores from another test date. If that's the case, then you can send multiple test results (if you have taken the ACT multiple times) to that school. Other schools take the highest composite score from a single test date. Ask your college counselor or call a college directly to find out a school's policy. In no case, however, is repeating the test detrimental. Most students now take the ACT two or three times, which is adequate for a well-prepared test-taker.
The ACT is offered nationally five times a year: February, April, June, October and December. The February test date is not offered in the state of New York. There is an additional date offered in September in these states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Washington.
If you have a documented physical or learning disability and normally receive extra time on your tests in school, then you are eligible to get extra time on the ACT, as well. If you have a physical or learning disability and feel that you need extra time on the ACT but you do NOT normally receive extra time in school, then you must request an exception. In either case, there are a number of steps that you and/or your parents must take, so it is a good idea to get started early by finding out who your school's Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities is and consulting with him.
Your school guidance or college counseling department should have current copies of the Registering for the ACT Assessment booklet. The booklet has detailed information on registration fees and procedures as well as the current testing dates and deadlines. You can complete the registration application by mail, or you can do it online at act.org. If you have taken the ACT before, then you can re-register by phone at 1-800-525-6926.
Scores are mailed four to seven weeks after the test is taken. The ACT provides services for a fee to help rush the scores, but cannot do anything in fewer than three weeks. For rush reporting, call (319)-337-1313.
Only if you request and pay for it, and you can get it only for the December, April and June test dates. If you sign up for any of these test dates, Sylvan's college test preparation experts recommend getting a copy of your test. You'll receive a copy of your exam about eight to 12 weeks after your test date, and it can be useful in helping you assess what you did right and wrong. For any other test date, there is no way to obtain a copy of your exam. Check the Registering for the ACT Assessment booklet or act.org for any changes to this schedule.
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