What is the difference between the SAT and the ACT? The SAT and ACT are both four-section college entrance exams testing both quantitative and verbal reasoning. While colleges do not prefer one test over the other in the admissions process, the differences between the tests from a student’s perspective are significant. The most fundamental differences between the SAT and ACT are i) the ACT has 215 questions to the SAT’s 98, which has serious implications as to the time per question allotted to students ii) the ACT contains a designated science section whereas the SAT does not, and iii) the ACT is weighted such that the math component comprises a quarter of a student’s final score, whereas the SAT is weighted such that the math component comprises half of the final score. Other important differences are that the SAT math section contains grid-in (fill-in-the-blank) questions and a reference table for math formulas, whereas the ACT contains neither. As of 2024, the ACT is offering an online version of its exam that reduces the overall test length and makes the Science section optional. This change brings the exams closer together in similarity now that the SAT is offered exclusively online. A helpful way to think about the differences between the SAT and ACT exams is that the former tests depth while the latter tests breadth.
When is the right time to begin preparation for the SAT/ACT? As far as formal preparation is concerned, most families begin in September of junior year. However, it is important not to mistake early activity for progress: not all students who get an early start de facto perform better on the test. Often, a shorter, more rigorous approach to SAT/ACT will be equally as effective. Generally, students should set aside at least 6-8 months of preparation before either exam.
How many times should my child take the SAT/ACT? It depends. Generally, the more times a student sits for the test, the more likely he or she is to obtain a desired score. Moreover, because of superscore and score choice — the college admissions practices whereby students handpick the scores colleges see — there is more upside to taking the test across multiple dates. The average number of SAT or ACT tests a student will sit for is about three, however many students find success in taking the tests more than this. The time of year a student sits for the SAT or ACT does not matter as far as his or her score is concerned because each test is standardized to previous versions. However, timing with regards to end of year exams (finals, AP Exams, end of year projects) does make a difference. It is very important to have a plan around which to build an SAT/ACT test prep curriculum.
What should my child write about for his/her college essay? College admissions officers read thousands of essays every application season. By all measure, these admissions officers have read some variation of the type of essay an applicant will write. They have read the subtly braggadocious essay referencing the many clubs and programs applicants participate in, the awards they have won, and the outstanding grades they have received since the 5th grade. They have read the gut-wrenching story of a tragic death in the family and the positive, maturing impact it has had on an applicant. They have read the triumphant story of applicants exhibiting qualities of teamwork and leadership and winning the league championship. The quicker we accept the fact that college admissions officers have read every type of essay imaginable, the quicker we can divert our focus from being unique at all costs to being honest and strategic.
The best college essays are unapologetically genuine, undeniably true, and purposefully reflective of information already stated on an applicant’s Common App. The best essays are not born from obvious moments of triumph, but instead born from ordinary moments that to the essay’s author have extraordinary significance. The primary objective is to make the job of the college admissions officer with an applicant’s file as easy as possible to pitch him or her to the larger committee. It’s as simple as this: college applications are short stories, and admissions officers are the audience waiting to tell their friends - other admissions officers - whether or not to invest in the story. If an applicant’s essay doesn’t in some way reinforce the rest of his or her application, there is less of a story to tell and therefore less of a chance for admission.
My child has an upcoming exam, a difficult paper, or a one-time situation where he or she is seeking academic support. Should I make an appointment? Yes. Jonathan often works with students seeking short-term academic support. Whereas some students are seeking guidance on a math exam or on a paper, other students are looking for appointments to help with schoolwork as it comes.