TopTestPrep.com - Provides SAT and ACT prep for students taking the SAT and ACT exams. In this article, founder of Top Test Prep, and admissions expert - Ross Blankenship provide students and parents with information on these two exams - the SAT and ACT.

1. The
SAT
vs.
ACT:
10
Myths
to
Bust!
Presenta2on
by
Ross
Blankenship,
Founder
Top
Test
Prep

2. Myth #1 There are no differences.

3. Myth #2 Colleges care which test you take
• Colleges use the following concordance table to
convert scores back and forth:

4. Myth #3 Far more students take the SAT
• The ACT’s popularity has been gaining steadily in
recent years, and has almost caught up to the SAT.
• Which test people take is largely based on local
tradition.
• Few students actually take the time to consider which
test might be best for them.

5. Myth #4 The SAT is for better students
• The ACT began as an “achievement” test, whereas the
SAT began as an “aptitude” test.
• ACT problems are slightly more straightforward than
SAT problems.
• ACT problems are closer to what you see in school;
SAT problems are closer to what you’d see on an IQ
test.
• The ACT has more time pressure.

6. Myth #5 Vocabulary doesn’t matter on the
ACT
• While there are no explicit vocabulary questions on the
ACT, improving your vocabulary will help.
• For either test, the best practice you can get for the
verbal section is reading high-quality material:
– New York Times
– The Economist
– Twilight
– Wall Street Journal

7. Myth #6 The ACT is for science people
• Yes, the ACT has a Science section and the SAT
doesn’t. But:
– Knowing laws and formulas won’t help you.
– The ACT tests your ability to implement the scientific
method, not your knowledge of scientific facts.
– The Science section is sort of like a test of your quantitative
reading ability—you need to understand how to interpret data
given in multiple forms.
– People who are good at the Science section are usually good
at the SAT, too.

8. Myth #7 The SAT requires a longer attention
span
• Yes, the SAT is longer. But:
– The SAT has more sections, but they’re shorter. Time-wise,
the ACT takes almost as long as the SAT.
– Because the ACT has half as many sections, each one is
longer. That means each section requires a longer period of
concentration without a break than each section on the SAT.

9. Myth #8 Colleges will see all of your scores.
• There’s score optional reporting now, which allow you
to pick and choose which schools see your scores.
• But some colleges do require that you report all of your
scores – so inquire with each.

10. Myth #9 It doesn’t matter which test you take
• Your scores will be relatively close, but there are often
differences.
• Choose based on what we’ve told you today, your
strengths and weaknesses, and which test you feel more
comfortable with.

11. Myth #10 You should pick one test and stick
with it
• Take both tests and see which you do better on.
• Your score is much more likely to improve if you
change tests than if you take the same test over and
over.
• You can choose which score(s) go to colleges based on
how you do, so there’s no downside!

12. Key
things
to
remember…
• You can prepare for both tests.
• Proper preparation prevents poor performance.

13. Learn more about Top Test Prep
Call  (800) 501-Prep
http://TopTestPrep.com
SAT Prep and ACT Prep