• Why Should I take the SAT or ACT?

• What's the difference? Which one should I take?

• Should I take both? Should I take one of them more than once?

• When should I take the SAT or ACT?

• Why, when, and how should I study?

• Should I take the essay portion of the ACT?

• What do I do on test day?

• How do I know how well I did?

• How do people living outside the US approach the SAT and ACT?

• What are SAT Subject Tests?

• What is the PSAT?
  

Post edited at 4:53 pm on June 6, 2008 by hithere

The only reason that you should consider is that most colleges and universities in the United States accept one or the other when you apply for admission. Generally, a better standardized test score means a more attractive student to an institution, thus giving that student a somewhat higher chance of acceptance to those in which they are interested. Then you must also consider the fact that many colleges require you to take one or the other for your application to even be reviewed. Of course, you could just take the SAT or ACT for the thrill of being in a room for hours, or to see whether you can beat your friends, but the vast majority end up requesting that their scores be sent to potential sites of future education (and since you came to this topic you probably were already thinking that). You can go to each test's website for more information on why it has such a magical link to college admission, but for now, I think it is best to just accept the fact.

Kaplan has a good summary of the differences here: (click)
I will add to it that SAT tests vocabulary while ACT does not, and that ACT demands much more attention to the clock than SAT.

You can take the SAT and be good to go. Many students choose this option. However, you might do better on the ACT. You may find websites or books that "help make the decision for you" but I think the best way to choose is take a practice test for each (these are available at their official websites, as well as in books and various other resources). That way you'll have a pretty good idea of what the tests are like, and you'll also see what your score is in the end.

Post edited at 4:50 pm on Sep. 6, 2008 by The Oath

I've taken both, and I think it's a good idea for anybody who cares about standardized test scores. Because many colleges take both, you have two different ways to present that part of your application. The main drawbacks to this are that you have to pay more, and you have to prepare more. But if it doesn't sound like too much, and you're thinking of applying to a college that accepts both, I encourage you to at least consider both.

As far as retakes, it's somewhat of a similar decision: do you want to spend the extra time to study for just a possibility of doing better? If you think you're capable of doing better, go for it. Anyways, here there are statistics. ACT reports that 55% of students increased, 22% stayed the same, and 23% decreased their composite score compared to the first time, of those who took it more than once. SAT reports that 55% increased, 10% stayed the same, and 35% decreased their selection index; the average difference was +40. So is it worth it? Sometimes.

Students usually take them in their junior and/or senior year of high school (the two years before planning to attend university). Some take them earlier and some take them later, but since the application process happens primarily in the fall of senior year, most students take tests during or several months before then. You've probably seen some well-developed plans of how you should approach college admission throughout your secondary education, but let's be honest, nobody really follows those. So my suggestion is to think about it during your junior year, register, and make sure you take all the tests you want to take at least once, in the winter or spring. If you choose to take the SAT and/or ACT again, then you have the spring of your junior year or the fall of your senior year to retest before you have to focus on the rest of your application.

SAT dates (7)
ACT dates (6)

You definitely do not have to study, but I think it's best to at least read any available literature that explains the format of the test. If you are serious about the test, you probably should study because it will better prepare you for the content on which you will be tested. Schedule a test date at least a month in advance of when you want to start studying--you're basically required to, anyways--because worrying about the proximity of it won't help you.

There are many ways to study. Your school or a local private education center may offer prep classes. Most bookstores carry shelves and shelves of test prep guides (when I took the ACT I bought "The ACT for Dummies" and it was good help). You can also go to your guidance or career counselor for more ideas about preparing for the test. There are also tons of practice tests out there; these at least will give you the basic feel of it. Both the SAT and ACT websites have a practice test but many other websites and books provide more. As far as preparing "too soon" or "too late": don't worry about it because they'll eventually balance out in the end. You can study whenever you want because the test always has the same content, and not every person gains the same thing from studying. If you can't keep up with the things you're learning about the tests, take a break.

No matter what, you have a test date set aside for you and you have a chance to show what you know.

To put it plainly: most likely.
If you didn't know already, the ACT has an optional essay section. It consists of a single generic prompt to which you respond.

You REALLY shouldn't be coming here for that. But just in case you're here at the last minute:
You should probably eat something, and do your best to arrive at the test center at least 15 minutes early.

What to Bring:

Pile all the stuff you're bringing in one place well before you have to go. You should bring:

• Photo ID
  
• Admission ticket
  
• Pencils and eraser (No. 2 pencil if that hasn't been drilled into your head yet)
  
• Calculator
  
• Snacks (only for SAT, not for ACT)
  
• Watch with stopwatch capabilities
  

Calculators:
SAT has the following guidelines:

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You are not allowed to use any of the following items as a calculator:
   * Laptop or a portable/handheld computer
   * Calculator that has QWERTY (typewriter-like) keypad, uses an electrical outlet, makes noise, or has a paper tape
   * Electronic writing pad or pen-input/stylus-driven device
   * Pocket organizer
   * Cell phone calculator

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These types of calculators are prohibited:
   * Texas Instruments: all model numbers that begin with TI-89 and TI-92, and the TI-Nspire CAS-The TI-Nspire (non-CAS) is permitted.
   * Hewlett-Packard: hp 48GII and all model numbers that begin with hp 40G, hp 49G, or hp 50G
   * Casio: Algebra fx 2.0, ClassPad 300, and all model numbers that begin with CFX-9970G
   * calculators with built-in computer algebra systems
   * pocket organizers
   * handheld or laptop computers
   * electronic writing pads or pen-input devices-The Sharp EL 9600 is permitted.
   * calculators built into cell phones or other electronic communication devices
   * calculators with a typewriter keypad (keys in QWERTY format)-Calculators with letter keys not in QWERTY format are permitted.

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After you take the test, they need some time to receive and score it. The main scores are posted online, at the earliest, 11 days afterwards (ACT) or 19 days afterwards (SAT). The score notification process continues after that time, but you probably don't care enough about that for me to go into detail here. Their websites better explain each process.

Individual colleges usually report a "middle 50" of scores for the SAT, and often for the ACT. This range is found by lining up all the scores of last year's accepted/admitted students from lowest to highest. The "middle 50"  is from the first quarter to the third quarter of the way along the line; that is, 25% of accepted students scored lower than the low value reported, and 25% scored higher than the high value reported. 50% scored in the range given.

The SAT and ACT have also compiled data of all tests taken during a recent year:
SAT Data
ACT Data
Wikipedia explanation of percentile: "a test score which is greater than 85% of the scores of people taking the test is said to be at the 85th percentile."

Oh, jeez, I have no clue. Everywhere I go I see little things popping up about international students, but (surprise, surprise) I never read them. The whole idea of applying to a college in the US from somewhere else sounds somewhat complicated to me, so I expect you'll learn about taking the SAT or ACT through some person or organization after you enquire about the basics of attending college in the US first. I can, however, provide you some really basic links if you're on your own so far:

CollegeBoard Education Resources
ACT International Testing

They are hour-long tests that cover only one subject each. You can take up to three Subject Tests on one day. Many schools consider, recommend, or require them. They require much more knowledge in each subject; therefore if you are thinking of taking them, you should probably only take ones in subjects in which you excel or which you might pursue at university.

More basic information about SAT Subject Tests

It is a test, also run by CollegeBoard, usually taken by sophomores and juniors. The PSAT is much like the SAT, but does not have an essay section and I believe has less difficult questions. PSAT is not used for applying to college. It is often your first "practice" for the SAT, although that is not the only reason to take it. If you take the test as a junior you can enter the National Merit Scholarship Program, through which you have the chance to eventually earn scholarships. The PSAT is offered on a Wednesday or a Saturday during a single week in October. Check with your school to see if you can take it there.

PSAT website
NMSQT website

Post edited at 5:00 pm on June 6, 2008 by hithere