Your First Step in Choosing Between the SAT & ACT

Today’s video is all about taking your first SAT and ACT. 

You should take both tests at the beginning of your test prep process in order to help you decide whether you want to move forward with prepping for the SAT or the ACT. (I explain why you should only prep for one or the other in the video.)

In the video, I give you your main options for those first tests:

• Taking an officially administered SAT and ACT through The College Board and ACT, Inc., respectively
• Taking a mock SAT and ACT through a test prep company
• Taking an official SAT and ACT on your own​

Can you guess which of those options I recommend?​

(hint, hint… I’m including the links to the official SAT and ACT study guides on Amazon and the unlisted page on my website where you can find the PDFs of official tests from The College Board and ACT)

REMEMBER: Taking the tests for the first time should be a no-pressure situation. Treat it simply as an opportunity to gather information.

The goal of taking the tests before you begin prepping is to give you the opportunity to experience both tests and to provide you with baseline scores for each test. Then, you can compare your experiences and your scores to determine the test with which you will move forward. 

This video is a little longer than the videos that I’ve posted so far, but it’s also the first one to deal with a practical test prep topic!  Let me know what you think in the comments! 

If you like the video, please consider clicking over to YouTube where you can “like” it and subscribe, and be sure to share it with friends!

Eager for even more guidance? Here are a few resources you might consider:

• Acing It! A Mindful Guide to Maximum Results on Your College Admissions Test: My book, in which I walk you through all the steps of the test prep process from beginning to end. Chapter 3 of Acing It! has a section about choosing a test that includes…

                      — The 3 questions to ask yourself after taking each test 
                      — The 4 questions to ask yourself after taking BOTH tests
                      — What to do with your diagnostic once you’ve chosen a test

• Test Prep Coaching Package: Work with me for 12 sessions to get your SAT or ACT prep into top shape! Includes a review of what you need to know for the SAT or ACT using my Math and Grammar outlines, opportunities to take and review official SATs and ACTs, and opportunities to learn mindset and study habits that facilitate top performance.
• Test Prep Power Up: Work with me for a single coaching session. Come with any questions you have about how to perform better on the SAT and ACT. Includes the opportunity to take and review an official SAT or ACT.

Or contact me with a question you’ve been grappling with so that I can help in a future blog.


​** LINKS REFERENCED IN THE VIDEO**

The page on my website with both test PDFs and tips on taking a test at home. 

The Official SAT Study Guide on Amazon.

The Official ACT Prep Guide on Amazon.

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