New Admission Tests: What to Take, and When to Take Them (continued)

What Have We Learned?

First, make sure to research the schools that you are interested in applying to. Ask them how they will be using the writing portions of the ACT and SAT. Some schools are using the writing score for placement purposes, some as the application essay. Other schools do not require you take the writing portion of the ACT. So be well informed about how your score is being used.

Take My Advice

Also, practice may not always make perfect but it sure helps to make you more comfortable. This is a relatively new test and so you need to do whatever is necessary for you to have a productive experience. For you that may mean taking a practice test online or taking a prep class. You may also speak to your English teacher about giving you a timed essay test to prepare you for the written portion of the test.

You should also ask yourself if you really know your score. A lot of schools are still deciding how they will use the writing score, so when making decisions they are just looking at the critical reading and the math scores. With the ACT, a lot of schools are just looking at your composite score. So therefore, when you are talking to an admissions representative, be sure that you are clear about the score they are using to evaluate your application.

One major point has come up with the new tests that more and more students are starting to consider and it's really quite simple: Take both the ACT and the SAT! It is most definitely to your advantage to have both scores. You always want to give yourself as much ammunition in the college application process as possible. Having a score for both tests will give a college admission professional more to work with when reviewing your application.

Then, once you have taken both tests, take at least one of them MORE than once. How many people do you know that can score a perfect score on the SAT or ACT on the first try? Not many! Taking the test more than once helps you to be more familiar with the test and takes some of the fear out of the situation. Also, a lot of colleges and universities will take your highest combined score. Besides, if you take the test your sophomore or junior year, think how much more you know by the time you are a senior. Trust me, it helps!

Finally and most importantly, don't wait until the last minute to take the test!! You should start thinking about when you want to take your tests at the beginning of your junior year. Some will start picking dates as early as their sophomore year. The idea is to give yourself plenty of time for starting the admissions process. Some students will take a test their junior year and then take another their senior year so that there will be some space in between for knowledge building and preparation. Different students have different approaches and ideas about how many times to take the test. Find the one that works best for you! The spring semester of your senior year should not find you stressing about taking the SAT or ACT! You should be receiving acceptance letters and preparing for graduation.