ACT and SAT -- What to Do

It's now the time when many juniors have just taken or are planning to take the SAT and/or ACT. I find there is still confusion on the part of students and parents about these tests -- when to take them, which ones to take, how many times, and now, what to do about "score choice" from College Board.

Some basic advice I give to all students:

• Take one of each test -- they are different enough that you might a) score better on one than the other, or b) you just plain like one format more than the other -- and then focus on that one test.
  
• Prepare! Do not go into any of these tests now as a junior without some serious preparation!
• Practice, using some of the books from bookstores and the released materials directly from College Board and ACT.
• Take both tests soon enough in your junior year so that you have time to take it again before the junior year is over -- you don't want to be caught wringing your hands hoping for a big score increase in your senior year.
• Take the writing section if you are taking the ACT -- the writing will be counting more in the future.
• Always take the test once more in the senior year.
  

All of this can be tailored to each individual student because some have different preferences and handle standardized tests better than others.