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SAT vs ACT Strategy SessionYour Speaker today is:Jayson J. Green
You can reach us at:[email protected]
Or visit us atwww.princetonreview.com
The College Admissions Tests
What are the four major standardized tests geared toward College Admission?
• The PSAT – www.collegeboard.com• The SAT – www.collegeboard.com• The ACT – www.act.org• The SAT Subject Tests –
www.collegeboard.com
SAT vs. ACT
Which one should you take?
Whichever one is better…
FOR YOU!
SAT vs. ACT
Attribute SAT ACT
Frequency 7 times/year 6 times/year
Length (w/o breaks)
3 hours, 45 minutes 3 hours w/o essay3.5 hours w/essay
Sections/Tests Math, Critical Reading, Writing English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing
Cost $49 $34-$49.50
Scoring 800 per section, 2400 total 36 composite
Average Scores Math: 516Critical Reading: 501Writing: 492
21 composite
Guessing Penalty -1/4 point for wrong answers No guessing penalty
Overall Breakdown
SAT vs. ACT
Reading Sections
Attributes SAT Reading ACT Reading
Questions 67 40
Minutes 70 35
What does it cover? Critical reading, diction, and vocabulary
Inference and reasoning skills
SAT vs. ACT
Math Sections
Attributes SAT Math ACT Math
Questions 54 (44 multiple-choice and 10 grid-in)
60
Minutes 70 (two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section)
60
What does it cover? Tests basic arithmetic, algebra I & II, and geometry
Covers a broad range of topics in algebra, arithmetic, and geometry, including 4 trigonometry questions
SAT vs. ACTWriting, English, and Essay SectionsAttributes SAT Writing ACT English/Essay
Questions 49 multiple-choice questions, 1 essay question
75 multiple-choice questions, 1 optional essay question
Minutes 60 minutes (one 25-minute section, one 10-minute section, and one 25-minute essay)
45 minutes for multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes for optional essay
What does it cover? Ability to identify sentence errors, improve sentences, improve paragraphs
Usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills
Essay vs. the Rest The Grammar portion of the Writing section makes up about 70% of your Writing Score.
The English and Essay are scored separately and do not affect one another.
SAT vs. ACT
ACT Science Section
Attributes ACT Science
Questions 40 multiple-choice questions
Minutes 35
What does it cover? Questions on science-based passages, it measures interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving
SAT vs. ACT
Score Choice
SAT ACT
Separate Records Separate Records
Send more than one set of scores on a report
Send one set of scores per report
Each school requires something different, so you send a different kind of report depending on the school
Schools look at what you send them and then manipulate them according to their own standards
Overall: More flexible and maybe cheaper, but more complicated.
Overall: More straightforward, but less nuanced and possibly more expensive.
SAT vs. ACT
Score Choice: Monica’s ACT Scores
April 2012 Test: Composite of 29Reading 28, Math 30, English 29, Science 29, Essay 3
June 2012 Test: Composite of 29Reading 29, Math 29, English 30, Science 27, Essay 5
SAT vs. ACT
Score Choice: Jayson’s SAT Scores
January 2012 Test:500 Reading, 650 Math, 550 Writing, Total 1700
March 2012 Test: 550 Reading, 650 Math, 620 Writing, Total 1820
May 2012 Test: 590 Reading, 670 Math, 610 Writing, Total 1870
SAT vs. ACT
SAT ACT
SAT vs. ACT
What are some other ways to decide between the SAT and ACT?
• Take a free SAT or ACT with The Princeton Review
• Take a free PRA (Princeton Review Assessment) TestAn assessment test to help students understand the differences between the SAT® and ACT®, featuring a sampling of questions from both tests to help students determine which test may be a better fit with their abilities
• Look for the Signs!
Signs you might prefer the SAT
• You’re a quick thinker who loves the challenge of puzzles and logic games
• You can rapidly define a plethora of onerous vocabulary words
• You prefer to write about WWII and The Great Gatsby than about school uniforms
• You have a shorter attention span and prefer to complete the exam in small, more ‘bite-sized’ pieces.
• You rocked the PSAT. Stick with what’s working.
SAT vs. ACT
Signs you might prefer the ACT
• You pay close attention in math class
• You love the challenge of beating the clock
• You’re good at reading graphs and tables
• You’re a strong reader
• You have a strong GPA, but did not do all that well on the PSAT
SAT vs. ACT
SAT vs. ACT
Meet Joe Bloggs!
Your Scores
Low Scores(Lowest = 1 on the ACT,
200 on the SAT)Medium Scores
(Middle = 21 on the ACT,500 on the SAT)
High Scores(Highest = 36 on the ACT,
800 on the SAT )
Math Sample Problem
18. In the figure above, what is the greatest number of non-overlapping regions into which the shaded region can be divided with exactly two straight lines?
A) 6B) 5C) 4D) 3E) 2
Math Sample Problem
18. In the figure above, what is the greatest number of non-overlapping regions into which the shaded region can be divided with exactly two straight lines?
A) 6B) 5C) 4D) 3E) 2
Strategy One: Rephrase the question in your own words.
Math Sample Problem
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
Math Sample Problem
18. In the figure above, what is the greatest number of non-overlapping regions into which the shaded region can be divided with exactly two straight lines?
A) 6B) 5C) 4D) 3E) 2
Math Sample Problem
18. In the figure above, what is the greatest number of non-overlapping regions into which the shaded region can be divided with exactly two straight lines?
A) 6B) 5C) 4D) 3E) 2
Strategy Two: Use the Process of Elimination.
Math Sample Problem
18. In the figure above, what is the greatest number of non-overlapping regions into which the shaded region can be divided with exactly two straight lines?
A) 6B) 5C) 4D) 3E) 2
Strategy Three: Use what you know about Order of Difficulty.
Math Sample Problem
18. In the figure above, what is the greatest number of non-overlapping regions into which the shaded region can be divided with exactly two straight lines?
A) 6B) 5C) 4D) 3E) 2
Strategy Four: Guess when the odds are good.
Math Sample Problem
18. In the figure above, what is the greatest number of non-overlapping regions into which the shaded region can be divided with exactly two straight lines?
A) 6B) 5C) 4D) 3E) 2
Strategy Four: Guess when the odds are good.
Math Sample Problem
18. In the figure above, what is the greatest number of non-overlapping regions into which the shaded region can be divided with exactly two straight lines?
A) 6B) 5 –> Correct!C) 4D) 3E) 2
Strategy Five: Don’t be a Joe Bloggs!
Math Sample Problem
But, wait, how do you “really” do the question?
Math Sample Problem
But, wait, how do you “really” do the question?
Strategy Six: You don’t!
Math Sample Problem
23
4
5
1
What would Joe Bloggs be thinking?
Math Sample Problem
23
4
5
1
What would Joe Bloggs be thinking?
Strategy Seven: Practice, Practice, Practice, so you know when to go with your gut!
Math Sample Problem
Strategies we Used:
• Rephrase the question in your own words• Use the Process of Elimination• Use what you know about Order of Difficulty• Guess When the Odds are Good• Don’t be a Joe Bloggs!• Don’t “do” the problem at all if you don’t have to!• Practice, Practice, Practice, so you know when
to go with your gut!
Math Sample Problem
But, wait, I still want to know how do you “really” do the question?
Repeat Strategy:You don’t!You REALLY don’t!
How many times should you take the SAT or ACT?
• Prep for one
• Plan for two
• Leave time for three
When you Should Take Your Tests
When should I take my first test?
• Regular Admissions: Early Spring of your Junior Year, so you can take up to three tests and/or take SAT Subject Tests by the middle of your Senior Year Fall.
• Early Admission/Early Decision: Fall of your Junior Year, so you can take up to three tests and/or take SAT Subject Tests by the end of your Junior Year.
When you Should Take Your Tests
How long should I prep before my first test?
How much should I prep before my first test?
Make a Plan
However long/much is right…
FOR YOU!
What’s the best way to prep?
Make a Plan
Whatever works best…
FOR YOU!
How we can Help
Ultimate Course Fundamentals Course LiveOnline Course
Courses are 30 hours Courses are 18 hours Courses are 18 hours, LIVE ONLINE
Take 4 full-length practice tests
Take 4 full-length practice tests
Take 4 full-length practice tests
Get access to our Student Portal
Get access to our Student Portal
Get access to our Student Portal
Work with our highly-trained, expert teaching staff
Work with our highly-trained, expert teaching staff
Work with best teaching staff in our dynamic, interactive online classroom
Get comprehensive coverage of all the content on the test and work in our classic classroom setting!
Learn industry-best strategies and get the tools you need to review the basics at home!
Get the same excellent tools and teaching as our Classroom Course, but do it in your pajamas!
How we can Help
Our Guarantee to You• Readiness Guarantee: Take it again if you don’t feel ready!
• Satisfaction Guarantee: Take it again if you aren’t satisfied with your score!
• Money Back Guarantee: If you don’t improve at all, get your money back!
• 150 Point Money Back Guarantee (SAT Ultimate only): If you aren’t happy with your score, take it again, and if you still don’t improve by 150 point, get your money back, too!
See www.princetonreview.com/guarantee for more details!
Wrap-Up and Take-aways
Going forward, talk to me or let us know if…
• You have any questions.
• You want to sign up for another test or event.
• You are ready to start prepping – we can get you signed up today!
We’re happy to help!
Thank you for attending this SAT vs ACT Strategy Session
You can reach us at:Jayson J. GreenSenior Test Prep [email protected]
Enika HolleySAT Instructor/[email protected]
Or visit us atwww.princetonreview.com
