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Frequently Asked Questions about the SAT
SAT: Frequently Asked Questions
Should I take the SAT or ACT?
Is vocabulary still important on the SAT?
Which SAT date is best to take?
How many times should I take the SAT?
Can I send colleges just my best SAT scores?
Do I need to take the Subject Tests (SAT IIs) in addition to the SAT?
When should I guess on an SAT question?
How do I register for the SAT?
Should I take the SAT or ACT?
All colleges accept either the SAT or the ACT for admissions. Although the SAT is more popular
in California, over 1 million students take the ACT each year. Some schools will state a preference and
you should always check with the admissions office for their specific requirements. In the past, the
SAT was considered more of an aptitude test and the ACT was considered more of an achievement test.
Changes to the SAT in recent years and particularly the switch to the New SAT in March 2005 have
narrowed this gap considerably. Both tests cover math, grammar, and reading comprehension, although
with a different emphasis in each case. Theoretically the essay portion of the ACT is optional,
but many colleges that are taking the New SAT are requiring the ACT essay, so plan accordingly.
The only sure way to see on which exam you will perform better is to take both tests and compare your scores.
Compass allows you to do this by making free practice tests available for both the SAT and ACT. We can
also explain how colleges compare the scores using a concordance table. Of course you can also take the
real ACT and decide whether or not you want to submit your scores to colleges. ACT also has score choice,
so you can decide which scores to release to colleges.
Is vocabulary still important on the SAT?
The disappearance of Analogies certainly means that vocabulary is not as important as it once was on the SAT.
Sentence Completions and vocabulary-in-context questions, however, still require knowledge of classic
"SAT words." Rote memorization of vocabulary, though, has diminished in importance and has been superseded
by other test-taking strategies.
Which SAT date is best to take?
First, there is no such thing as an "easier" or "harder" SAT date. All of the exams are equated so that,
for example, a Math score of 600 in March is equivalent to a 600 in May or October or on a test given 3
years from now.
So the important point is to make sure you work with your parents and counselors (Compass is also always
glad to provide advice) to develop a sensible testing calendar. Except in very special circumstances,
we recommend that students do not take the SAT until the spring of their junior year. Prior to that,
you will take the PSAT in October of your junior year and, in many cases, in October of your sophomore year.
If you are interested in seeing how you would score on the full SAT, Compass will be glad to send you a
complimentary practice exam and provide an in-depth analysis of your strengths and weaknesses.
Most students now take the SAT two or three times in order to ensure that their scores represent the best
that they can do. So the typical schedule involves the SAT in March and/or May of the junior year with
many students opting to try to improve their scores in October of the senior year. Remember that you
cannot take the SAT and the Subject Tests on the same day, so leave test dates open for the Subject Tests (SAT IIs)
(usually June when you are finishing up your coursework and best prepared).
How many times should I take the SAT?
Most students now take the SAT two or three times in order to ensure that their scores represent the
best that they can do. So the typical schedule involves the SAT in March and/or May of the junior year
with many students opting to try to improve their scores in October of the senior year. Remember
that you cannot take the SAT and the Subject Tests on the same day, so leave test dates open for the
Subject Tests (usually June when you are finishing up your coursework and best prepared).
Can I send colleges just my best SAT scores?
No. The College Board submits all of your SAT and Subject Test scores whenever you send a score report to a
college. However, virtually all schools have a policy of using your higher scores. Unless you have already
done extremely well (trying to go from a 780 to an 800 is not recommended), repeat testing will rarely have
a negative impact on your application. Schools do use multiple scores in different ways. For example,
the University of California system will take your best overall score (M, CR, and W) from a single
administration. Other colleges will mix and match your best scores from different test dates. While the
latter policy is more beneficial, even the UC policy means that you will never be worse off by repeating
the test. Please make sure to mix in some common sense, however. Not only is taking the SAT 7 or 8 times
a waste of some perfectly good Saturday mornings, it may send an unwelcome message to an admissions officer
about your priorities.
Do I need to take the Subject Tests (SAT IIs) in addition to the SAT?
Selective colleges often want more test information than the SAT alone provides, so they require students
to take Subject Tests. At some schools these are required and at others they are only recommended (although
some of the recommendations are quite STRONG). Compass has compiled a detailed description of testing requirements for
all major colleges and universities that require, recommend, or consider the SAT Subject Tests as part of the admissions
process. The University of California system, for example, requires 2 Subject Tests in different disciplines (and they do not
accept Math Level I). Other schools require 3 Subject Tests but will accept Math Level I. Please feel free to
call Compass if you would like more information on this confusing topic.
When should I guess on an SAT question?
Guessing strategy on the SAT is complicated and is best explained by an instructor given your personal score range.
Unlike the ACT, the SAT does deduct 1/4 point for wrong answers on multiple choice problems. This is not
meant to "penalize" you for guessing but to ensure that students who guess randomly are at no advantage
over students who decide to leave questions blank. Theoretically, if you can eliminate even one answer as
definitively wrong, then you have shifted the odds in your favor and should make an "educated guess."
Process of elimination, in which you use clues in the problem and answer choices to narrow down your range of
answers, can be a powerful strategy. However, the SAT knows a good deal about fooling students into thinking
that an answer is right when it is wrong and wrong when it is right. For this reason, optimal guessing strategy
varies from subject to subject and from student to student. After you take the free practice SAT that Compass
offers, we would be glad to discuss individualized recommendations with you.
How do I register for the SAT?
You can register online at http://www.collegeboard.com
or you can call 866-756-7346. The earlier you register the more likely you are to receive your first choice
test center.
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