SAT v ACT
If you've been on my email list for a little bit, you won't be shocked to learn that I was a big Mad Magazine fan back in the day.
One of my favorite features was the Spy vs. Spy cartoon, which depicted outlandish battles between one faceless spy, dressed all in black, the other, identical but in white attire.
To the best of my recollection, there was hardly ever a clear winner, which was satisfying to some people, I guess. But not to me. I always wanted to know which spy was better.
A lot of parents, and kids, feel the same way about the SAT or ACT. There's an assumption that one is "better," meaning one that colleges prefer, or is better in some other, undefined way. Possibly because those of us who grew up in the 80s on the East or West coast may never have heard of the ACT, which was largely a midwestern thang until it grew, and eclipsed the SAT 7-8 years ago.
Here's the deal...
Colleges are agnostic. They accept either test. So the logical strategy is to pick the one that is best -- for your child -- and get that test score as high as it can go.
It turns out that some kids perform better on one than the other. In that case, it's usually easy to pick the right one.
However, many do about the same on each. Then it becomes a little harder to figure out which one is best. It's more about feel.
Bottom line: your child should not waste time studying for both, switching back and forth, etc.
Here's some help: Tomorrow, Sunday night, our head tutor, Marissa U, will host a live walkthrough of each of the sections of the SAT and ACT, in order to help you figure out Which Test is Best...
...to help your kiddo multiply his odds of admission to his Dream School...
...and get his mitts on the scholarships you deserve to help combat the ridiculous cost of college!
Sign up here, an you'll never have to think, "What, me worry?"
At least about the SAT or ACT.
- Andy "E" Lockwood
P.S. There's no charge to attend the workshop, but the information you learn could save you dozens of stressful hours, and thousands in wasted tutoring fees for the Wrong Test.
P.P.S. Please forward this invitation to anyone who could use a little insider advice on the SAT and ACT. They can sign up here: