What your junior can do in December to prepare for college
Preparing for the SAT or ACT
3 Reasons Why Taking the SAT and ACT Might be a Waste of Time and Money
This article was originally published on February 20, 2017, and was updated in 2019.
When parents tell me their children are taking both the SAT and the ACT, my response often shocks them…
“Really? What a waste of time and money!”
On their own, the SAT and ACT aren’t a waste of time or money. But taking BOTH the SAT AND the ACT isn’t the right choice.
In fact, this ends up costing you way more money and taking up more time than it’s worth.
Preparing for college can be hard enough without the extra pressure of preparing for multiple entrance exams.
I wrote this article to not only help your teen avoid some of this stress – but to save valuable time and money, too.
Here are three reasons why taking both the SAT and ACT might be a big waste of time and money:
1. Colleges accept either test
Colleges don’t prefer one over the other! Yep – it’s true.
Decades ago, some colleges required the SAT while other colleges required the ACT. This meant college-bound teens in the 80’s would take either the SAT or the ACT based on where they were applying.
Now, college-bound teens can focus on taking the test that’s best for them because all colleges will accept both the SAT and the ACT – great news for high school students who have enough on their plate already!
2. Teens usually perform better on one test
Rather than taking both tests, I suggest students stick with the test that’s best for them. (More on choosing the right test later…)
Why?
It’s likely the score on one test will be higher than on the other.
Now you might be asking, “but won’t I want to be able to choose the better of the two results?”
But here’s the thing: some colleges request ALL test scores.
In those cases, a student may not want to reveal all of their results!
The best way to avoid sending unfavorable test scores is to take the test that will yield the highest score for the individual student.
3. Taking both tests takes too much time
Let’s say your teen is planning on taking both the SAT and the ACT. They also want to retake one or both tests.
There isn’t enough time!
The testing calendars don’t easily accommodate taking each test more than once.
A high school junior who’s planning to take both tests twice during 11th grade could have a testing schedule that looks something like this:
6 weeks of SAT prep
November – Take first SAT
January – Retake SAT
6 weeks of ACT prep
April – Take first ACT
June – Retake ACT
You know what I think when I look at this testing schedule?
Junior year is far too important to the spend majority of time prepping for standardized tests!
Don’t you agree?
And don’t forget about the SAT II
Your teen might also have a couple of colleges on their list that request 2 SAT Subject Tests.
The 20 available SAT Subject Tests are also referred to as SAT II — and they’ve only been around since 2005.
College Boards write the SAT Subject Tests AND the Advanced Placement exams. So, when students take an AP course, they’re preparing not only for the AP exam, but also for a similar SAT Subject Test.
If a student has AP exams in May, they’d be better off forgoing the May SAT and taking 2 SAT Subject Tests in June instead.
How to decide between the SAT and ACT
Ultimately, decisions about when to take the SAT or ACT and/or SAT Subject Tests must make sense for the teen’s test-taking abilities and college list options. That’s why doing your research ahead of time and getting to know both tests is essential.
And plenty of help is available for this process.
To discover whether the SAT or ACT would be the right choice (and how to ace either one!), don’t miss these articles:
What sophomores must know about the SAT and ACT
Best tips for Acing the ACT or SAT
When to Retake the ACT
Need a little more guidance?
For one-on-one support and other resources to help you or your child get into (or pay) for college click here.
What sophomores must know about the SAT and ACT
High school sophomores are in a great position to make the most of the college admissions process.

Now that the transition to high school is over, sophomores can be involved with those extra-curricular activities that matter to them, develop relationships with teachers just because, and use the summers to explore their own interests. Sophomore year is also a great time to plan for testing, either the ACT or SAT.
Will you score higher on the SAT or ACT?
If you know the answer to this question, then you’re already ahead of the class. Whichever test yields your higher score is the one to focus on in the upcoming months.
If you don’t know which test you will score higher on, then you have a couple of options. One, you can take an SAT/ACT Comparison test. Students can take a comparison test themselves to get an idea of their score for each test. I suggest that students simulate the testing setting as much as possible by taking the test in a quiet space on a Saturday morning, using a timer to stick close to the timings for each section. When the comparison test is scored, the student gets feedback on whether the SAT or ACT is their higher score and tips on improving their score.
Another way to find out if the SAT or ACT is your better test is to compare scores from a practice SAT and practice ACT. Some high schools may even offer a PSAT and a pre- ACT during sophomore year. The scores from each test can be compared through this concordance table.
Set testing plan for Junior year
For 2017-18, both SAT and ACT are adding a summer testing date. I would suggest that seniors take advantage of these testing dates for college applications and scholarships. However, juniors may want to use the fall to start any test prep and schedule their tests during the academic year.
Test prep can be done using a book, online self-study or class, live class or private tutor (in person or online). Six to eight weeks of test prep is plenty of time. The key thing you want to remember with test prep is to do it consistently. For example, if you have a fall sport, then perhaps your best time to study is after the season ends since it may be difficult to study for the SAT or ACT along with having practices and games after school. Test prep can end about a week before your testing date.
In junior year, it’s best to allow for 2 testing dates in case a student wants to retake for a higher score. Taking 3 or more ACT or SAT shows a poor use of time and judgment. Beware that some colleges even penalize applicants who have multiple standardized test so please limit the test-taking. (The only time I recommend additional test-taking is for seniors who have selected a college that requires a certain score for scholarship purposes.)
What are your testing plans for junior year?
Should my teen study for the PSAT?
Each fall, parents with 9th, 10th and 11th graders ask me about the PSAT and whether their teen should study for the PSAT. As with most things in college readiness, it depends.
Let’s start with a general description of the PSAT to make sure we’re all on the same page. It’s considered a preliminary SAT exam and students often take it to get an unofficial look at the SAT. “Unofficial” means that this test is “off the record” for college admissions purposes. It’s rare that students would submit these scores for consideration in college admissions.
PSAT for 9th graders
Most high schools do not offer the option for 9th graders to take the PSAT. Although I have seen it offered at several independent schools.
Typically, I do not recommend that students take the PSAT in 9th grade. It adds too much unnecessary pressure and anxiety. The 9th grade is such a transitional period that the year is better spent acclimating to the new school environment, making friends, and getting to know teachers.
PSAT for 10th graders
Taking the PSAT in 10th grade can be a good idea, if your high school offers that option. 10th graders who take the PSAT can get familiar with the format and determine their own level of comfort with the question types. The results would also closely project SAT scores.
In addition to the PSAT in sophomore year of high school, I would highly recommend that students also consider taking the pre-ACT. The pre-ACT is an unofficial preview of the ACT. Again, taking the pre-ACT would be an opportunity for sophomores to get familiar the ACT format and determine their level of comfort with the question types.
The results of the PSAT and pre-ACT can then be compared, using an SAT-ACT comparison tool to determine if a student should take the SAT or ACT in junior year. It’s a waste of time and money to take both tests, so I highly recommend that students stick with one test . . . either the SAT or ACT!
Sophomore year is an important year for students to discover their interests and further their academic preparation. Spending time to study for the PSAT or pre-ACT is not a good use of their time. Certainly, students may look at practice questions, if they like, but I would not suggest prioritizing PSAT and/or pre-ACT test prep over homework assignments and reading for pleasure.
PSAT for 11th graders
The majority of high schools in the US require that high school juniors take the PSAT. The PSAT is used in junior year as the qualifying exam for National Merit Scholarships. Even when students take the PSAT in junior year, they must still take the SAT or ACT to meet college admissions requirements.
I have recommended that my students study for the PSAT in only a few cases. When I recommended that my students study in junior year, they met these criteria:
1. Had taken the PSAT in sophomore year
2. Had scored in the 99%ile on the PSAT in sophomore year (Each state has their own National Merit Scholarship baseline so be sure to look it up for your state.)
Those students were in striking distance of qualifying for National Merit Scholarship so it made sense for them to study for the PSAT in advance. Their study plan often included completion of two or more practice tests before the test date and thorough reviews of reading, writing, and math.
Rule of thumb: Test prep should never take precedence over maintaining a strong transcript whether a student is 9th, 10th or 11th grader.
Please let me know your thoughts and/or comments on this topic.
Should my Teen study for the PSAT?
College-bound teens take the PSAT every year in mid-October. The PSAT is the test that high school juniors take to qualify for National Merit recognition, although more 9th and 10th graders are taking this test each year. In addition, the PSAT gives students practice and feedback for the SAT. After taking the PSAT, students will get a full report which details the questions they missed. This report can be a useful guide to prepare for the SAT.
Many parents ask me every year whether their teen should study for the PSAT. My answer (like for most things related to college admissions): It depends. The first question in all things college admissions is why. So, I ask parents to tell me why they think their teen should study for the PSAT. Based on the reason, I can then suggest whether it’s worth the teen’s time to study for the PSAT.
Reasons to Study for PSAT
- To get a higher score than last year
- To have a chance at a National Merit recognition
- To present stronger scores for a summer program application
Reasons to NOT Study for PSAT
- Did not take the test last year
- Scores from last year were below 750 for each section
- Academic course load is demanding
- ACT is best test for student
In most cases, students do not need to study for the PSAT. It’s an annual test that plays a marginal role in college admissions. If a student’s best test is the SAT, then they would be better off focusing their prep efforts on the SAT, instead. The best time to prep for the SAT is usually 8-10 weeks prior to the scheduled test date. If the PSAT date coincides with the SAT prep then it’s a win-win.
What Parents Need to Know about Testing for College-bound Teens
There are 3 tests that are used for college admissions:
- ACT
- SAT 1 – Reasoning test
- SAT 2 – Subject Tests
Each of these tests is different.
ACT ≠ SAT
The ACT is more of an achievement test and more aligned with knowledge gained during the high school years. SAT 1 is more of an intelligence test. As a rule of thumb, I’ve found that my students who are strong readers tend to fare better on the SAT, especially with its vocabulary. Students who do not read as much outside of school tend to do better on the ACT.
The SAT 2 is an hour-long test in a specific subject area. Here are the available subject tests:
- Literature
These tests tend to match with an Honors or Advanced Placement course. For example, if a student is taking AP US History then they may want to consider the SAT Subject Test in American History for college admissions purposes. (Note: The AP tests are typically used for college placement, but not college admissions.) I recommend that students take the corresponding Subject Test at the end of the course, in May or June. For students who are interested in STEM fields, I strongly urge them to consider taking the Math Level 2 Subject Test soon after they complete Pre-Calculus.
Students will typically take the ACT or SAT in junior year. I do not recommend taking these tests in sophomore year and certainly not the senior year.
Testing Game Plan for Best Score
The best game plan for students is
- Determine which test you will focus on at the end of sophomore year. It is NOT necessary to take both tests. Colleges will accept either test.
- Take the ACT or SAT for the first time in the winter of junior year. This will give your teen time to get adjusted to a more-demanding junior year schedule and have time to study before taking the test.
- Leave time in the spring of the junior year to retake the ACT or SAT, if necessary.
Once the testing is completed, more time can be spent on developing a solid college list and writing application essays! What’s your teen’s game plan for acing the ACT or SAT?
Check out our 4 Tips to Help your Teen Study Better!
10th graders – Why you should take the ACT or SAT in the winter of junior year
It’s tough being a high school junior! I have heard from so many juniors that the academic work load is more intensive. In junior year, students typically take on more honors or advanced placement (AP) which certainly adds rigor and greater homework loads.
In addition to these academic demands, the college admissions process begins in earnest during junior year, whether students are ready or not. For my clients, junior year is focused on developing a meaningful college list, nurturing teacher relationships, and planning for standardized tests.
The ACT or SAT
The biggest myth that I want to dispel right now is that students do NOT have to take both the ACT and the SAT. The tests are quite different. Taking both tests compromises your test prep and ultimately wastes a lot of time and money.
If students want to get their best score, they should take the test that fits them. How do you which test is best for you? Here are 3 ways that students can determine whether to take the ACT or SAT:
- Compare their PLAN and PSAT score reports
- Take an ACT/SAT Comparison Test, like the one we give to our client families (link)
- Take a simulated practice test for both the ACT and SAT, then compare the results
After determining which test makes sense for you, then it’s time to register for the test date, begin a solid test prep plan, then take the test!
When to take the ACT or SAT
I strongly encourage juniors to consider taking their first ACT or SAT in the winter of junior year. Here’s why:
- By winter, students would have had time to adjust to their academic schedules and homework loads.
- Taking the test in winter, allows enough time to get your scores, determine if you want to retake, do additional test prep in key area(s), then retake the test in the spring
- Students can typically get a full score report when they test during the Fall and Winter dates. The full score reports can be very helpful for studying if a student wants to retake the test.
- If a student decides to take an SAT II Subject Test, then they can do so at the end of the school year, while much of the content is still fresh.
When I suggest this testing plan, I always get some push-back. Parents and students will usually ask, “What about taking the test in senior year?” All I can say from experience is that the Fall of senior year in high school is extremely busy. With school demands, sports activities, social events, and applying to colleges, NO senior wants to be bothered with taking standardized tests.
When are you planning to take your ACT or SAT?
3 SAT Myths that Every Junior Must Ignore
During this time of year when juniors are registering to take the SAT, there is a lot of misinformation about what they should should and should not do. Before you start your test prep or sign up to take the SAT take heed to these myths:
Myth #1 – It’s OK to take the SAT “cold”, i.e. as a practice test
REALITY: It’s a waste of your time and money to take any standardized test for the sake of seeing what your score will be! Students often assume this myth because they’ve heard that the colleges will only see certain scores. That really depends on the college where you apply. Likewise, on the Common Application, students self-report ALL test scores. When you sign the Common Application, you’re affirming that ALL information on the application is true.
Best BET: Take an online practice test to see your score, not an official test!
Myth #2 – It’s better to take the SAT than the ACT.
REALITY: All colleges will accept either test. Translation: Take the test that’s best for you. The SAT is different from the ACT, and usually students will score higher on one over the other.
BEST BET: Take a comparison test to find out which test fits you best! If you do not have access to a comparison test, you can also compare your PLAN and PSAT scores to determine which test is best.
Myth #3: I don’t need to take a Subject Test.
REALITY: Depending on where you’re applying and the major that interests you, 1 or 2 subject tests may be “Recommended.” (“Recommended” is another word for “Required”.) When it’s “Recommended” it is highly likely that the majority of applicants to that college will submit Subject Test scores. Unfortunately, when all competing applications include these Subject Test scores and your does not . . . OUCH!
BEST BET: Take Subject Tests that correspond to any Honors or Advanced Placement classes that you take during sophomore or junior year of high school. If you are enrolled in a Pre-Calculus course, then you should consider taking the Math II Subject Test at the least.