Biggest ACT/SAT Myths And Mistakes
by Valerie Erde
Sometimes it seems as if I spend more time serving as a human FAQ page than I do tutoring! Students and parents have so many questions and misconceptions about the SAT and ACT — and about the PSAT and PreACT, too. Questions run the gamut from structure and scoring to question types and timing — and that’s not even including questions about test-optional policies which you can read about here and here. (And also read our actual FAQ!)
If you don't fully understand or have incorrect information about the ACT and SAT, these tests will be so much more difficult than they need to be. Unfortunately, there are many myths and misconceptions about the ACT and SAT — and some of this misinformation is even perpetuated by less-informed tutors.
My top 3 biggest ACT/SAT mistakes
Not taking the time to do an apples-to-apples ACT vs. SAT comparison.
Ruling out the equally accepted, and often better-fit, ACT because of incorrect notions about it/unfamiliarity.
Testing before one is ready for academic, maturity, or scheduling reasons. Fall of junior year is not best for vast majority.
While it’s pretty easy to answer questions about how the ACT and SAT formats differ, many questions I get don’t have black or white answers. I know that sometimes my “it depends” answers to your questions about testing and the college process can seem frustratingly evasive. They’re not meant to be! I’m simply being honest. Doing well on standardized tests involves a variety of academic skills as well as things like your child’s psychological maturity, level of conscientiousness, and even sleep habits.
To clear up some of the biggest FAQs, let’s look at some of the most common myths and mistakes surrounding the SAT and ACT.
Myth: I need to take The ACT/SAT fall of junior year.
Some students are ready for their first SAT or ACT in the fall of their junior year, but there’s no rule that says you need to test this early. In fact, a fall test date for many juniors is not right at all. Kids who play fall sports, for example, may be too busy to focus, and sometimes adjusting to a new school year - especially one as academically important and challenging as junior year - takes time and mental energy.
Many students simply aren’t ready for early testing academically or otherwise, and they could really use another six months to sharpen skills and gain some emotional maturity. And please, don’t even consider taking the SAT or ACT until you’ve completed Algebra II — and feel solid in your math skills.
Myth: The SAT is better than the ACT.
I could easily have written that headline to say the opposite — the myths are out there in both forms. The truth is that colleges don’t care which test you take. That means the best test is the one that’s best for you. On the east coast, a slight SAT bias still exists, which makes sense, in part, because most high schools administer the PSAT, but don’t offer a PreACT. So students and parents naturally assume that the SAT is the favored next step.
The biggest mistake resulting from a preconceived notion of one test being better/easier/whatever is that students often neglect to take the important the step figuring out which test will serve them best. To figure out which one you should take, you need to take the time to understand the content and strategy differences between the ACT and SAT. I also recommend doing a diagnostic to see which test you perform better on and why.
Also, not all ACT vs. SAT diagnostics are created equal: when we do it, we do a deep dive that goes beyond only the section-level and gets into the weeds of each question to find your perfect balance of content knowledge vs. testing time management. This accurate information will allow you to choose the test that’s best for you.
Mistake: I should avoid testing during AP season.
Most people assume that testing in the spring — particularly in May — will be too onerous and must be avoided at all costs. This can be a mistake! For many students, it makes sense to sit for the SAT or ACT while they’re already in the testing groove. Psychologically, you’re just used to sitting still, managing test time, and getting up early for the exams.
Certain AP subjects — U.S. History, Language & Composition, and various sciences — also include similar content and skills as SAT and ACT sections, so you can actually streamline your preparation and feel rock-solid in those areas.
Myth: The test curve is better in the spring than in the fall
The test curve “myth” you’ll often hear is that a fall ACT/SAT is harder for juniors because older/wiser seniors are also testing at that time. This myth has been completely debunked. No testing month or season is better or easier than another. These tests are normed, which means the scoring curve is determined before you even enter the room.
Focus instead on taking the test at the time when you’ll be most relaxed and best able to spend the time required to prepare. Students may test as late as October of senior year for Early Action/Early Decision applications.
Mistake: I’ll brush up on the hard stuff the week before the test.
Studying the night before can work for certain types of tests, but not the SAT or ACT. You cannot cram. I know a tutor who promotes a “cram plan,” but this is a bandaid, not a strategy. Sure, you can fix a few things last minute, and it’s a good idea to rehearse your test-day game plan the night before, but if you struggle with the quadratic equation, or close reading in order to answer challenging inference questions, you need weeks, or sometimes even months, of steady preparation and practice to absorb that learning.
Mistake: I Can use Any prep Materials.
Some test prep books are better than others. (We use only a handful of books.) And using unofficial or outdated test prep materials is almost as bad as not practicing at all. These tests change from time-to-time, and the differences can be subtle but crucially important. With free, current, official practice tests for both the ACT and SAT readily available, I’m always surprised by how many testing centers continue to use outdated and/or unofficial tests. To get a feel for the style of question, you need to review the actual questions used on the SAT or ACT.
Mistake: I don’t need/deserve testing accommodations.
So many students assume that they are not eligible for accommodations on the SAT and ACT, so they don’t even bother to ask. This is a huge mistake that could shut you out of lots of extra points on the exam.
If you have an IEP or a 504 plan, you must see your guidance counselor for help applying for these accommodations several months in advance of your first testing date. This will allow time for your accommodations to be officially processed and approved by ACT or the College Board. Students with documented learning disabilities, physical limitations, or mental health conditions are often eligible for 50% extra time on the exam — a boost that studies have shown is particularly helpful on the math sections of the SAT.
Myth: It doesn’t matter how you do the practice test as long as it gets done.
Practicing badly won’t get you the scores you want. To get the most out of your ACT or SAT practice sessions, you need to
Recreate test-day conditions, including the timing and using real ACT/SAT materials.
Practice mindfully and consistently over time, not one-and-done.
Complete error analysis and evaluation after each practice to focus your studies
Correct errors by either filling in content gaps or working on test-taking skills.
If you don’t use the practice test results to help you improve, you’ll continue to make the same mistakes. If you keep practicing a skill incorrectly, you’re actually locking that mistake into place. Error analysis — and subsequent correction! — is critical.
Myth: I’ll get an amazing score if I work with a tutor.
Maybe. Tutoring can definitely help improve your scores, but please remember: we are guides, educators, and coaches — not magicians! Having unrealistic expectations will only make it harder to achieve your goals.
A tutor is only part of the equation when it comes to improving test scores. Like a baseball coach suggesting a change in batting stance or a piano teacher correcting hand position, tutors can provide useful guidance and some much-needed perspective on the process. But at the end of the day, the student has to do the work required to make those improvements happen.
If you have additional questions about the SAT and ACT, we can help! See our blog for more helpful information on test prep, or get in touch for a tutoring consultation today.