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Northeastmom
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 12:47 pm |
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ACT Questions
I have no clue about this test. In our area just about everyone took SATs and that was it. Interest in the test is growing in our area, but very new for us. I am thinking about having my son take the ACT with writing instead, but I am unsure. Lets say that my son took the ACT with writing next year. He will be a high school junior. Is there any downside to taking this test in the fall for the first time if one preps over the summer? Is there a downside to taking this test several times, even all the dates offered if one has the patience (yikes) and money? As I understand it, one submits the all of the scores from the same seating (student chooses which seating to send).
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Descartes
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 03:14 pm |
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As far as I know, there is no reason not to take this test as many times as you wish. As you noted, a student can pick what sitting's scores to send, although in truth colleges will simply work from the highest score reported. Unlike the SAT, however, most schools will not superscore the ACT -- they will not take the highest score earned on each section from multiple sittings.
The ACT has a September date in some states and a late October date in all states (vis-a-vis early October for the SAT). If you are considering applying by November ED deadlines you'll want to confirm that an October ACT sitting will be accepted by the school of interest.
All schools now accept either test (although not every counselor seems to know this). Indeed, because of its subject/content orientation, some schools accept the ACT in place of SAT II subject tests, too. (See Yale, for example). So it can save you testing hassles.
You can find out something about the differences between the ACT and SAT in multiple places, but here are a few:
-- As I mentioned, questions are more straight forward and content oriented, less puzzle like. Many test takers feel that some SAT questions and answer choices are formulated to be deliberately misleading. This is typically not the case with ACT questions.
-- Having said this, there is little special scientific knowlege required for the Science section. Instead this section tests how a student is able to read and interpret data from graphs and charts.
-- Time pressure is a bigger factor in the ACT. Hence developed and practiced testing strategies can be advantageous. For example the Reading section has material from different subject areas. The "factual" science readings tend to be answered more quickly than the more "interpretive" readings, so doing those first, regardless of the order in which they appear on in the test booklet, can leave more time to be used on the longer sections.
-- The test, including writing, is about a half-hour shorter than the SAT.
-- Unlike the SAT, there is no "guessing penalty" which subtracts points for wrong answers, so it is perfectly reasonable to "bubble in" all unanswered questions during the last thirty seconds of the test.
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GoBlueAlumMom
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 03:51 pm |
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In the Midwest, the ACT w/writing is definitely the first test of choice. Both of my kids did significantly better on the PLAN v. PSAT so they focused on the ACT only.
In terms of when to begin testing, one consideration is the level of HS math the student has completed. There are some trig. questions so completion or having at least a few months of pre-calc is helpful. Because of that, many kids in our area begin testing on either the December or February test dates of junior year. Michigan also administers a statewide ACT to all juniors in March. If need be, there's also an April testing date. If planned properly, kids can be done with the ACT, even after multiple sittings, before the AP and SAT Subject tests.
Unlike SAT, ACT has score choice so a student can forfeit the free score reports and later choose which test to submit. As well, if they don't want scores reported to their HS (therefore nothing on the transcript), a student can opt out of that as well. There is a current thread on CC where superscoring of the ACT is being debated. I'll have to dig into that once my D finalizes her college list, but it appears some schools may be doing that.
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 04:06 pm |
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When you register for the ACT, just leave your HS code blank (I think the check box is 'I Don't know my HS/Homeschool"). That way you and you alone will receive the scores. If they're great, send 'em out, but if not take a look and see if there was one section that was particularly troubling (usually science for first time takers since they expect it to be like a CB Subject Test, and it is not even close). If one section was low relative to the others, then work on that one and retake.
Definitely take with Writing, bcos one never knows what the final list will be. On another board, a student had a 36 (if I recall), but w/o writing. So, a retake is necessary for many colleges.
Very few colleges superscore, btw.
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Northeastmom
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 04:43 pm |
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This is very helpful. I was going to have my son try it in October, but he is only going into trig/precalc. this September, so perhaps it is best to wait until December afterall. What do you think? I will sign him up for writing for each seating that he takes.
I have a paper registration packet that I was looking at that was used for this year (BTW, I realize that one can register online). It does not have a box for "I don't know my high school". It looks like it is mandatory to put in your hs's code. I might call them and find out if it is. If a hs does not put scores on transcripts, what is the downside to the school seeing them? Thanks.
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 05:16 pm |
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It is definitely not mandatory to leave the HS code blank - after all, many home schoolers also take standardized tests. If HS does not put scores on the transcript, then probably no harm in sending them. But, I prefer privacy first, and the ability to use score choice to its fullest. 
Can't comment on test timing, since each math curriculum is different. For example, our precalc class does not get to trig until late Oct-early Nov (classes start after Labor Day).
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Lupine
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 06:13 pm |
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Our h.s. puts all test scores (PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP, IB) on the back of the transcript, so I second the notion that you not include your high school code unless you know for certain that your high school doesn't do this.
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scoop
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 08:04 pm |
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| This was such a helpful thread. I just registered my junior D for the May SAT and will be doing the same for the April ACT. I was faced with the free score report section on the SAT site and realized I have never considered or discussed whether her first test sitting scores should be sent out. I decided not to send any scores at this time but realized this was something we shoud have thought about beforehand. I also have no idea about whether our transcripts have scores on them. Lots to think about.
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Lupine
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 08:27 pm |
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One other note: we realized not too long ago that D would need to take the ACT this fall because she's on a foreign exchange program this semester and she'll still need to take two SAT II tests next fall. Since you can't take SAT II tests the same day you take SAT I, and since the every SAT II isn't offered on every possible test date, I realized that she was otherwise going to be in a jam. (You can take the SAT or SATII tests abroad, but there aren't many testing sites and D is about three hours removed from the nearest one, so it isn't a realistic option for her.)
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 08:36 pm |
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scoop:
I think CB gives you a week after a test to go online and enter/change the list of colleges for the four "free" score reports.
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Northeastmom
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 10:28 pm |
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| Thank you all. This is all such good information. Since I am not aware of anyone who has ever taken the ACT (all new in our area), you have all given me new information.
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Engineeringmama
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Posted: Fri Jan 25th, 2008 11:24 pm |
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| My D took the ACT for the first time in Dec of her junior year. She is a very good math student and didn't have any trouble prepping for the trig problems (she was in pre-calc at the time). She had more problems with geometry. Strangely both of my kids had more problems with geometry than any other part of the math who knows. It was good to prep, I think it helped, esp with science and being familiar with the test.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Sat Jan 26th, 2008 04:23 pm |
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What's the rush? The ACT, like the SAT, is a test designed for seniors. I have my students take it for the first time in April. They can then retake it again in September (not in all states, however, check on the ACT site) and October of senior year. Taking it too early may cause you to dismiss the ACT too soon, especially if he's only just starting trig. Not only that, but if he's going to prep over the summer, I think I would focus on prepping for the PSAT if there's any chance at all he might make NM.
I would recommend looking through all of the information on the ACT site, http://www.actstudent.org They have some practice tests that can give you and your son a good idea of whether this is a test he'd be able to do well on, and then you can decide when would be the best time to take it.
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WestrnMom
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Posted: Sat Jan 26th, 2008 06:45 pm |
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Carolyn, I never realized the SAT or the ACT are designed for seniors. That explains a lot. However, it's not easy to take it senior year if one wants to apply EA. My own children ended up not being able to fit in additional test sittings at all during fall of their senior years.
Last edited on Sat Jan 26th, 2008 06:45 pm by WestrnMom
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Shennie
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Posted: Sat Jan 26th, 2008 07:37 pm |
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| Here in the midwest where most kids take the ACT, the biggest time to take the test is in spring of junior year. Some students go for early spring and then retake in June if not happy with scores, others retest in fall. Most students only take the test twice. ED is not a huge factor for midwestern schools.
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Sat Jan 26th, 2008 08:13 pm |
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WestrnMom wrote: Carolyn, I never realized the SAT or the ACT are designed for seniors. That explains a lot. However, it's not easy to take it senior year if one wants to apply EA. My own children ended up not being able to fit in additional test sittings at all during fall of their senior years.
I wasn't suggesting waiting until fall of senior year to take standardized tests for the first time, but I do think Spring of junior year is plenty of time. As Shennie notes, in the mid-west, where the ACT is "the" college entrance exam, that's when most students take the ACT for the first time, not in the fall of junior year.
Of course, each student is unique. A very strong student like Engineeringmama's who is well-prepared and has solid grades and is taking pre-calc or calculus in junior year could give both the SAT and ACT a shot earlier in junior year and be just fine, especially if they've aced the PSAT and feel ready to take the SAT/ACT.
But, if your child is kind of a "middle of the road" student, and especially if they're only just taking Algebra II/Trig in junior year or are sort of a late bloomer academically, March in junior year is better (in my opinion). Those are the sorts of kids who really need the extra half year (or more) of intellectual development.
What tends to happen if you push those more middle of the road or even late bloomers into taking the SAT and/or ACT in the fall or winter of junior year is that they and their parents are disappointed with their first scores. That leads to even more pressure to do well in subsequent sittings. And, more pressure tends to make these sorts of kids freeze up on standardized testing, or, even worse, just give up.
Instead, with the exception of those kids who really ace the PSAT, I like to see more middle of the road kids take the SAT for the first time in March, the ACT for the first time in April. If they need the subject exams for colleges they're considering (very few actually require them), they can choose to take them in May or June. Or, they can give the SAT another try. If they're thinking about applying EA/ED, that still leaves the September (ACT) and October test dates (SAT/ACT). If they're not going to go EA/ED, they have November and December test dates as well.
The point I'm trying to make is that this isn't an arms race. It is OK to wait a little longer to get started with standardized testing. If you get started in March, there's still PLENTY of time.
As noted, however, there are times when earlier dates make some sense: when the student is a really solid student and does well on standardized tests in general, for example. But, even then, those sorts of kids are likely to be fine if they wait until March (for the SAT) and April (for the ACT) to take college entrance exams for the first time.
And, this is just my opinion, of course. Each kid is unique, and there really are many ways to go, depending on how ready you feel your child is for the challenge. But, there really is no rush to get everything tied up before Christmas of junior year. 
Last edited on Sat Jan 26th, 2008 08:31 pm by CarolynLawrence
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CarolynLawrence
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Posted: Sat Jan 26th, 2008 08:39 pm |
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By the way, on a personal note, my daughter took the SAT for the first time in March of junior year. She took it again in May, and declared herself "done" after her test scores went up 20 points total. (She absolutely refused to take the subject exams, and, actually that was OK because none of the schools she ended up applying to wanted them) She applied in early October to all of her colleges (EA and rolling).
My son took the SAT for the first time in March of his junior year. He took the SAT subject exams in May. We knew that he would need them for the level of schools he was interested in (although they actually were optional at his ED school which gave the option of submitting AP scores instead). As he put it his scores were "good enough" on the first go-round for most of the colleges he was considering. He applied ED in early October (still could have retaken the SAT or tried the ACT through November for his ED school).
Neither kid wanted to give the ACT a try, although we did talk about it, and they played around with the sample tests on the ACT site.
While the counselor in me wanted them both to give the SAT another try in the fall of senior year, and perhaps try the ACT, both of them felt their scores were as good as they were going to get and, frankly, they were sick of standardized tests. So, the mom in me just kind of went with the flow. I figured as long as they had solid safe bets in their mix that they LOVED, another go round of tests wasn't going to be a disaster.
Of course, that's just how my kids played it. As I said, it really depends on the individual kid. But, in both of my children's cases, good enough was good enough.
Last edited on Sat Jan 26th, 2008 08:40 pm by CarolynLawrence
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scoop
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Posted: Sat Jan 26th, 2008 10:30 pm |
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| Now just when I thought I had it all figured out, scheduling issues occur D will take the SAT May 3 after finishing her review course. She planned to take the ACT in May but I just found out it is the first Saturday of spring break and we had planned to be away. Due to snow days pushing our last day of school (and thus final exams) back, the June ACT date is the Saturday just before final exams. She'll just have to deal with it. This has all crept up on us suddenly. I hope the next year doesn't go this fast!
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outwest
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Posted: Sun Jan 27th, 2008 05:34 am |
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Scoop said: I hope the next year doesn't go this fast!
Believe me, it will be the longest year ever! Between senioritis and waiting for acceptances, it is driving us nuts.
On the testing note, none of my three D's took the ACT. We talked about it, but since the SAT is the test of choice in our area they decided to do that one. Bu the time we got around to seriously thinking about the ACT they all were burned out on tests.
Oh, and our HS puts all the test scores on the back of the transcript, too. They say they do that so the kids don't have to pay to have their scores sent. That along with the transcripts being free is a nice perk of going to a public school.
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Chedva
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Posted: Sun Jan 27th, 2008 12:16 pm |
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I'm also in the Northeast. Around here the ACT is becoming more and more popular, although most kids who take the ACT also take the SATs.
My personal note: due to a schedule which precluded a review course, and a kid who wasn't really self-motivated enough to study on her own, we hired a tutor for the SATs. D wanted to be done with standardized testing by the end of junior year; she didn't want to have to deal with them if possible as a senior. So she took the SATs for the first time in January of senior year, so she'd have time to retake if necessary and do SAT IIs. Turned out that she did well enough that she didn't need to take them again. She and her tutor then focused on the ACT, which she took in March, and again did well enough that she didn't want to take them again. In June, she took SAT IIs. She didn't do that well, so decided to add another in October of senior year.
Even among the top kids in her class, I don't know anyone who took the SATs in the fall of junior year. They had enough on their plates with the PSATs.
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