There are only 2 rare exceptions to this rule…

1. A highly specialized college program states a preferred test, or
2. Of the 1.6 million students who take the PSAT in October of their junior year, 16,000 (a mere 1%) may choose to verify their scores with an SAT in order to progress from semi-finalist to finalist status.

While the ACT & SAT test similar academic concepts, they do so in very different ways. You want to pick the test that is the best fit for you.

Selecting the right test is a critical step because it...

• Allows you to select the test that is your best fit. The ACT and SAT are not the same exam. Choosing the test that most aligns with your strength gives you more opportunities to improve your score.
• Is one of the few choices you get to make on the road to college. In studies, choice significantly increases motivation levels, so it’s a great opportunity to add gas to the motivation tank.
  
  And you want that decision to be made based on facts, not what you heard through the grapevine.
  
  Here are a few questions that can help you decide which test is right for you…
  
  How do you feel about tricky wording?
  
  The SAT has dense and sometimes even tricky wording, even in the math section. The ACT, by comparison, is more straightforward and easier to understand.
  
  How do you feel about working under time pressure?
  
  On the ACT, students generally have less than a minute per question; however, the wording is more straightforward than the SAT. Will you eat up the extra time on the SAT trying to decipher the questions?
  
  Keep in mind, there are strategies that can help you manage your time well, so timing on the ACT may not be the negative it currently seems to be.
  
  How strong are you with math?
  
  ACT math is a mile wide and an inch deep. You’ll need to be able to draw on a number of concepts but the work you do with each isn’t very deep.
  
  SAT math is heavily weighted towards algebra and word problems. Also, you cannot use your calculator on one of the SAT math sections.
  
  Another consideration: a full half of your SAT score comes from math whereas it only accounts for a quarter of your ACT score.
  
  How strong are your reading chops?
  
  The ACT reading section moves quickly but the passages and their corresponding questions tend to be fairly straightforward.
  
  By comparison, the SAT tends to include older narrative fiction passages and historical documents that can be tricky to decipher if you’re not an honors or AP-level reader.
  
  Do you prefer to have each skill tested in isolation or are you ok shifting gears mid-section?
  
  No matter which test you take, you’ll need to interpret charts and graphs.
  
  On the ACT, they appear on the Science section. On the SAT, these are woven into the Reading and Writing sections.
  
  Which is more appealing to you: focusing on one skill at a time or switching your approach mid-section?
  
  Don’t let myths deter you!
  
  The SAT no longer requires students to memorize outside vocabulary words. Instead, you are tested on vocabulary in context. No additional vocab studying is required.
  
  Likewise, the ACT Science section does not require you to have memorized scientific facts at the ready. It is an open book logic test based in a basic understanding of the scientific method which all students who take a high school science class should have.
  
  If the ACT is the right fit for you, you're in the right place! But if you've realized the SAT is a better test for you, consider taking one of my online SAT prep courses.

On average, my ACT prep students realize 3-5 points of improvement.

You'll need a computer with an internet connection to access the video tutorials for the program. At registration, you'll create a login and password that will give you access to your ACT prep course.

All prep materials for the ACT Quick Prep course are delivered to your inbox immediately after you purchase the program. If you choose to follow the study guide, it organizes the video tutorials from the course alongside free official practice tests from ACT, Inc. so you can put your new strategies into practice.

The Complete Package course includes three physical ACT prep books that will be sent to your home via USPS Priority Mail. If you live in the United States, the books will take approximately 3-5 business days to reach you. Please allow 2-3 weeks for international shipping.

The ACT Quick Prep course can take as little as 4 hours to complete if you choose only to watch the video tutorials; however, it comes with an optional 10 day study guide that would ideally be completed in 2-5 weeks.

Students taking the ACT Complete Package course ideally should complete the full 24 day study guide prior to their first exam.  I recommend that students spread these 24 days across 8 to 12 weeks so they have time to rest and recover between study days. This approach takes advantage of a study method called spacing that improves students’ retention.

Students with less time but who would prefer to take the ACT Complete Package may opt to complete days 1-13 of the study guide prior to a first exam date and days 14-24 before a second exam date. If you choose to take this path, you could complete each set of study days in 4-6 weeks.

Each of the 10 study days for the Quick Prep program take approximately 2 hours to complete, with the exception of day 8 which is devoted to taking a 4.5 hour practice ACT.

Each of the 24 study days for the Complete Package program take approximately 3 hours to complete, with the exception of days 12 and 21 which are devoted completing a 4.5 hour practice ACT.

This time commitment may seem overwhelming; however, my ACT study guides are all-inclusive. There are no hidden commitments, like commute time, homework, or unaccounted for practice tests as there are with many other test prep options.

With my ACT prep courses, all instruction time, practice questions, and practice tests are accounted for in the study guides. 

One of the advantages of my online ACT prep courses are their flexibility. 

Since these programs are entirely on-demand, you can choose to break your study days in half if you need to in order to fit the program into your schedule.

However, I’ve designed the study days as long sittings so you can practice focusing for an extended period of time before stepping into the testing room. Mental endurance is of critical importance to a successful test day, so you should try to avoid breaking study days in half whenever possible.

One of the advantages to taking one of the programs I’ve created here at Higher Scores Test Prep is that every question will be answered by me - a test prep expert with over a decade of experience teaching and taking the ACT. 

I support all students with questions about my strategies whether they leave a comment within the course or email me directly. 

Additionally, Complete Package students can submit questions from the assigned practice questions or practice tests can be submitted via the Q&A portal and receive a personalized email or video reply with an explanation. It's like having an ACT tutor at your fingertips at no extra cost to you.

If they haven’t done so yet, online test prep affords parents an amazing opportunity to begin passing off the baton of academic ownership before students step into the world of college - a world rife with so many distractions!

This is the student’s journey. But every student needs a different level of accountability.

To that end, parents and students receive the same welcome emails that include guidance regarding setting boundaries for accountability and scheduled parental check-ins.

The study guide gives parents the ability to spot check to ensure that the course is being completed in a timely fashion.

Parents and students also receive countdown emails leading up to test day with additional timely support to help students stay on track during the entire program.

I take my commitment to my students very seriously, but test prep is a highly personal experience.

If you are dissatisfied with your ACT prep course for any reason, simply send me an email within 14 days of your Quick Prep purchase date or 30 days of your Complete Package purchase date. I will process your refund immediately.

U.S. clients will receive a full refund. Complete Package clients outside the U.S. will receive a refund less a $100 shipping and handling fee.

I love helping families on this journey, and I would be more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have. You're welcome to send me an email using the contact form below. I look forward to connecting with you soon!