3 Biggest Misconceptions About the SAT & ACT

With several testing dates around the corner, let's clear up three of the most harmful misconceptions about the SAT and the ACT.

Misconception #1: Guessing is bad!

Many students ask me whether it's ever okay to guess on the SAT.

It's true that the SAT deducts one-quarter of a point for every multiple-choice question that you answer incorrectly. This worries a lot of students, who would prefer to omit questions rather than guess incorrectly. It feels scary to think that you might be penalized for your wrong answers.

But it's not as scary as you think! As long as you can eliminate one answer choice, you have a 25% chance of guessing correctly. At that point, even completely random guessing will earn you more points than you lose.

Assuming you guess right on just one of four questions, you will earn 1 point, while losing only 0.75 points. You've gained points this way! Omitting those questions, though it may feel safer, will actually do more harm.

Misconception #2: The ACT is for math/science students!

I hear this one all the time. Although the ACT does include a "science" section, you do not need to study scientific concepts or vocabulary in order to do well on this part of the test.

The questions are based on your ability to read science-focused passages, tables, and graphs. For this reason, I actually consider the ACT's science section to be another type of reading section. Timing on the science section can be tough, so as always, practice makes perfect.

Content-wise, the two tests are very similar. The biggest differences between the SAT and the ACT have to do with how the tests are structured. Some students prefer the SAT's testing format, and others prefer the style of the ACT. That's why we strongly recommend that every student take both tests at least once. Maximize your chances of earning the best score possible.

Misconception #3: Colleges don't like seeing that you took the test more than once!

This one is simply not true. These days, more than half of all high school students take the SAT and ACT at least twice. In fact, I've known students who sat for the tests five or six times and still got into the most competitive schools in the country.

Many colleges will superscore, taking into account your highest scores from each section, regardless of testing date. You also have the option to submit only your scores from your best testing date. You won't be able to mix and match sections from different testing dates, but this method of score reporting is an option if you're really worried about a particularly poor set of scores.

Of course, it's not a great idea to retake the tests over and over without studying in between. Without preparation, most students do not see significant gains from one testing date to the next.
The SAT and ACT are the kinds of tests that you can and should study for in order to perform your best.

Remember to use our free online lessons and practice questions, which you can access from the "My Plan" section of your student profile page.

Erin, Director of Student Services