Taking the SAT or ACT

Nervous about those dreaded college tests?!

Biting your nails because you have been studying so much you think your heads going to pop off?!! Don’t be afraid!! Those infamous SAT and ACT tests are not as scary as they seem. They are also not the only thing that colleges review to accept a student. So don’t stress!

The ACT and SAT are very different tests: Each having their own style and layout. How do you know which test you’ll do better on?! Both of the tests are standardized college admissions tests and the majority of colleges will accept either test grade. Some schools are now making the test optional so make sure to pay attention to each school’s requirements!

Here is a link about both tests from College Prep:
http://college-preparation.suite101.com/article.cfm/college_admissions_sat_vs_act

Some similarities in the tests are that they are both designed to test a student’s readiness for college.

What is the difference between the SAT and ACT?

SAT:
- A test that examines your reasoning skills
- Has three parts: Critical verbal, math, & writing (each scored out of 800)
- Evaluates thinking and problem-solving skills
- Writing section is mandatory
- Focuses on the use of vocabulary
- Average test length: 3 hours 45 minutes

ACT:
- A Curriculum- based test
- Has four parts: reading, math, science, and English (each scored out of 36)
- Examines topics that have are taught in school (ex. Science)
- Writing section is optional*
- Focuses on grammar and punctuation
- Average test length: 2 hours 55 minutes

How does Siena fit into these scores?
Siena's average SAT score for accepted students is 1160. The average ACT score is 24.

What are Siena College’s school codes?
The SAT Siena code is 2814
The ACT Siena code is 2878

So, when it comes to studying, take advantage of the help! It never hurts to take a prep class!

Here are a few link s which show the different prep options that will help you study.
SAT: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/test_tips.html
ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html

Don’t stress, get plenty of sleep before the tests, and go in as prepared as possible and you will do great!