That is the Question!
by Karyn Brodsky | Staff Writer
School is back in session, and the remnants of summer are not the only things heating up. For high school seniors, the hot topics are college applications and standardized tests. Is it better to take the ACT or the SAT test? For many, it’s a burning issue.
Varun Tewari, owner of Victory Step Test Prep, an educational company with locations in Dallas and Plano, says it depends on the student and their style of learning. Tewari and his staff have developed an exam that determines which standardized test provides an individual student the optimal performance. Victory Step first started administering the exam, which takes one hour to complete, in August of 2014. Results are typically available in one day.
The difference between the two standardized tests, Tewari explains, is that “The ACT is curriculum-based, less tricky and there is no penalty for guessing.” He adds, “The SAT is more analytical and you lose 1/4 point for each incorrect answer.” The Victory Step exam, which flags whether a student is a logical thinker or analytical thinker, is designed for the ACT and the current SAT (at this time, it does not apply to the newly designed SAT which rolls out in spring, 2016).
Tewari says the Victory Step exam is ideal for students who don’t have much time. “The best way is to take both exams and see which one you do better on. College Board has a conversion chart between ACT to SAT to see which score is better.”
Most colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT. You can generally find this information by looking at the college’s website or by contacting the admissions office.
Tewari asserts that the exam truly tests students’ knowledge, reasoning and ability to allow them to achieve their full potential. “We tell the student that this is a serious endeavor. This preparation will help them take tests in college and develop sharp time management skills. Our goal is to make students better test takers.”
Nationwide, notes Tewari, there is not much of a discrepancy between the two tests; about 80% of the students perform the same. So, with the Victory Step exam, about 20% of the students can do drastically better on one test or the other. The students are happy they can prepare for one standardized test, are able to focus on it and can score higher.
Victory Step provides exam preparation for the ACT and SAT, academic tutoring for grades 6 through 12, and prepares college students for the GRE and GMAT exams. For more information, call (877) 638-0707 or visit victorysteponline.com.
