6 min read · Caveat Academic Services
Most students take the PSAT in 10th or 11th grade as practice, then take either the SAT or the ACT for the first time in the spring of 11th grade, with an option to retest in the summer or fall of 12th grade. Your teen usually does not need to take both the SAT and the ACT. A practice test of each can show which format suits them better, and then they can focus their preparation on one.
Testing policies at colleges have changed a lot in recent years. Some schools require scores, some are test optional, and some do not consider scores at all. Test formats, dates and registration rules also change, so confirm current details on the official College Board and ACT websites and on each college's admissions page before making plans.
The PSAT is a preliminary version of the SAT, offered by the College Board. It is usually taken at school in the fall, and many schools offer it in 10th grade, 11th grade or both. There are also related versions for younger students.
The PSAT does not go to colleges. Its main value is practice and feedback. Your teen gets a feel for timing and question types and receives a score report showing strengths and areas to work on. When taken in 11th grade, the PSAT/NMSQT is also the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, which recognizes high-scoring students. Check with your school about when it offers the PSAT and whether you need to sign up.
Both the SAT and the ACT are widely accepted by colleges that consider test scores, and colleges generally do not prefer one over the other. The differences are mostly in format, pacing and content focus.
The SAT is offered in a digital format and covers reading and writing and math. The ACT covers English, math and reading, and has offered science as well, with some sections becoming optional in recent updates. The two tests differ in timing, the number of questions and how math is handled. Because both organizations have made recent changes, look at the current structure on each official site rather than relying on older prep books or advice from a sibling who tested years ago.
The simplest approach is to have your teen take a full, timed practice test of each. Official practice tests are available free from both organizations. Compare how your teen felt during each test and how the results line up using the official concordance tables, which translate scores between the two.
Some students prefer one test because of pacing, question style or comfort with a digital or paper format. Once your teen picks a test, focusing on one usually works better than splitting prep time between both.
Every student's schedule is different, but this general timeline works for many families. Adjust it around your teen's course load, activities and college plans.
Many students take the SAT or ACT two or three times. Scores often improve between the first and second attempt as students become more familiar with the test, though there is no guarantee of improvement. Beyond three attempts, gains tend to be small, and that time is often better spent on coursework, activities and applications.
Some colleges allow superscoring, which means combining a student's best section scores from different test dates. Policies vary by college, so check the admissions pages of schools on your teen's list.
Work backward from your teen's earliest application deadline. Early action and early decision deadlines often fall in the fall of senior year, which means scores need to be ready before then. Score reports take some time to process after each test date, so leave a buffer.
Register early for test dates, since popular locations can fill up. If your teen needs testing accommodations for a documented disability, start that request well in advance, often months ahead, through the school counselor and the testing organization. Approval is not automatic and rules differ between the College Board and ACT.
Preparation does not need to be expensive. Official practice materials from the College Board and ACT are free and closely match the real tests. Short, consistent practice over a couple of months generally works better than cramming the week before.
Encourage your teen to take at least one full timed practice test under realistic conditions, review every missed question to understand why, and focus on the areas that come up most often. Strong coursework in reading, writing and math remains the best long-term preparation. Courses that build those core skills can help, and we can point you toward options that fit your teen's goals.
Test scores are one part of a college application, and at many schools they are optional or not considered at all. Grades, course rigor, essays, activities and recommendations often matter just as much. Help your teen give the test a fair effort without letting it take over junior year, and remember that a strong plan matters more than any single score.
Talk with us about building a testing and course plan that fits your teen's college goals.
Book a free callUsually not. Colleges that consider scores generally accept either. A practice test of each can help your teen choose one and focus preparation there.
No. PSAT scores are not sent to colleges. They are used for practice, feedback and, for 11th graders, National Merit Scholarship Program eligibility.
It depends on the college and how the score compares with that school's typical admitted students. Check each college's admissions page and talk with your teen's counselor.
Many students start light preparation two to three months before their first official test, often in the winter of 11th grade. Starting earlier with strong coursework helps too.
The Caveat Family Guide to College is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Each college decides admission, aid and how credit counts, and requirements change; check each college's own pages. Examples are examples, not promises. Caveat Academic Services is an independent college preparation company. Students do all of their own work.