Choosing a Test

• As you begin your junior year of high school, it is time to start thinking about taking the SAT or ACT. Choosing which test to take depends on a number of factors, but most importantly, this decision depends on where you plan to apply to college. The standardized test requirements of the school dictates what test you take. If the school accepts both tests, you can always take both the SAT and ACT, see which test you score better on and submit the best score.
  
  

College Requirements

• Although the SAT was the original college admissions standardized test, most colleges and universities across the country accept either SAT or ACT scores as part of an admissions application. Find out if your school prefers one test over the other, however. If your school encourages its applicants to take the SAT, it is in your best interest to submit SAT scores, not ACT scores.
  
  

College Minimums

• Colleges and universities do not have minimum standardized test score requirements, just as they do not have minimum GPA requirements. However, schools often do publish the average SAT or ACT score of an admitted student or the middle 50 percent of scores for admitted students. These ranges can give you a sense of what scores you need to earn to remain competitive during the admissions process. A lower score does not mean you will not be admitted, however; it just means you will have to compensate for this lower score with a high GPA or impressive letters of recommendation.
  
  

Other Standardized Test Requirements

• The College Board, which administers the SAT, now offers SAT Subject Tests, which examines your knowledge in a specific subject area. Some schools, such as the University of Virginia, encourage students to submit two SAT Subject Test scores with their application. Find out if your school wants to see your proficiency in specific subjects. SAT Subject Tests are available in a range of subjects, from literature to physics to world history.