Note: Submitting standardized test scores will remain optional for students applying for undergraduate admission to UVA in Fall 2024 and Fall 2025. Head to the UVA Admission website for more information.
Everyone’s favorite way to spend a Saturday morning: taking a four-hour exam! Well, maybe not. Regardless, it is highly likely that at least once in high school you will do exactly that when you take an SAT or ACT exam. Tests of such magnitude can be intimidating, but test taking is both an art and a science, and the most important thing you can do is perform your best and set yourself up for success.
The SAT and ACT have similar formats in the fact that both are composed of several multiple-choice sections that focus on different subjects. The SAT has three sections: Math and Evidence-Based Reading, and Evidence-Based Writing. The ACT has four sections: Math, English, Reading, and Science. Both the SAT and ACT have optional essay sections, but UVA does not require the essay section. The CollegeBoard just announced they would no longer offer the essay section as of June 2021. UVA also does not have a preference between the SAT and ACT. You could even take both if you wanted!
SATs and ACTs are great because they are standardized; everyone takes the same exam no matter where you are or what your school is like. At the same time, SATs and ACTs are just snapshots of how you are on a random Saturday. Unlike your transcript or a letter of recommendation, SAT and ACT exams don’t provide a broad overview of your academic abilities.
UVA superscores your exams, which means matter how many times you take the SAT or ACT, the deans will only see and use your best scores. As Dean J says on her blog, “If you send scores from multiple administrations of the same exam, our computer system is programed to pull the best section scores for us to use. When I open an applicant’s file, I don’t see all of their scores. I just see the best score they’ve gotten for each section of the exams they submit.” Remember that taking both tests does not mean you have to submit both scores — you can just send the good ones. When you apply to colleges, you can have your scores sent to the university by the testing institution or send them yourself (self-reporting).
But when and how should you prepare for an exam? That is entirely up to you! Some students like to take the exam cold and then see what areas they should focus on. Others study on their own or with a tutor to prepare. You could take one exam once or several times. You could start studying months in advance or a couple weeks before.
With regard to the SAT, some students choose to take it twice to improve their chances at a good score, while others take the SAT as early as their sophomore year. Don’t be too hard on yourself! Remember that the test and its environment are really weird compared to all other tests you take — it’s a 4-hour exam on a Saturday that covers a wide range of information! And so, while it’s important to do your best, your application consists of lots of different elements. It’s also a good idea to talk to your parents and work out a plan that makes sense for you; after all, YOU are the one who has to take the test. Pencils down!