Everyone knows that you have to take either the SAT or the ACT to get into college. They’re long tests, they’re known to be pretty hard, (I mean come on, all we’ve really ever had to take is TAKS which let’s be honest, isn’t hard (yes some of us have taken AP exams but not everyone)) and most people know that they’re parents are going to end up making them take a prep class to the test.

I took an SAT prep class in February of my junior year. While I wasn’t very resistant about taking the class, it wasn’t my favorite way to spend my Tuesday and Thursday nights. Especially when one of the classes was on my birthday. Yeah, my birthday.

I took the class with my two best friends which some might say is a bad idea but it actually probably made me work harder because we would always try to see who could get the most correct answers.

I took my prep class at Tutoring 101 in Allen and it was a helpful way to prepare for the test.

I had different tutors for math, reading and writing and all were really good tutors. Plus, we got breaks and animal crackers so that’s a plus.

So when my four week course concluded, I took the SAT. I was nervous, especially because I had to take it at Lake Highlands high school, the drive that early was just the cherry on my negativity sundae.

Once I got to there I had to sit in the hallway, on the floor and wait for the the test to start.

The test started and it was not that bad.

The way the SAT is structured is that there are 10 sections not including the writing portion.

The sections are composed of three math, three reading and two writing sections and a “variable” section of unscored questions (all multiple choice) and range in time from 10 minutes to 25 minutes.

The biggest problem I had with the test was how long it took to get my results (3 weeks); all I wanted was to know how I did.

Finally, the day came to see my score. I was very proud of my score, an 1860.

Even though I was happy with the score, I took the SAT one more time and ended up getting a 1960, even better.

With two SAT’s under my belt, I was pretty happy with how my testing had gone however my mom still wanted me to take the ACT, so on the first Saturday of summer (yeah bad timing) I took the ACT.

I hated the ACT. The sections are longer and there’s science on it… science? No thank you.

The ACT is structured completely differently from the SAT.

There is an English section that is 45 minutes long, a math section that is an hour long, two 35 minute sections, one reading one science, and a 30 minute optional writing test.

For me, this was just too long and too much.

I personally work better in short periods of time, I get burned out looking at English questions for 45 minutes straight and I definitely get burned out doing math for a solid hour.

I ended up getting a 28 on the ACT, which I was happy with, but hated the test. However, I have friends who loved the ACT and hated the SAT. It’s a matter of personal preference and knowing how you work.

I would suggest taking both, seeing which you like better, and then if you need to redo a test, take the one that was more comfortable for you.

Also, prep classes work. They aren’t fun but they work.