36, 2,400 and 240. These numbers may seem meaningless, but inside the walls of any high school, they on the minds of many students. These number describe the top scores on the ACT, SAT and PSAT, respectably. Understanding when to take each test, what they entail and why they are important to your future can be complicated and confusing. However, these tests are crucial to college admittance. What you score on these tests is one of the deciding factors that separates you from everyone else applying to your number one choice school and scholarship competitions. Hard work, preparation and prior knowledge are all that’s needed to master these tests.

the differences between the tests
The ACT is the shorter of the two tests, it is three hours and twenty-five minutes (with the optional writing portion), while the SAT is three hours and forty-five minutes,.The tests are also structured differently. the ACT has four required sections (Reading, English, Math and Science) as well as an optional writing section. The SAT has ten smaller sections, with no science section and an essay. Another big differences between the tests is that the SAT and the PSAT take off for wrong answers, while the ACT does not, according to Kaplan test prep (www.kaplan.com). However, both tests allow you to send in whichever score you prefer, if you take the test multiple times.

“The PSAT was very beneficial even besides the scholarship opportunities,  just having that experience of sitting through the first standardized exam and working under pressure and under the clock,” said senior Eric Palmquist, one of the students that was selected as a National Merit Scholar because of his PSAT score.
Words of Advice
While becoming overwhelmed by testing and college preparations isn’t necessary, like any other school activity or extra-curricular, you should make sure you are adequately prepared. By studying and having confidence you have won half the battle.
“You would never even dream of standing on stage or walking into a varsity game without being prepared. You are essentially on stage for every college admissions officer looking at that [score],” said Ziegler.