7 Ways to Improve SAT and ACT Scores
1. Don't pick a test based on where you live: Students on the West and East Coasts typically take the SAT. In the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states, the ACT is dominant, while teenagers in the South tend to split their allegiance between the two. The worst thing you can do is take a particular test because your friends are.
1. 不要根据你所在的地理位置选择考试：住在西海岸和东海岸的学生通常选择SAT，在中西部地区和落基山周边的州ACT占主导，南部地区的学生参加这两种考试的各半。最糟的选择莫过于别人考什么你就考什么。
2. Select the test that plays to your strengths: Teenagers who tend to earn high ACT scores have a strong memory, are fast readers, and can process information quickly. In contrast, students who ace the SAT tend to be strong readers, possess strong vocabularies, and enjoy test-taking strategies. To obtain a more in-depth understanding of what the ACT and SAT measure, I'd suggest reading The Princeton Review's ACT or SAT? Choosing the Right Exam for You.
2.选择能体现你优势的考试：在ACT考试中能取得高分的学生通常记忆力很好，阅读速度快，提取信息的速度快。相反地，擅长SAT考试的学生阅读能力很强，词汇量大，并且善用应试技巧。想要了解更多ACT与SAT的信息，我建议阅读普林斯顿评论的 《ACT or SAT? Choosing the Right Exam for You》。
3. Take a practice test: You will form a better idea of how well you might fare on either test if you take sample SAT and ACT tests. Sample SAT tests are available on the College Board website. You can find ACT questions on the ACT website; in addition, for $24.95 or less online, you can buy a book from the testing company, The Real ACT Prep Guide, that contains three ACT tests.
3. 参加模拟考试：参加SAT或ACT模考会让更清楚自己在哪种考试中发挥更好。SAT模考可以在College Board网站上找到。ACT的网站上也有ACT的样题；此外，你也可以从考试公司用不到24.95美元的钱买到 The Real ACT Prep Guide，其中包含了三套ACT试题。
4. Use online test prep services: There are lots of online resources that are free or modestly priced for prepping for the tests. Here are three that I like: Grockit, ***, and ePrep.
4. 使用在线备考服务：网络上有许多免费或低收费的备考服务资源。这三个是我推荐的：Grockit， ***，ePrep。
5. Apply to test-optional schools: If your ACT and/or SAT scores aren't good, don't despair. There are more than 830 colleges and universities that are test-optional. These schools don't use test scores to admit substantial numbers of students. You can find out more about test-optional schools by visiting FairTest: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing.
5. 申请测试可选的学校：如果你的ACT/SAT成绩不是很好，别灰心。有830所以上的大学是测试可选的。这些学校不会用考试分数筛选学生。你可以在这个网站上获取更多相关信息：FairTest: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing.
6. Be skeptical of published test scores: Published test scores at test-optional schools can be inflated. Here's why: When a school is test-optional, the applicants with mediocre scores are the ones who won't submit them. At some colleges, 50 percent of the applicants may not reveal their scores. When lots of applicants don't turn in test scores, the averages will artificially rise. Keep this in mind when comparing your scores with a school's published averages—yours may be better than you think.
6. 对公布的考试分数持怀疑态度：测试可选的学校公布的考试分数可能不够真实。原因在于：当学校测试可选时，分数平平的学生就不会给学校提供自己的分数。在某些学校，50%的学生都不会透露分数。这样一来，平均分就升高了。因此，和学校公布的均分比较时，要记住这一点——你的分数水平可能比想象的优秀。
7. Decide whether your SAT or ACT scores are better: If you end up taking the SAT and ACT, you probably won't know which scores are the best to submit to colleges. The highest ACT score you can earn is 36 versus 2400 for the SAT. To compare scores, use the SAT-ACT Concordance Tables on the College Board website.
Good luck!
7. 分辨SAT和ACT分数哪个更对你有利：如果你SAT和ACT考试都参加了，那么你可能不清楚到底给学校提供哪个成绩。ACT最高分是36，SAT为2400。你可以使用College Board网站上的SAT-ACT成绩换算表对比你的成绩。
祝你好运！