This coming weekend, Kaplan Test Prep will host National Practice Test Weekend (Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21), which will feature free, online events to help high school students get a jump start on preparing for the SAT and ACT college entrance exams.

Participants will be able to take a practice test, with realistic practice SAT and ACT questions, and then receive a personalized performance analysis, showing them in what areas they did well and where they need more practice. Additionally, live presentations by Kaplan experts will provide students and their parents with an overview of the exams, how they’re used in the admissions process, and why students should consider taking both the SAT and ACT exams.

“Kaplan’s experience teaching hundreds of thousands of students and analysing test results confirms that practice--and more practice--makes all the difference in achieving SAT and ACT scores that students need to gain admission to the college or university of their choice,” said Victoria Adams, director of college prep programs, Kaplan Test Prep.

Achieving the best score possible on an entrance exam is critical as the nation’s top schools are accepting record low or near record low percentages of applicants (i.e. Harvard at 5.2 percent, Columbia at 5.8 percent, Yale at 6.9 percent, Brown at 8.3 percent, and UPenn at 9.2 percent). The difference often is a student’s scores on the SAT or ACT, which remain one of the most important admissions factors.

“At Kaplan we believe that if you’re planning to take only one of the two tests, the best strategy is to take practice tests for the SAT and ACT, see which one you score better on, and then put all your energy into that test. Every college and university across the country accepts scores from both exams, so performing well on either test will be equally advantageous,” added Adams. “In a competitive college admissions process that has only grown fiercer the past few years, every additional point on the exams can make a differences and National Practice Test Weekend is a great opportunity to get started on the road to success on Test Day.”

Differences between the exams include:

  • Length: The SAT is 3 hours and 50 minutes (with optional Writing Test); the ACT is 3 hours and 25 minutes (including the optional Writing Test). Kaplan encourages all students to take the Writing Test for both exams, as many of the top colleges require it.
  • Sections: The SAT includes Reading, Writing and Language, and Math sections; the ACT includes English, Reading, Math and Science sections.
  • Scoring: The SAT is scored on a 400-1600 scale; the ACT is scored on a 1-36 scale. Neither exam has a wrong answer penalty.

For more information about the top reasons to take a practice test for the SAT and ACT, read this article on Kaplan’s blog, College: Admission Possible.

For journalists wanting to arrange an interview with one of Kaplan Test Prep’s college admissions experts, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. To register for the event, go to https://www.kaptest.com/practicetestweekend.

SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. None of the aforementioned trademark holders were involved in the production of and do not endorse these events.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE:GHC)