ACT, SAT, or the “Pre” Tests? What Parents Need to Know

By Dr. Johnel Bryant Robinson | St. Charles Tutoring Lab

A parent recently asked whether their child should prepare for the PSAT 8/9 or the PreACT—and where to find free practice tests to determine which would be the better fit.

My first thought? Don’t get so caught up in choosing a test that you delay helping your child prepare.

The preliminary assessments can be useful, but parents should also know that students can practice for—and take—the actual ACT or SAT before their junior year. And their first official attempt does not have to be their final one.

What Do the “Pre” Tests Offer?

The PSAT 8/9 and PreACT assessments help students become familiar with standardized testing and identify academic strengths and areas for growth. For younger students, the results can provide a useful starting point.

College Board offers free PSAT-related practice through Bluebook, and ACT provides free PreACT Secure practice materials. If your child’s school offers a preliminary assessment, ask how the results will guide instruction and support your child’s learning. (satsuite.collegeboard.org⁠, act.org⁠)

One distinction matters: the PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying assessment for the National Merit Scholarship Program when students meet its eligibility requirements. The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 do not qualify students for that competition. These assessments serve different purposes, so families should know which one their child is taking. (bigfuture.collegeboard.org⁠)

You Can Begin With Actual SAT or ACT Practice

Families do not have to wait for a preliminary assessment to explore the SAT or ACT. Both organizations offer free official practice:

• College Board’s Bluebook practice⁠: Full-length digital practice tests for the SAT and PSAT assessments.
• ACT’s free practice resources⁠: Official questions and full-length ACT practice options. (bluebook.collegeboard.org⁠, act.org⁠)

If you are exploring which test fits your child, try official SAT and ACT practice on separate days. Follow each test’s instructions and timing, then discuss the experience.

Did your child understand the questions but run out of time? Which content felt familiar? Were there skills they had not learned yet? How comfortable were they with the testing tools?

ACT and SAT scores use different scales, so comparing the raw numbers alone will not tell you which is the better fit.

For younger students, unfamiliar content may simply mean they have not taken the relevant coursework yet. Use the results to guide learning—not label their potential.

How Young Can Students Take the Official Tests?

Students do not have to wait until eleventh grade to take the ACT or SAT. Neither organization states a minimum testing age, and both have provisions for children under 13.

For the SAT, a parent or guardian must submit College Board’s Account Creation Consent form before an under-13 student can create an account and register. For the ACT, parents of children under 13 should contact ACT for the appropriate registration process. Age 13 is not a minimum testing age. (satsuite.collegeboard.org⁠, forms.act.org⁠)

Being eligible to test does not mean every child needs to start early. Consider your child’s readiness, coursework, confidence, and reason for testing.

Your Child Can Take the ACT and SAT Multiple Times

Parents, one test day does not have to carry all the pressure.

Neither exam currently has a lifetime limit on attempts. ACT’s current guidance says students may test without a lifetime limit, although older materials may still mention its former 12-test limit. College Board also allows students to take the SAT as many times as they want. (act.org⁠, satsuite.collegeboard.org⁠)

Question	ACT	SAT
How often can students take it?	On available national test dates—currently seven per year in the United States.	On available scheduled test dates, subject to registration deadlines and seat availability.
Can they take consecutive scheduled administrations?	Yes, provided they register and meet the requirements.	Yes, provided they register and meet the requirements.
What is the lifetime maximum?	No current limit.	No limit.

ACT does restrict duplicate testing within the same national administration: alternate or makeup dates are not opportunities to take that administration again for another score. School-based testing also has its own administration rules. (act.org⁠, act.org⁠, satsuite.collegeboard.org⁠, act.org⁠, satsuite.collegeboard.org⁠)

Will Retaking the Test Hurt My Child?

There is no automatic score penalty simply for taking the ACT or SAT again. Students have another opportunity to demonstrate their skills, and many colleges consider their strongest scores.

Some colleges also superscore, combining a student’s highest section scores from different test dates. However, colleges and scholarship programs set their own policies. Some require all scores, and not every program accepts superscores. Check the requirements for your child’s intended colleges and scholarships before choosing which scores to send. (satsuite.collegeboard.org⁠, act.org⁠, act.org⁠)

This should take some fear out of the process: your child does not have to reach their goal on the first attempt.

Give Each Attempt a Purpose

My recommendation is to begin with information and build a plan.

1. Take an official practice test to establish a starting point.
2. Review the missed questions and identify specific learning needs.
3. Strengthen those skills through instruction and focused practice.
4. Choose an official test date when your child is ready.
5. Use the results to decide whether another attempt would help.

Retesting requires time and usually another registration fee, so the goal is to make each attempt useful. Leave room for learning between test dates, and keep college and scholarship deadlines in view.

At St. Charles Tutoring Lab, I want families to understand their options and approach testing with a plan.

Your child’s first score is a starting point. Give them support, opportunities to improve, and room to grow.