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SAT-ACT

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years ago

 

 

SAT/ACT

 

The demographics of ACT and SAT takers are divided geographically. Most colleges accept both the SAT and ACT. Generally, the SAT has trickier questions but the ACT is faster paced. The SAT's essay prompt is more abtract than the ACT's, which usually relates to high school life. Applicants can choose which ACT scores to send to colleges. SAT score reports contain all sittings.

 

You can register for SAT tests at: CollegeBoard

You can register for ACT tests at: ACTstudent

 

SAT Reasoning Test (SAT I)

 

  • The SAT is split into three parts: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. Each section is scored on a scale of 200 to 800, which are added together to produce your SAT score on a total of 2400. The higher your score, the better. The Writing section was only added a few years ago, so some people make references to their "old SAT" score (the sum of their Critical Reading and Math scores). Some colleges distrust the Writing score due to its newness and other factors.
  • The national average on the new SAT (the sum of all three sections) is somewhere from 1500 to 1600 out of 2400.
  • A 1270 (Critical Reading + Math) is considered pretty good (in-state and with suitable GPA it'll get you a full ride at a state school in Florida). If you do comparably on the Writing section this translates to about a 1900.
  • For the top 20 or so schools, it's good to have a score of at least 2100. For the top 10, it's good to have a score of at least 2250. It is best to break 700 in all three sections, as well as on SAT IIs. MANY top schools are still basically ignoring the new writing section and pay substantially more attention to your two-part score out of 1600 for math and critical reading.
  • Taking the SAT more than three times to improve one's score is generally frowned upon.
  • All major 4-year colleges accept both the ACT and SAT.
  • The SAT is required for National Merit Scholarships (though high PSAT scores are required to make the first cut). Still, an increasing number of applicants are also trying the ACT for various reasons.

 

SAT Subject Tests (SAT II)

 

  • Many high level colleges require 2-3 SAT IIs, which are subject tests. Take them after taking a minimum of 1 year of the subject (or if taking an AP course, after the AP exam). Wait until you've had the most experience with a foreign language before taking a foreign language SAT II, as these tests tend to be geared towards fluent or native speakers of the language.
  • Many colleges recommend (and some even require) taking a Mathematics SAT II.
  • Math Level I (Formerly IC) includes math up to and including Algebra II. The curve is similar to the SAT math curve.
  • Math Level II (Formerly IIC) includes math up to and including Precalculus. The curve is very generous, but the material is more challenging. Missing 7 questions can still translate into an 800, if all other questions are correct. It is recommended to take this test at the end of a Precalculus course.
  • Scores on the subject tests vary depending on the subject. For the Ivy's and high LAC's, a 700 on any subject test (other than Math II) is a good score. For Math II, since the curve is generous, a score around 750 is considered very good. For most colleges, a 650 is a very respectable score. In order to gauge how strong a particular score is, the percentiles provided with the score report are usually helpful.

 

ACT

 

  • The ACT is divided into four sections: Science, Mathematics, English, and Reading. Scores range from 0-36.
  • There is an optional writing test. Most colleges either recommend or require that the ACT be taken WITH the writing test. It is graded 1-12 like the standard SAT essay; however, the topics on the ACT writing are more relevant to high school students.
  • A score in the mid to upper twenties is a good score for most colleges. For upper LAC's and Ivy's, a score of 30 or above is recommended.
  • Some people find the ACT easier, as the questions are more straight-forward. However, it does require a higher level of knowledge than the SAT. The mathematics section includes some material from Precalculus (Basic trigonometric functions and properties), and it also has a Science section. The science section, although it does not test scientific knowledge directly, it requires a great use of inference and both qualitative and quantitative reasoning (a good grasp of scientific concepts does help). This skill is not tested on the SAT and should be practiced before taking the ACT -- the science section is widely considered the most difficult, as it has strict time constraints, and tests rather different skills from other standardised tests.
  • ACT also uses Score Choice -- unlike on the SAT, scores from all ACT tests you've taken do not need to be reported. When you submit scores to college, you select which test date you want to submit on the ACT website. This factor is very beneficial, and therefore taking the ACT multiple times is strongly recommended. However, be careful when selecting which test to send: a balanced test looks better than a lop-sided one. For instance, a score of 29, 30, 31, 32 on the four tests looks better than a 25, 29, 33, 35, although they yield the same composite (31).
  • Note: most colleges do not super-score the ACT. Unlike the SAT, schools take your highest COMPOSITE, rather than your highest score in each section.

 

Which to take? Which to submit?

 

All schools now assign at least equal standing to both the ACT (with the optional essay) and the SAT I. Some schools will accept the ACT by itself instead of combined SAT I and multiple SAT II subject tests (see, for example, Yale College Admissions), so it could save you time and money to take the ACT alone.  Many colleges require neither test, some making submission of test scores optional and a few not accepting scores at all. Check the requirements of the colleges in which you are interested.

 

In comparing candidates with scores from different tests, admission committees use a chart like this one, College Board ACT/SAT Comparison, statisically derived from populations of students who have taken both tests. Do not assume 98%-tile scores on both tests are viewed as equivalent, as the test poplulations administered each test are significantly different (the state of Illinois, for example, administers the ACT to all students, college-bound or not). Rely on the chart to make more accurate cross-test comparisons.

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