As you’re likely to have noticed, the SAT has generally predominated in conversations about standardized testing for college admissions. This is because traditionally, colleges have used the SAT as the gauge by which to evaluate candidate admissions – and because this was likely the test most parents had to endure, the majority of them may still continue to believe the SAT is the optimal assessment. But in recent years most colleges and universities have begun to accept ACT scores from applicants – some in addition to SAT scores, and others in lieu of them.
Your very first step should be to inquire about application requirements for the colleges of your choice. You should be able to find this information easily on the school’s website (read carefully: if a school tells you it “accepts” ACT scores, it might not necessarily mean it will accept them in place of the SAT – merely that it is willing to look at both). If it turns out the colleges you’ve got your heart set on will accept either test, you’re in luck. You now have to decide which test is more likely to evidence your strengths, because of course you want to send your colleges of choice the best application package you can send them. Neither test is superior, but it is often the case that one test is better for a particular student than the other. Before we begin constructing the list of your intellectual and academic strengths, here’s a breakdown of the basic distinctions between the two tests:
Initially the SAT and ACT were radically different tests, but in recent decades they’ve been converging, both structurally and conceptually. For awhile there was even a fairly definitive geographic divide between the two: because the founders of the SAT set up at Princeton and in Berkeley, it tended to be a “coastal test,” while the ACT (which originated in Iowa) generally dominated in schools in the South and the Midwest. By and large now, there isn’t a huge discrepancy between student performance on the SAT and ACT, meaning your scores on one will generally be a working indicator of how you might perform on the other. The tests do overlap around 70-80% in content, and both test similar subject areas (sans a science section on the SAT). But they do so differently, and the disparities between the two tests is often significant enough that a student will feel much more comfortable with one than with the other. Among the key differences are that the ACT has a science section while the SAT does not (The ACT does not evaluate your knowledge of the periodic table; it’s actually more of a reading test that tries your ability to read charts and graphs, to extrapolate upon trends and patterns, and to come to analytical conclusions given various experiments); the SAT essay is mandatory while the ACT’s essay is optional (again – check with your university – they may want an ACT essay score, in which your only “option” is to write it!); and the highest possible combined score for the SAT is 2400 while the ACT’s highest possible composite score is a 36. Also, the SAT’s verbal sections tend to demand a high level of vocabulary while the ACT tends to focus on mechanics and rhetoric. The ACT has no penalty for incorrect answers, but on the SAT, you loose a quarter point for each multiple-choice question you answer incorrectly.
For a table comparing the all basic differences, download a comparison table here.
In effect, both the SAT and the ACT have been structured and restructured to better evaluate your knowledge of the foundations of a high-school education. Ironically, both standardized tests measure one thing: how well you perform on a standardized test. But the ACT, which is regarded as a “curriculum-based test,” endeavors to assess your acquired knowledge of most of the subject matter covered in your high school classes, while the SAT (traditionally considered a good measure of a student’s critical thinking and reasoning skills) tends to function as an aptitude test rather than a straightforward assessment of your knowledge. Both disapproved of and adored for its crafty and sometimes deliberately confusing language, the SAT is much better suited for you if your deductive reasoning is strong.
Of course the best way to determine what your scores might be on either test is to put yourself through some practice tests. I would suggest they be both full-length and timed, so you can get a sense of your endurance levels and the speed at which you work. The College Board and the ACT both offer online practice tests, which you can print out. You’ll also be able to make a well-informed decision based on how you did on the PSAT (generally a good indication of how you’ll do on the SAT) or the PLAN (a prep test very similar to the ACT). If the colleges of your choice aren’t picky about which test they accept, you may want to consider taking both and choosing the better of the two scores to send. If you’re applying to many schools, the chances are better that some will take either while some will prefer both – another reason why it might be good to have the scores for both available when it’s time to turn your applications in.
It is also imperative to remember that these scores alone are not going to be the deciding factor of your candidacy. Among the other things colleges will look at are GPA, extracurricular activities, jobs and leadership positions you’ve held, clubs you’ve participated in and belong to, community service you’ve completed, your letters of recommendation and your admissions essay.
And as a final note, there are some colleges that are recognizing the shortcomings of standardized tests in assessing all applicants. A good number of highly selective schools do not require SAT or ACT scores – though each school has its own additional requirements. For a list of colleges and universities that do not require these scores, check out http://fairtest.org/university/optional
Determining which test to take is half the battle: the other half, of course, consists of preparing and taking the exam of your choosing… so be sure to stay tuned to www.SFTutors.com for more answers to the FAQs about these tests!
{ 0 comments… add one now }
{ 2 trackbacks }