SAT or ACT?

College Admissions SAT or ACT?

Over 700 colleges do NOT require a standardized test for admission (11 in NC)(See http://www.fairtest.org/univ/optional.htm for more information)

But the majority of colleges require either the SAT or ACT –

Since admission to all colleges has become so competitive,

you need to decide – which test is best for you?

Facts about the SAT and ACT

SAT Created and

administered by College Board

www.collegeboard.com

Accepted by all colleges

ACT Created and

administered by ACT.org

http://www.actstudent.org/

Accepted by all colleges

Colleges say they don’t prefer one test over the

other . . .

What’s the difference?CONTENT

SAT Reasoning and

problem-solving skills 4 sections 3 hours, 45

minutes

ACT Curriculum-based Questions more

knowledge-based and some think even more “straightforward”

10 sections 2 hours 55 minutes (plus

30 minutes with optional writing test)

In the last 5 years, the number of ACT test-takers on the East Coast has risen over 66 percent, and on the West Coast, 44

percent – largely as a result of the new, longer SAT

CONTENT - sections

SAT4 sections English

(language/rhetoric) Math Science Reading Writing (optional –

but colleges require it for admission)

ACT

10 sections Essay + 2 multiple

choice writing sections

3 critical reading sections

3 math sections 1 experimental

section

CONTENT – Critical Reading

SAT - READING

35 minutes 4 reading

comprehension passages

40 questions (10 questions per passage)

ACT - READING

70 minutes 19 sentence

completion 4 short passages, 4

long passages, 2 comparison passages

48 questions passage-based reading

More emphasis on VOCABULARY

CONTENT - Math

SAT – MATH ACT - MATH

70 minutes, 54 questions (45 m.c. + 10 student-produced reponses)

Math accounts for ½ (1600) or 1/3 (2400) of total score

Topics coveredArithmetic, geometry, algebra, and Algebra II

Questions may be more reasoning that calculations

May use calculator

60 minutes, 60 questions (all multiple choice)

Math accounts for ¼ of your total score

Topics covered:Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry

Questions tend to be more straigtforward

May use calculator

CONTENT - Science

SAT – SCIENCE ACT - SCIENCE

Science not included Science (analysis, interpretation, evaluation, basic content, and problem-solving)

CONTENT – the Essay

SAT - ESSAY ACT - ESSAY

First thing you do 25 minutes Factored into overall

writing score Abstract,

philosophical topic – pick a side

Not optional

Last thing you do 30 minutes Not included in

composite score Topic is about something

of importance to high school students

Take position, explain different sides

Optional, though most schools require it

CONTENT – the essay

ACT questions tend to be more straightforward. ACT questions are often easier to understand on a

first read. On the SAT, you may need to spend time figuring out what you're being asked before you can start solving the problem. For example, here are sample questions from the SAT essay and the ACT writing test (their name for the essay):

SAT: What is your view of the claim that something unsuccessful can still have some value?ACT: In your view, should high schools become more tolerant of cheating?

SCORING

SAT ACT Total score = 2400 Critical Reading 200-

800 Math 200-800 Writing 200-800

Total composite score of 1-36 (based on average of 4 tests)

Score of 0-12 for optional essay

SCORING

SAT ACT GUESSING PENALTY -

¼ point subtracted for wrong answers

Your ENTIRE score history will be sent automatically to colleges – you may not choose scores

No GUESSING PENALTY – nothing subtracted for wrong answers

You decide which scores to send to colleges and may send just your highest scores

SCORE CONVERSIONACT

SAT MATH/READING

SAT MATH, READING, WRITING

36 1600 2400

35 1560-1590 2340

34 1510-1550 2260

33 1460-1500 2190

32 1410-1450 2130

31 1360-1400 2040

30 1320-1350 1980

29 1280-1310 1920

28 1240-1270 1860

27 1210-1230 1820

26 1170-1200 1760

SCORE CONVERSIONACT SAT (math, reading) SAT (math, reading, writing)

25 1130-1160 1700

24 1090-1120 1650

23 1060-1080 1590

22 1020-1050 1530

21 980-1010 1500

20 940-970 1410

19 900-930 1350

18 860-890 1290

17 810-850 1210

16 760-800 1140

15 710-750 1060

14 660-700 1000

13 590-650 900

12 520-580 780

11 500-510 750

COSTS

SAT ACT

Reasoning Test - $51Fee waivers available

Change or Late Fee - $27.50

4 score reports free Additional score

reports - $11.25

Offered FREE to all high school juniors at Williams

ACT - $36.50 ACT + writing -

$52.50 4 score reports free Additional score

reports $12.00

TEST DATES for 2013-2014

SAT ACTTest Date Register by

October 5 September 6

**November 2

October 3

December 7 November 8

January 25 December 27

**March 8 February 7

May 3 April 4

June 7 May 9

Test Date Register by

September 21 August 23

**October 26 September 27

December 14 November 8

February 8 January 10

**April 12 March 7

June 14 May 9

** @ Williams

@Williams High School - free -for all juniors (TBA)

** @ Williams

Oct. 5 SAT will report for Early Admission

Interested in your college’s average SAT/ACT scores for Freshmen?

Check out their Freshman Profile

http://colleges.collegetoolkit.com/Colleges/State/North_Carolina/37.aspx

Freshmen Profile – UNC-W

http://colleges.collegetoolkit.com/colleges/admissions/university_of_north_carolina_at_wilmington/199218.aspx

Class of 2009

SO?..........

Since colleges accept both . . .and since some students perform better on

the ACT . . .and some perform better on the SAT . . .

It is to your advantage to investigate both exams.

Take a practice test – free and online – for both

See which one feels right – and which one yields the highest scores!