ACT vs. SAT

[ladycollector]

I took both and did awful on the SAT and outstanding on the ACT. Glad I took the ACT because it helped me get some scholarships

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I took both. The ACT was required by the schools I applied to in the Midwest. Certain scholarships required a SAT to be considered. ACT is based in Iowa City which explains it's popularity in the Midwest.

 

[allison443]

It doesn't really matter, colleges take either and it is a small part of the selection process. People get too worked up about the college selection process I think. Colleges know what they are looking for and which demographics they want to fill, if your child meets that they will get in, if not, it isn't because they took the ACT vs the SAT or that they were on the football team vs the basketball team.

DS14 wants to go to Notre Dame, we encourage him to be involved, get good grades, etc. but when it really comes down to it a white boy from the midwest suburbs is going to have a more difficult time getting in then a kid from the Bronx (all other things equal) or from Podunk, Kansas for that matter.

Right,I agree, but you have to get to that point where as you said "all things are equal" and that is why it's wise to start thinking about these issues in middle school or freshman year in high school. Taking the most challenging courses, being involved, making sure to take three and four years of certain subjects, seeking out opportunities in your fields of interest, etc....you can't wake up in senior year and realize you should have been doing these things since freshman year. Hopefully there is an active guidance department, but that's not always the case for freshmen/sophomores.

Example, some high schools only require two years of foreign language, but many colleges want three. Another example, some schools (usually the more competitive ones) want to see SAT IIs. If your student is taking for example AP US History or Biology in sophomore year, it's a great idea to take the SAT II for that subject in May or June of sophomore year, when the student is finishing up the year of study and is preparing for the AP exam.

Good luck to your son!

 

[allison443]

My son took it for the first time last year in 7th grade. I spoke with his math teacher and explained what his goals were and she told us to choose the ACT instead of the SAT. I guess he'll take the ACT from now on. I still don't know which one would be better for him.

You can take both tests multiple times during the junior and senior years of high school..and only send your highest scores. Even the SAT, which used to send all your SAT scores together, now allows "score choice" where you can pick which date's test score to send.

I think it is recommended to start testing in second semester junior year. This allows time to get the scores and decide if you want further testing or want to prepare more for the next test. The SAT is offered in January, March, May, June, October, November, and December. The ACT is also offered six times a year. By testing in junior year, you get an idea where your scores might qualify you for admission. Also the student may want to meet early admission, early decision, or fall scholarship deadlines.

 

[princess.chell]

I'm a senior in high school so I'm just finishing up the college admission process. So let's see if I can be any help.
I took the ACT twice. As other have said, its out of 36 and has 4 sections plus writing (most colleges want the writing portion): math, reading comprehension, english grammar, and science (interpreting data). You can't exactly study for it. But, in the math section there are 20 (I think I don't remember the exact number so don't quote me on this) formulas that are "fair game". Some are from older years of math so for me going over those helped. And there are tips and test taking skills (that are different from taking a regular test in school) that can really help. For example, in science, read the questions first then go find exactly what data you need, you won't finish if you look at the data then look at the questions. I'd recommend getting a prep book for the ACT, the huge thick ones with practice tests. Read the skills in there and take the tests. The best thing for me to prep was taking the practice tests to get used to it. I took a prep class, which really helped (raised my score 3 points from my PLAN projected score). The strategies I learned as well as the practice made me really relaxed going into the test.
I never took the SAT. None of the school I was looking at required it. Most of the top tier schools (Ivy League and the like) require it, plus SAT II subject tests. I'm pretty sure the SAT is out of like 2400, but I'm not exactly sure on that number. Sorry I can't of much more help. I know the SAT is "harder" than the ACT. I'm pretty sure you can actually "study" for the SAT where the ACT is mostly previous knowledge.
Most of my friends (I live in area of high academic nature) took both the ACT, the SAT, as well SAT II subject tests. It really depends on the school, the student, and the future goals. My reasons for not taking the SAT were that none of the schools wanted it and on a comparison chart based on my PLAN scores the highest I would score on the SAT would be lower than my lowest projected score on the ACT (my SAT scores would translate into a 28 on the ACT, a full 2 points lower than my projected ACT score). I hope that last part made sense.
As for what it can do for you, ACT scores really help with scholarships. If I go to Central Michigan University, after the two scholarship I got based on merit (my GPA and ACT) I'll pay $7,000 a year as an out-of-state student. I also applied to University of Minnesota and am waiting to hear back from them but I'm pretty sure I'll get in-state tuition as well as another scholarship. So for $400 for the class I'm possibly saving $10,000 a year? Yah I'd say the class helped. Hahah
If you have any other questions feel free to PM me. =)
Good luck to your son! I hope he enjoys his final years of high school; they will fly by!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My son took it for the first time last year in 7th grade. I spoke with his math teacher and explained what his goals were and she told us to choose the ACT instead of the SAT. I guess he'll take the ACT from now on. I still don't know which one would be better for him.

My 7th grade dd is taking it Dec 12th. We did have the choice of ACT vs SAT. I went with the ACT.

You need at least a 24 and up for state schools here.

 

[agnes!]

Why not take both? You don't necessarily have to choose one or the other.

My junior HS DD took the PSAT last year (I think her HS also has them take some of the ACT tests starting as freshmen) and this year, will take both the ACT and SAT this year and is also taking them next year. The kids take so many tests I can hardly keep them all straight.

I wish she hadn't been so burned-out last year as a sophomore. She took AP World last year and I wanted her to take the SAT II test for it, but she said she just couldn't quite manage it.

Got the best score possible on World, so maybe the colleges will take that into consideration ...

agnes!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My 7th grade dd is taking it Dec 12th. We did have the choice of ACT vs SAT. I went with the ACT.

You need at least a 24 and up for state schools here.

UPDATE!

My dd got her scores back today. She got a 24! Now hopefully she can get the class she wants for their summer program.

 

[Rora]

I took both and liked the ACT better. I also got higher scores on the ACT. IMO, the ACT was stuff that you had actually learned (in the math field..).

OP- my best advice is to:
1. Take both tests completely cold-- no studying, no preparation.
2. Get the scores, see which where your child needs to raise his score and either buy a book or higher a tutor to help.
3. Take which ever test he did better on.
4. Re-test if necessary.

Many don't agree with my theory but I've seen it work with a lot of my high school friends. Most everyone who did this got at least a 26 or higher on the ACT and good scores on the SAT. We weren't the smartest kids either.

Good luck!

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I am from Iowa and went to University of Iowa.

In high school I took the ACT. I don't think any of my friends took the SAT.

I got a 22 on the test and was accepted to Iowa and even had an academic scholarship (thanks to my grades and not the test results). One of my best friends got a 33 on the test.

Neither of us studied for the test.

Jason

 

[LisaR]

I took both and liked the ACT better. I also got higher scores on the ACT. IMO, the ACT was stuff that you had actually learned (in the math field..).

OP- my best advice is to:
1. Take both tests completely cold-- no studying, no preparation.
2. Get the scores, see which where your child needs to raise his score and either buy a book or higher a tutor to help.
3. Take which ever test he did better on.
4. Re-test if necessary.

Many don't agree with my theory but I've seen it work with a lot of my high school friends. Most everyone who did this got at least a 26 or higher on the ACT and good scores on the SAT. We weren't the smartest kids either.

Good luck!

I agree 100% with your theory. Now I hope it actually works when we put it into practice. My DD is 14 and wanted to dual enroll. I let her go in cold and take the CPT. I figured if she passed, great. If she didn't, she is only 14 and could try again next year. She aced it. She didn't have any pressure and it wasn't a big deal. In the meantime, her friends studied like crazy and many failed. We are going to take the same approach with the SAT & ACT next year.

 

[Rora]

I agree 100% with your theory. Now I hope it actually works when we put it into practice. My DD is 14 and wanted to dual enroll. I let her go in cold and take the CPT. I figured if she passed, great. If she didn't, she is only 14 and could try again next year. She aced it. She didn't have any pressure and it wasn't a big deal. In the meantime, her friends studied like crazy and many failed. We are going to take the same approach with the SAT & ACT next year.

This is exactly what happens.. You study like crazy for the first test and then you do poorly because you're stressed, it's new, etc and then when you get your scores back you feel even worse and then have test anxiety. Overall, you wind up freaking yourself out and feeling defeated by the test, IMO..

Congrats to your DD!! I'm sure she'll do great on the ACT/SAT! Go her for dual enrolling at such a young age- it really pays off!!!

 

[CowboyCO]

ACT is more comprehensive as it tests English, math, science, social science and writing skills. The SAT only tests math and writing. On the ACT each section is broken out into a score and you get a composite score. Like others have said 36 is a perfect score, most Ivy League type schools won't look at you unless you post a 33 or better, highly selective schools like to see a 30 or better, really good regional schools like a 26 or better, state schools look for 21 or better.

They have or will soon have a new SAT that is a little more comprehensive but still not as much as the ACT.

Sorry to be contrary, but 25% of ivy league enrollees had ACT scores ranging 28-31 or LESS (depending on the school - Yale was 29)

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theact/a/act_side_x_side.htm

They look at grades, service, extracurriculars and review the admission essay. They also look at race, gender, geography and of course -- connections!

 

[Kirby]

Some state schools take less than 21 on the ACT. My daughter's friend got into a state school with an 18.

I agree with a previous poster who said to begin taking the ACT/SAT in your Junior year. It gives you time to take it again should you want to improve on your score.

 

[RyeCrimsonMoon]

When I took them, The pros of the ACT over the SAT were that the ACT was shorter (only about 4 hours) and it didn't have an essay.

The SAT is more popular and more widely accepted.

Either way, a lot of kids take both, unless they get a good enough grade. To be honest, they're both just a way to test your kid on how to TAKE a test, not exactly what they know. It's almost impossible to study for them.

 

[golfgal]

Sorry to be contrary, but 25% of ivy league enrollees had ACT scores ranging 28-31 or LESS (depending on the school - Yale was 29)

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/theact/a/act_side_x_side.htm

They look at grades, service, extracurriculars and review the admission essay. They also look at race, gender, geography and of course -- connections!

If you look deeper into those scores--just who are the students with the lower scores--most likely the athletes and those filling out their demographic requirements.

 

[Kirby]

If you look deeper into those scores--just who are the students with the lower scores--most likely the athletes and those filling out their demographic requirements.

True. My daughter's friend did well in school, held a part time job and was involved in extra curriculars. It rounded out the score she made on the ACT.

 

[Art 1]

My daughter is a senior and has taken each 3 times. Some schools prefer the ACT others SAT. Some schools are starting to want 3yrs of a foreign language instead of 2 now. She has taken 4 as have most in her school.

 

[minniebeth]

UPDATE!

My dd got her scores back today. She got a 24! Now hopefully she can get the class she wants for their summer program.

Great news! Congratulations to your DD~

 

[CowboyCO]

If you look deeper into those scores--just who are the students with the lower scores--most likely the athletes and those filling out their demographic requirements.

So athletes, minorities and kids from poorer families can't get in on their academics. Got it...

My guess is the ones with the lower scores are the rich ones with the connections, rather than the athletes and those that fill in the quotas.