SAT vs. ACT

[Princess_Dot]

In the spring of this school year I will be taking either the SAT or ACT. I was wondering...
what are the pros and cons of taking the SAT vs. the ACT?

My guidance counseler attempted to explain it to me last thursday, but I am still confused.

What are all of you taking? (The SAT or ACT or both)

 

[life of the party]

i am taking the "college board test" or something.


cause believe it or not i am "gifted" i got accepted into the John Hopkins thingyy. idk. all i know it that im smarticalitious

 

[Princess_Dot]

i am taking the "college board test" or something.


cause believe it or not i am "gifted" i got accepted into the John Hopkins thingyy. idk. all i know it that im smarticalitious

What grade are you in? I took the SAT through John Hopkins in 7th and 8th grade. Thats probably what you are taking.

 

[life of the party]

What grade are you in? I took the SAT through John Hopkins in 7th and 8th grade. Thats probably what you are taking.

7th!!!

 

[I'm a Divaaaaa]

I took both because 95% of colleges require both. IMHO the ACT is way easier but I'm pretty sure colleges makes their decision based more on the SAT than the ACT. I'd also suggest taking the writing on both. It isn't required but a lot of colleges are starting to require it now.

 

[jessaboo]

ACT is preferred by more colleges. It's a harder test with more writing to base your intelligence off of.h

 

[Sparx]

Take both. Hell, take every standardized test they will give you. You'd rather have the scores and not need them as need them and not have them.

 

[Babyjustrun]

i am taking the "college board test" or something.


cause believe it or not i am "gifted" i got accepted into the John Hopkins thingyy. idk. all i know it that im smarticalitious

College Board is an organization that offers different AP tests, SAT's, etc.
The only reason I know this is because my brother took AP French last year through them.

 

[Mickey1122]

Okay..I am in the midst of the college board process and I know all about this. The ACTs and SATs are two completely different tests. The SATs have a Critical Reading, a Math, and a Writing (half grammar half essay) section. Each is worth 800 points; a perfect combined score is 2400. Because the Writing section is new, most colleges view it with the same weight as an SAT Subject Tests. (These come in many subject areas like Spanish, Chemistry, etc. Most schools like to see a few to supplement the SATs.) The really importnt numbers are your Math and Critical Reding scores. The ACTs are scored out of 36, so it's a little more holistic. This test includes science, and the atual essay is optional but recommended.
Most colleges do NOT require both! They all say that they require EITHER one, but the SATs are a little more common amongst appliants to the better schools. Both tests are available to everyone, but the ACTs are more of a Midwest thing..east and west coasters generally stick with SAT scores.
AP Tests are completely different. High Schools off Advanced Placement courses that are supposed to simulate the experience of a college course. Serious students these, and although you are not obligated to take them, if you want to get into a really good school you must prove that you have challenged yourself. These tests are given in May and are scored 1-5. A 3 is considered "good," but you really want fours and fives. Colleges sometimes offer credits for doing well on AP exams.
To the other poster..writing IS required on the SATs. It's a whole section now.
Heh I actually just took a subject test this morning. It was really easy..

 

[My Own Little Corner]

Okay..I am in the midst of the college board process and I know all about this. The ACTs and SATs are two completely different tests. The SATs have a Critical Reading, a Math, and a Writing (half grammar half essay) section. Each is worth 800 points; a perfect combined score is 2400. Because the Writing section is new, most colleges view it with the same weight as an SAT Subject Tests. (These come in many subject areas like Spanish, Chemistry, etc. Most schools like to see a few to supplement the SATs.) The really importnt numbers are your Math and Critical Reding scores. The ACTs are scored out of 36, so it's a little more holistic. This test includes science, and the atual essay is optional but recommended.
Most colleges do NOT require both! They all say that they require EITHER one, but the SATs are a little more common amongst appliants to the better schools. Both tests are available to everyone, but the ACTs are more of a Midwest thing..east and west coasters generally stick with SAT scores.
AP Tests are completely different. High Schools off Advanced Placement courses that are supposed to simulate the experience of a college course. Serious students these, and although you are not obligated to take them, if you want to get into a really good school you must prove that you have challenged yourself. These tests are given in May and are scored 1-5. A 3 is considered "good," but you really want fours and fives. Colleges sometimes offer credits for doing well on AP exams.
To the other poster..writing IS required on the SATs. It's a whole section now.
Heh I actually just took a subject test this morning. It was really easy..

Very good post

IMO I would take both

 

[Mickey1122]

If you do really well on one though, I don't think it's a great idea to take the other.
On a side topic, I completely disagree with the people who call them stupid tests that only test how well you can take them.. The people who say that are usually the people who don't do well and are jealous of the people who do..
I don't think that they test overall intellingence or general knowledge, but I firmly believe that they test how logical you are. The ability to use logic is important to problem solving..in essence, it tests common sense!

 

[My Own Little Corner]

If you do really well on one though, I don't think it's a great idea to take the other.
On a side topic, I completely disagree with the people who call them stupid tests that only test how well you can take them.. The people who say that are usually the people who don't do well and are jealous of the people who do..
I don't think that they test overall intellingence or general knowledge, but I firmly believe that they test how logical you are. The ability to use logic is important to problem solving..in essence, it tests common sense!

And I think the ability to use logic well and common sense well in colege is a key issue to succeeding in college and in life itself.

 

[Mickey1122]

Which is why I hate when people claim it's a stupid test!! Sure, it's annoying to prep for and get up early for, but still...

 

[xCourxCorex]

I've also heard, but cannot confirm, that the ACT math parts involve some trig/pre-cal. ? I have only done PSAT/SATs so .. anyone know for sure?

Just took SATs for the 2nd time and I think I did horrrrrribly. Was hoping to get my scores up a bit, but now I'm scared they'll actually be lower
Mostly my CR score was my weak spot, but math was tricky today too

 

[Princess_Dot]

I am leaning towards taking both. I am recently looking at colleges on the west coast, so if the ACT is more popular there...I want to be able to have those scores.

Like Courtney said, does anyone know if the ACT has trig/pre-cal?

 

[Sparx]

I've also heard, but cannot confirm, that the ACT math parts involve some trig/pre-cal. ? I have only done PSAT/SATs so .. anyone know for sure?

Just took SATs for the 2nd time and I think I did horrrrrribly. Was hoping to get my scores up a bit, but now I'm scared they'll actually be lower
Mostly my CR score was my weak spot, but math was tricky today too

I've had all of the ACT sections screened on me. I didn't notice any precal, but there was a whole lot of geometry.

 

[Princess_Dot]

I've had all of the ACT sections screened on me. I didn't notice any precal, but there was a whole lot of geometry.

YAY I love Geometry!! I sound like such a geek....but I just understand it. Its really easy for me to figure out a problem, even if I don't know the formula right away.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Being a college graduate, I took the SATs once at the end of my junior year after having to take the PSATs once my sophomore year and once my junior year. Then from sophomore year thru start of senior year I took 8 SAT II exams. I never took the ACTs nor were they ever offered thru my school (ACT is not very common throughout New England). It was never a problem that I did not take the ACTs since fmerit financial aid was based on SAT scores, GPA, and class rank and everyone was required to take Freshman College Writing regardless of what standardized tests were required.
You definitely need to check with the colleges you are interested in. They will tell you what they need.

 

[Sparx]

YAY I love Geometry!! I sound like such a geek....but I just understand it. Its really easy for me to figure out a problem, even if I don't know the formula right away.

Have you completed a course of geometry? this wasn't stuff like angles, this was complex, advanced geometry. i don't suggest taking this test if you've not completed both Alg II and Geometry.(and even then, with a high A/B average)