SAT vs. ACT Tests – Apples vs. Oranges?
Stanley Kaplan, the founder of Kaplan, Inc., wasn’t accepted to a single medical school, even though he finished second in his class. Since he couldn’t get into medical school, but had the grades and scores, he tutored others to get accepted into college. Kaplan believed that there wasn’t a test out there for which you couldn’t study, and thus, the multi-billion dollar test preparation industry was born. Today, the SAT and ACT tests are the standardized tests most commonly used as part of the admission process at colleges and universities in the U.S., and thus the tests most commonly “prepped” for.
The SAT Reasoning Test (formerly Scholastic Aptitude Test and Scholastic Assessment Test) is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, and administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The official SAT website is: http://www.collegeboard.com/. In addition to the SAT Reasoning Test, the College Board also offers SAT Subject Tests for 20 subjects including Math, English, History, Science and Languages.
The ACT Test is written by the ACT company. Their official website is: http://www.act.org/.
Many people assert that the SAT test measures a student’s reasoning skills while the ACT focuses more on subject matter knowledge. Both tests cover English and math. Specific differences include:
- The ACT has a science reasoning section while the SAT does not.
- Both tests include an essay, but the writing section on the SAT is mandatory, while it is optional on the ACT.
- The SAT focuses on vocabulary in the verbal reasoning section, while the ACT concentrates on grammar, punctuation and syntax.
- There is no penalty for “guessing” on the ACT; if you answer a question incorrectly on the SAT, you are penalized 1/4 point.
- The ACT consists of 4 sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) and lasts two hours, 55 minutes (plus an additional 30 minutes if you elect to take the optional writing test). The SAT has 10 sections (writing – 1 essay and 2 multiple-choice, 3 critical reading, 3 math, 1 experimental section) and lasts three hours, 45 minutes.
Which Test Should I Take?
Most colleges accept scores from either test, but check ahead of time. If you have the time and money, you may want to take both and see which one yields a higher score.
Fees:
| SAT |
$45 |
| SAT Subject Tests | |
| Basic registration fee |
$20 |
| Language Tests with Listening (add to basic reg. fee) |
add $20 |
| All other SAT II: Subject Tests (add per test to basic reg. fee) |
add $9 |
| ACT (No Writing) |
$32 |
| ACT Plus Writing |
$47 |
There is no penalty for taking the tests more than once, and if you take either the SAT or the ACT multiple times, the highest score from each section is reported to the colleges of your choice.
Each section of the SAT test is scored from 200 to 800 points, for a total of 2400 points. If a student scores a 590 on Math, a 750 on Verbal, and a 620 on Writing on one test for a total of 1960, but the next time earns a 700 on Math, a 730 on Verbal, and a 580 on Writing for a total score of 2010, the colleges will see the best scores from each section: Math = 700, Verbal = 750, Writing = 620 for a Total Score = 2070.
Each section of the ACT test is given a score on a scale of 1 to 36. The 4 “scaled scores” are then averaged for the total, or “Composite”, score.
Traditionally, the SAT was predominant on the East and West Coasts, while the ACT had more of a presence in the Midwest and South. Today, however, both tests are administered and accepted by most colleges regardless of location. So, choosing which test to take is perhaps the first of many decisions students and their families make as they embark on the college application process. In this case, there may not be one correct answer.
Sources:
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/departments/college/?article=satvactdiff
http://college-preparation.suite101.com/article.cfm/college_admissions_sat_vs_act
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/education/edlife/guidance.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112215648
This is a very informative article with one significant caveat. The line stating that “if you take either the SAT or the ACT multiple times, the highest score from each section is reported to the colleges of your choice.” is incorrect and a commonly held misconception. Actually, Score Choice allows students the option to choose the SAT scores by TEST DATE and SAT Subject Test scores by INDIVIDUAL TEST. It DOES NOT allow students to cherry-pick and select their highest scores from any section among several exams they may have already taken. Please refer to The New SAT Score-Reporting Policy at Collegeboard.com for further clarification.
More information about the differences between the SAT and the ACT may be found in Top-Tier Tutoring’s podcast, “ACT versus SAT – What’s Best For You” at http://toptiertutoringmedia.com/act-versus-sat-whats-best-for-you.
Sincerely,
Mike Rivera, co-founder of Top-Tier Tutoring in West Orange, NJ
Michael,
Thank you for your comments and I appreciate your clarification on the reporting of SAT test scores. Since colleges typically use the highest score from each section, I presented this information in an overlysimplistic way. The point I was making is that students need not fear a penalty for taking the SAT multiple times.
Here is the text from the CollegeBoard FAQ section: Do you report only the best scores? If you decide to use Score Choice, the College Board will not release scores to colleges and universities for admissions purposes without your consent. If you do not use Score Choice, all of your scores will be sent to your chosen institutions and programs. Most colleges only look at your highest scores, so you should feel comfortable sending all of them.
I reviewed several college admission sites of schools to which our students frequently apply, and they had these comments about how they view SAT scores:
University of Virginia
It has been the Office of Admission’s long standing policy to consider the best scores submitted by applicants. We hope you will submit all of your SAT scores knowing that we will look at the best critical reading, best math, and best writing scores (commonly known as “super scoring”). http://www.virginia.edu/undergradadmission/apply.html
George Mason University:
From a GMU admissions officer on his blog: I don’t really have any problem with the policy, but you should know two things. First, it’s unlikely to make ANY difference to your admission. As I’ve written many times, colleges and universities will use your best scores, and use the best portions from different sittings (so English section from one time, Math from another, to get your best total score).
http://notjustadmissions.com/2008/12/30/sat-score-choice-policy-new-fun-same-stress/
James Madison University:
If I take the required test more than once, which results will you consider?
The Admissions Committee uses your highest math and verbal scores from any test administration in reviewing your application for admission.
http://www.jmu.edu/admissions/questions.shtml>
William and Mary:
What are your SAT and ACT requirements?
W&M requires freshman applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. If both sets of scores are submitted, we will only use the higher score. For the SAT, we will use the best score on the math section, the best score on the critical reading section and the writing section regardless of the number of times the test is taken. For the ACT test, we will use the best composite score. Some students score better on the SAT, while others score better on the ACT; therefore, we encourage students to take both tests. William & Mary does honor the College Board’s Score Choice.
https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/faqs/testing/index.php
Sincerely,
Nancy Martin