Face-off: SAT vs. ACT

    For many students, time is winding down to make the decision for what college admissions test they are going to take. The SAT? The ACT? Both? It is important to evaluate the key differences and discover what each test is all about before making a decision.
 
    The SAT originally stood for the Scholastic Aptitude Test. This is no longer true because it was realized that a test where one could easily be coached didn’t apply to the word aptitude and was changed in 1947. The ACT, which stands for American College Testing, was introduced in 1959. The College Board selects the names of these tests.
    
    Nearly all colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT.  There is a great geographic divide between the two tests. The SAT is mainly taken by colleges on the East and West Coasts in states like California, New York, and Virginia. The ACT is generally dominant for schools in the Midwest and South. The region of the college determines what test is more widely accepted.

    Other details of the tests are not readily apparent and are not necessarily the easiest to figure out. To acquire a better understanding of the SAT, high schools around the country offer the PSAT, but barely any material is provided to prepare for the ACT.
    
    At AHS all students, excluding seniors, recently took the PSAT. It gave students a chance to uncover the mysteries of the test. The PSAT provides a feel for the timed sections, the variety of questions asked and how the SAT is put together without having to worry about their score. Also by taking the PSAT, juniors can become eligible to qualify for National Merit Scholarships. The PSAT is an accurate account of what is expected to be on the actual SAT.

    Another way to prepare for the SAT or the ACT is to enroll in preparatory classes. They give participants practice tests, individual assistance in areas where they struggle and most guarantee higher test results. A number of studies indicate that prep classes for the SAT can raise a student's score by 150 points or more on the test's 2400-point scale. Prep classes cover all the areas of the test, so when the exam date comes there are no surprises.

“Prep classes can help students with [test taking] strategies or help students that do not take standardized tests well,” said Robin Roth, the AHS Career Center Specialist. The classes are designed to improve the student’s chances of succeeding and benefit them in the long run.

    In order to find which test is best to take, students need to recognize what his or her strengths and weaknesses are on each test.  “I have already taken both of them more than once and found that I did better on the ACT,” said senior Emily Ainsworth.
If a student is better in math and science, the ACT is a more appropriate test. However, if one excels in writing and other components of English, then the SAT is probably the better option.

    This is because the SAT consists of three critical reading sections that focus on vocabulary and reading comprehension as well as an essay. The ACT has only one section about English grammar and an optional essay. The SAT has three math sections that test up to the Algebra II level. The ACT tests math up to the Trigonometry level. Also the ACT contains a science reasoning section while the SAT leaves out science all together.

     The math section of the SAT consists of 54 grid-in answer and multiple choice questions. There are two, 25 minute sections and one 20 minute section. The critical reading section of the SAT includes two, 25 minute sections and one, 20 minute section. There are a total of 67 critical reading questions. The writing section of the SAT has one 25 minute, one 10 minute section, and a 25 minute essay. There are 49 grammar questions in the writing section. The SAT also includes an experimental section that test makers use, but it is not scored.
    
    On the ACT there is a 45 minute English section with 75 multiple choice questions.  The math section is composed of 60 questions allowing 60 minutes. The reading and science sections of the ACT are both 35 minutes long with 40 multiple choice questions. The ACT optional writing section adds 30 minutes to the testing time.

    In total the SAT is made up of 10 sections while the ACT has only four. Even though the structure of these tests is very different, the time it takes to complete them is not. The SAT takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes and the ACT takes about 3 hours and 25 minutes.

    Consequently, the scoring processes of the SAT and ACT are also different.  On the SAT there is a penalty for wrong answers while on the ACT there is not. On the SAT students can score anywhere between 200 and 800 on each section making the highest possible combined score 2400. The ACT takes the average composite score for each subject, which ranges between 1 and 36.

 “I think these college admissions tests are good to a certain extent, but your score doesn’t necessarily prove your academic ability,” said Ainsworth.  Every time a student takes the SAT all the scores will be sent to the colleges where they apply, but the ACT allows students to choose which scores they want colleges to see.
    
    “I actually advise students to take both, so they can find out if they do better on one than the other,” said Roth. This is the best way to determine which test students should take. If a student knows which test provides them with the highest score, then the student can spend time preparing for it and make it their focus.

Doing well on these admissions tests can open doors into your college future, but colleges do not only look at SAT and ACT scores. They take into account many other factors. They look at the applicant’s accumulative GPA throughout high school, teacher recommendations and essays. Colleges also want to see that students are involved in extracurricular activities and community service. It is also important for them to know that the applicant will work hard and do well in college level courses. These college entrance exams provide them with a scope of a student’s academic achievement.

With more and more schools accepting both the SAT and the ACT, it is important to be able to decide which test to focus on. It is never too early to begin thinking about the future, so start taking the steps now. The road to college doesn’t have to be a frantic and confusing one. When the basics are understood these tests aren’t very intimidating.