SAT vs. ACT: Making the Right Choice for College Admissions

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1 SAT vs. ACT: Making the Right Choice for College Admissions Chris Brechtel November 8, 2017

2 Things You May Have Heard SAT/ACT scores are the most important element of a student s college application. Students should wait until their senior year to take the SAT/ACT. High schools will register students automatically for the SAT and ACT. Students can register for the SAT and ACT on the College Board website. Weak math students will perform better on the SAT. The SAT is easier than the ACT. If students prepare properly, they can expect a 3-4 point improvement on the ACT or a point improvement on the SAT. Students shouldn t take the ACT/SAT more than 3 times. Students should take the official ACT or SAT cold (without preparation) in order to establish a baseline score. Certain SAT/ACT test dates are scaled more favorably.

3 Corrected myths SAT/ACT scores are the NOT the most important element of a student s college application. Students should NOT wait until their senior year to take the SAT/ACT. High schools will NOT register students automatically for the SAT and ACT. Students can register for the SAT on the College Board website and the ACT on the ACT, Inc. website. Weak math students will not necessarily perform better on the SAT. The SAT is not necessarily easier than the ACT. If students prepare properly, they can expect significant improvement on the ACT or the SAT. Students can take the ACT/SAT more than 3 times. Students should NOT take the official ACT or SAT cold (without preparation) in order to establish a baseline score. Certain SAT/ACT test dates are NOT scaled more favorably.

4 Factors for College Admissions Grades in College Prep Courses Strength of Curriculum Admissions Test Scores (SAT, ACT) Class Rank SAT Subject Test Scores SAT = Scholastic Aptitude Test PSAT = Preliminary SAT ACT = American College Testing PreACT = Preliminary ACT Extracurricular Activities Teacher/Counselor Recommendation Letters Personal Statement (Essay) Alumni connection (Legacy) Demonstrated Interest

5 SAT and ACT: Test Basics SAT College Board Top Score: 1600 (800 per section) Structure (min): Evidence-Based Reading (65 52Q) Writing & Language (35 44Q) Math without Calc ( Q) Math with Calc ( Q) Essay (50) Total Sections: 4 + Essay* ACT ACT, Inc. Top Score: 36 (36 per section) Structure (min): English (45 75Q) Math (60 60Q) Reading (35 40Q) Science (35 40Q) Essay (40) Total Sections: 4 + Essay* * Optional (sort of)

6 SAT vs. ACT: Differences SAT contains evidence-based reading questions. SAT still has a greater emphasis on vocabulary. ACT tests a higher level of math (Precalculus/Trig). SAT Math section provides formulas. SAT has grid-in questions and a no calculator Math section. ACT emphasizes speed (more time pressure). ACT contains a Science section. SAT essay prompt: discuss how author builds his/her argument ACT essay prompt: analyze 3 views and discuss your own

7 SAT Math Formulas College Board SAT Test #4

8 SAT Math Question Quadratic Formula College Board SAT Test #4 without calculator

9 ACT Math Question Trig Identity ACT C

10 SAT Math Question 9 / 4 College Board SAT Test #4 with calculator

11 SAT Math Question College Board SAT Test #4 with calculator

12 SAT Evidence-based Reading Question College Board SAT Test #4

13 SAT Writing & Language Question College Board SAT Test #4

14 ACT English Question ACT C

15 What s a good score? Stanford Princeton UCLA UCSD Pomona Percentile: 25th 75th 25th 75th San Diego State Freshman Class Statistics RW M SAT ACT Harvard MIT Gonzaga ACT SAT

16 Choosing the right test Take a full-length practice SAT and ACT. Use an official College Board (SAT) or ACT, Inc. practice test. Convert the ACT score to an SAT-equivalent score. Consider how much study will be needed to reach the target score. Student preference is the deciding factor!

: The Official ACT Prep Guide, 2018 ($28) ACT Online prep ($39.95* for 1 yr.

17 Recommended Study Materials SAT ACT College Board: The Official SAT Study Guide, 2018 Edition ($20, free download) Khan Academy online (free) ACT, Inc.: The Official ACT Prep Guide, 2018 ($28) ACT Online prep ($39.95* for 1 yr. access) The Princeton Review: Cracking the ACT with 6 Practice Tests, 2017 Edition ($14) * Free if student qualifies for a fee waiver

18 SAT/ACT Prep Timeline Sophomore year PSAT and/or PreACT Junior year October PSAT National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test SAT/ACT Prep + Tests (over summer or during school year) Determine which test is a better match for the student s abilities Consider taking SAT or ACT tests more than once SAT Subject tests (end of school year) Senior year Retake tests if necessary Start Early!

19 Test Dates for SAT August 26 October 7 November 4 December 2 March 10 May 5 June 2 ACT September 9 October 28 December 9 February 10 April 14 June 9 July 14 Register no later than 5-6 weeks prior to the desired test date.

21 What are the SAT Subject tests? Administered by The College Board (same company that offers the SAT and AP tests) Selective colleges and engineering programs may require 2 Subject test scores. Subject tests are subject-specific, fund of knowledge tests. Math: Math Level 1 (Geometry, Algebra 1 & 2) & Math Level 2 (Precalculus/Trig) Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics Humanities: English Literature, U.S. History, World History Languages: Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, German, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Modern Hebrew Test dates: same as SAT (except March); Language listening-version: Nov. only Duration of each Subject test: 1 hour Multiple-choice format, guessing penalty for incorrect answers Maximum score: 800 [650 = median score, 700+ is a good score, 750+ for selective programs] Take as many as 3 Subject tests in one day Subject matter tested does NOT necessarily overlap with AP curriculum

22 What s a good SAT Subject test score? Percentiles for 2017 Graduating Class Lit USH WH Math1 Math2 BioE BioM Chem Phys The College Board website

College Entrance Testing:

College Entrance Testing: SATs, ACTs, Subject Tests, and test-optional schools College & Career Day April 1, 2017 Today s Workshop Goal: Learn about different college entrance exams to develop a testing