Featured on Shine:

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

SAT vs. ACT: Standardized Testing

user

However much students might dread taking the terrible standardized tests of junior year, no one can deny the importance of test scores in college applications. Though you’ll hear admissions officers say in every college information session, "We don’t judge strictly by test scores", the scores still give a fairly accurate measure of your overall academic capability. For decades the SAT was the king of all standardized tests, but recently the ACT emerged as a worthy competitor for the SAT’s dominance. At this point in the game, most colleges will accept either of the two very different tests.

The SAT, or the Scholastic Aptitude Test, measures students’ ability to analyze and solve problems, skills very important to a college education. In other words, it measures your logic, not what you’ve learned in the classroom. It consists of three sections, each scored out of 800 points: math, critical reading, and writing. The writing portion includes grammar multiple choice questions as well as an essay question. Your composite score combines the 3 sections together, and is out of 2400 points. The ACT, on the other hand, is mostly an achievement test: it measures how much you’ve retained from school. The ACT has four sections: math, reading, English, and science, as well as an optional writing portion where you answer an essay question. Each section, except the essay question, is scored out of 36 points, and your composite score is an average of your scores in each section. The highest possible composite score is 36. Having taking both tests, I have a couple of recommendations for how to get your best possible score on either test

· Prepare yourself. You are likely to do better on both tests if you know what to expect. Take practice tests in prep books, classes, whatever you can get your hands on. The College Board and the Princeton Review both offer reliable programs and prep books. Some high schools offer programs that are free or much less expensive if you access them through the school. In my opinion, for the SAT, just practice as much as you possibly can. Take note of the types of questions that you struggle with, and figure out how to answer them correctly. For the ACT, I recommend brushing up on basic grammar rules and math skills through Algebra II level. It’s also extremely important to get enough sleep the night before you take the test, and to bring food to get yourself through the long morning.

 · Take both tests. Unless you get a perfect score on whichever one you take first, your best bet is to take them both, and see which one you do better on. Most colleges express no preference as to which test scores you send them.

· Utilize score choice. The college board has changed its rules to help students present themselves in the best possible light. Unless the colleges say otherwise (and most don’t) you can take either test as many times as you want, and you can send your best scores to each college. They will never see your other lower scores.

 

Related: standardized testing, score choice, sat, princeton review, jillian timko, college board, act

Syndication:

From the Community…

Comments 1-10 of 1,257
  • Jackie's Avatar
    Posted by Jackie Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:23am PDT

    First of all, hate the spam that shows up in the comments section.

    Second of all, I am not a big fan of standardized testing. I don't think many people are. I have never heard of anyone being excited to take a standardized test. There are those who absolutely hate them and there are others who fall somewhere in the middle; the majority. Ever since I started school there has always been a standardized test to take. No matter what the teacher said to try to put the students at ease it just never worked for me. I have always known I was a good student, no genius or the smartest in the class but above average. My standardized test scores never reflected my true knowledge of any subject like my class work did. I know that the tests are not geared toward one particular student, or classroom, or school district but I just don't think they accurately test the knowledge of any student. I know that schools look at other factors based on accepting or rejecting a student other than some test score; but why is there so much emphasis on getting a high test score? It in no way tells the school how well you will actually do in college, it’s just a guess. It won’t tell them how well you will adjust to a new living situation, or how well you will be able to take responsibility for yourself and your choices. The average college retention rate for freshman returning the next year has not changed in several years at around 45% (in my location). I somehow think that if standardized testing was in any way an indicator of student success the retention rate would be much, much higher. Standardized testing important? Hardly think so.

    Report Abuse
  • LB's Avatar
    Posted by LB Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:47pm PDT

    I hate standardized tests. I took the SAT (got a 2100 on my first go) and hated it so much that I never want to take it again, even if it means I could improve my score. It was horrible and felt like a huge waste of time. They could easily cut out half the stuff in there and it'd still indicate a student's ability.

    Actually, as for how the SAT indicates a student's ability - I don't think a 3 hour test can tell a college whether or not a student is academically able. It's so ridiculous. I'm glad that admissions look more at a student's grades and courseload than their SAT score that they received on a random Saturday morning five minutes after they rolled out of bed six months beforehand.

    Report Abuse
  • __A_YAHOO_USER__'s Avatar
    Posted by __A_YAHOO_USER__ Mon Sep 7, 2009 2:22am PDT

    I took both the SAT, ACT and SAT Subject Tests last year as a Junior. It was horrible. Not only did I get fatigued by the last few sections on the tests; it was incredibly long, unbelievably boring, half the stuff I felt like I didn't know and I felt nervous, uncomfortable and rushed for the entire test. I hate it, but I have to retake the ACT and SAT because I didn't get the best scores the first time. Its going to suck because I am retaking both in October 2009 and its going to kill me. I prepared with test preps and practice tests and I definitely feel stronger since I have done it. I am ready to take my tests and get a higher score.

    Report Abuse
Comments 1-10 of 1,257

leave your comment

You must sign in to post a comment

Sign In for personalized information

New User? Sign Up

Let’s talk: Manage My Stuff Write a Post