College Admissions Forum

[edvadmin]

What are the differences? When do you take the ACT vs. the SAT?

[edvadmin]

Here is a blog post about the differences between the SATs and ACTs!
http://blog.howtogetin.com/ask-admissions-girl-sat-or-act-which-test-should-i-take/556/

[Admissions Girl]

Most colleges require an SAT test score to be admitted, and some schools will take either the ACT/SAT, so you can submit the one you scored best. In this case, I recommend taking both the ACT and SAT if you can, so you can choose. They say that the nature of the tests are slightly different and you may be advantaged or disadvantaged in one or the other. But only take both if it makes sense. Check on HowToGetIn.com to see if the college accepts the SAT, ACT or Both by searching the college name, or using the college search tool and looking under the admissions tab for that school.

For example, Skidmore College takes the SAT or the ACT and you can find that out here: http://www.howtogetin.com/colleges/skid ... ssions.php

Learn more about the ACT test here: http://www.howtogetin.com/college-prepa ... t-test.php
Learn more about the SAT test here: http://www.howtogetin.com/college-prepa ... t-test.php

I think the basic difference everyone notes is that (according to actstudent.org):

The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities.

The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing Test. The SAT has only 3 components: Critical Reasoning, Mathematics, and a required Writing Test.

The College Board introduced a new version of the SAT in 2005, with a mandatory writing test. ACT continues to offer its well-established test, plus an optional writing test. You take the ACT Writing Test only if required by the college(s) you're applying to.

The SAT has a correction for guessing. That is, they take off for wrong answers. The ACT is scored based on the number of correct answers with no penalty for guessing.

The ACT has an Interest Inventory that allows students to evaluate their interests in various career options.

I took both tests, and I remember liking that there was no penalty for guessing on the ACT and it was definitely a different format. I believe that although I could choose which score to send I sent both the ACT and SAT scores because they were at a similar level, and why not!