Sep
19
SAT or ACT — Which Test Is Best?
September 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Until recently, the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) was considered a prerequisite for anyone planning to attend a competitive college. For decades, high school guidance counselors were adamant: if you want to attend a good college, this test is mandatory.
The ACT (from the American College Testing Inc.; pronounced A-C-T) was introduced in 1959, but for decades, it lagged far behind the dominant SAT. Few knew about it and few colleges accepted students who did not share their SAT scores.
But the reputation of the SAT was damaged in 2006, when a scoring error affected 4,000 students, who received results about 200 points lower than they earned. The SAT had been criticized for years because results the results showed minority groups consistently scored lower.
College admissions officers realized they had a choice and they began to accept both tests.
The number of students taking the ACT has grown rapidly in recent years; up 25 percent in just four years. They are now on equal footing. For the Spring 2009 tests, an equal number of students took the SAT and ACT, about 1.5 million for each test.
Still, many parents are not comfortable with the ACT. They think of the SAT as superior because they grew up with it. Many ambitious students take both, in an effort to cover all the bases.
However, that’s an exhausting exercise. Students will be better off if they decide which test is likely to be best for them, and then put all of their energy into preparing for it.
By taking the test that is best suited to your abilities, you may give yourself an advantage.
Before you make the decision, first learn if the colleges on your list prefer one test over the other. Most colleges make this information easy to obtain. Look for it on the school’s web site (in the admissions section); if you can’t find an answer, don’t be shy. Write or call. Most admissions offices will be happy to answer the questions of a prospective student, and these days, this is a common question.
If you can take either test, decide which test matches your own abilities.
The SAT is heavy on math problem-solving and critical-reading skills. The ACT is broader. The reading section covers natural sciences and the social sciences. For example, on the ACT, you will be exposed to scientific charts; on the SAT, you will not. According to a comparison made by College View, the ACT covers high school math up to trigonometry; the SAT is more limited, covering geometry and algebra II.
How do you decide? Try them for yourself. Practice tests are readily available for both exams. The following books from Princeton Review are virtually identical in their treatment of each test. They allow you to take a practice test and score yourself.
Don’t let the advice of friends relatives make your decision for you. Until you experience each test firsthand, you will not know which test is going to be the best choice for you.
A college education lasts four years. It’s worth spending a couple of hours to determine whether the SAT or ACT is your best choice.