College tests are long and sometimes confusing. Demystify the SAT and ACT to decide which is best for you.
Like most high school students, you will soon begin the long, tedious process of applying to colleges. You'll be filling out applications and writing essays, but most importantly, you'll be including your standardized test scores.
Which scores do you submit? And, if you haven't taken any tests yet, which ones should you take? Currently, with the introduction of the new SATs, distinguishing between the ACT and the SAT can seem difficult. However, some simple differences could prove higher scores on either of the two tests, depending on personal strengths and weaknesses.
ACT
The ACT, somewhat unheard of in many parts of the country is more of a knowledge-based test as opposed to the SAT, which focuses on reasoning. The ACT consists of four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. Sometimes, an experimental section will be added to the test, but this is labeled and recognized as being experimental.
The math section covers problems up to trigonometry while science asks questions regarding charts and experiments. For the reading portion, four passages are presented with related questions. The English test stresses correct grammar usage.
Unlike the SAT, students are not penalized for wrong answers; they are only awarded for correct answers. Scoring is on a 1-36 scale for each section in addition to the comprehensive score of 1-36 that goes on your college application. There are only 6 tests per year and it is best to sign up for them at least one month before the test date. For more information, or to register, visit the ACT student site.
SAT
The most common standardized test is still the SAT. Although it has been changed, the test still keeps its distinguishing characteristics.
The SAT is a reasoning test. Most of the math questions can be answered with no calculator and the reading questions are hypothetical. It is not very knowledge based, and is instead based on your ability to reason. This test contains ten sections: three critical reading, three math, three writing, and one experimental section. Unfortunately, this experimental section is designed to look like all other sections and may sometimes confuse students who predict their score during the test.
The content is slightly easier than the ACT, with math only covering up to 9th grade basic geometry and simpler problems at an Algebra II level. Reading is mostly sentence completions, short and long reading segments and questions regarding reading comprehension. The writing portion requires one essay but also includes questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice. Students can score in a range from 200-800 in each section. These scores are then added together for a combined score, with a 2400 being the highest possible combined score. Tests are given seven times per year and it is recommended to register at least six weeks before the test day. To register, or for questions, log onto College Board.com.
Does it matter?
While the ACTs and the SATs are grounds for confusion and stress, they are still only a small factor. College applications contain GPAs, extracurriculars and teacher recommendations. Each exam is different from the other in small, but important ways. Simply pick the standardized test that seems most compatible with your style of testing and try your best. At the end of the day, they're still just tests.
