There is a lot of information, classes and books available on how to master your test taking abilities for the SATs and ACT tests. While it is important to practice the skills that are necessary to do well on these tests, it is also very important to know the differences between them. Being informed on each test’s highlights, challenges and implications will help you and your child decide which one is best for him or her.
Generally speaking, the SAT and ACT tests attempt to gauge a student’s readiness for college. However, each test has a slightly different focus when it comes to material.
The ACT
The ACT exam is made up of four main sections: English, Math, Reading and Science. The test is a multiple-choice test that takes place over approximately three hours. Recently, the ACT has also added a writing section, which includes an essay response that adds another 30 minutes to the test.
The scoring for ACT is based on a scale of 1 to 36 for each test section, with the final score being an average of all sections. Students are not penalized for incorrect answers, so there is no penalty for guessing. Colleges receiving scores see both the individual score and its relation to the percentile rank of national test-takers.
The SAT
In comparison, the SAT consists of three test sections: Math, Critical Reading and Writing. The SAT runs about 3 hours and 45 minutes, similar to the test time for the ACT. The writing section of the SAT is not optional and one section of the SAT is experimental, but the test taker does not know which one it is. SAT students will be faced with both multiple choice and constructed response items in the math section. The critical reading section is multiple-choice only, and the writing section is multiple-choice with one essay response.
Scores are based on a scale from 200 to 800 points. Students are penalized for incorrect answers, so knowing when to guess is important (random guessing is not recommended). Like the ACT, colleges and universities see both the individual’s test score and a percentile rank relative to national test-takers.
Origins Reveal Important Difference?
Many educators feel there is an important distinction between the two exams. The SAT, created in the mid 1920s, was crafted as a test of aptitude (it was originally called the Scholastic Aptitude Test). The format, content and scoring has changed several times in the years since it was created, and it is now said to be an aptitude test that covers a broad area, and is not tied to a specific course or curriculum. The College Board, who creates the test, claims that it calls upon the cognitive skills necessary for college success.
Developers of the ACT, on the other hand, cite its link between test content and the curricula of high schools. It was not designed as an aptitude test. Instead, the test makers claim, it directly tests students on what they have learned in school courses in English, math, and science.
Which One Should Your Child Choose?
Most colleges and universities accept both the SAT and ACT. There are conversion scales available online so you can compare an SAT score to an ACT score. Keep in mind what your child’s target schools require for admissions as this may sway your decision.
Don’t let yourself get too crazy over the choice–the tests are not vastly different. The difference could be described by the difference between milk chocolate and dark chocolate: there is a difference, but in the end they are both just types of chocolate. Many experts claim that most students do fairly similarly on either test, and that has been our experience working with students who take both. Your child may have a tendency to do better on one or the other, but it most likely will be a relatively small difference.
To figure out which test is a better fit, consider what your child’s strengths are. Students who enjoy and excel in writing often prefer the SAT, given its mandatory timed essay and vocabulary questions. The ACT doesn’t test vocabulary directly, but through it’s reading test items. Students who have trouble with scientific thinking may feel challenged by the ACT’s science reasoning section, but those who like to reason scientifically may excel on this section. The ACT math section features 60 questions, some of which include concepts of trigonometry, while the SAT does not contain any trigonometry and has more math logic questions (tricky!) than the ACT.
Ultimately, students and parents have to decide which test will best showcase the student’s skills. Taking a timed practice test in each can be a good way to get a better idea of which test suits a child’s strengths and academic goals.
“Source: “Preparation for College Admissions Exams: Comparing the SAT and ACT and What They Measure.” Education Resources Information Center: eric.ed.gov.
