ACT and SAT, what's the difference?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, I don't quite understand the difference between the two tests, ACT and SAT. I've taken both, I got a 29 overall on ACT and a 2010 overall on SAT (yea, i *****ed up on the writing section 510! yikes). I took the ACT for fun, and after the first time, it seemed quite easy, I was thinking about taking it again to get into the 30's... I was just wondering 29 and 2010, which score should I send into colleges, and.. if I retake ACT and get 30+ should I just send in ACT score?</p>

<p>Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.</p>

2

<p>2010 is better than 29. What was your math + verbal? I think that's the one colleges will look at.</p>

3

<p>Hey, thanks for the reply. What's the equivalent of 2010 SAT to ACT?</p>

<p>CR=730
Math=770 (really ****es me off! haha, but it's good enough.. I guess)... and writing.. you can do the math...</p>

4

<p>2010 is better than 29 yes, but only marginally.</p>

<p>I went from 2070 to 2160, and 29 to 33.</p>

<p>Retake!</p>

5

<p>2010 would be about a 30 or 31. There is no exact way to measure the two up and there is no proportion ratio. You can just look at the percentages and the standard deviation for students scores and see where thet align.</p>

6

<p>Thanks a lot for everyone's replys... It was very helpful!</p>

7

<p>There are really a few key distinctions between the two tests: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>The ACT is intended to test knowledge of subject matter and isn't notorious for obfuscating questions. On the contrary, the SAT's total intent is to confuse you. That may sound a bit blunt, but its the truth. SAT tests your reasoning skills, more than your retention of knowledge (The the Subject Tests' job)</p></li>
<li><p>This one may sound rudimentary but i'll still put it in. The fact that there is no negative marking on the ACT is a key difference.</p></li>
<li><p>The structure of the two tests is also different...that may have caused you to percieve one to be easier than the other. On the ACT, you devote a full 60 minutes to a section, and then you're done. The SAT maintains the relatively terse sections, and changes subject matter every 20-25 minutes. </p></li>
<li><p>Also, you're score on the SAT is closer to a 32-33 on the ACT, however, there really is no concrete mechanism to determine that.</p></li>
</ol>

8

<p>My SAT 2180 and ACT 32...i think act is harder</p>

9

<p>The SAT is harder.</p>

<p>On the ACT, everything is like concrete on what they want. It doesn't take much effort, if you ask me.</p>

10

<p>Actually mcdz, your SAT score is equal to a 33 ACT, so send that.</p>

11

<p>Haha, and may I ask how you got to that conversion? Did you just use my CR + Math and exclude the Writing? Is the writing really no that important?</p>

12

<p>Writing doesnt count for much, Nobody was ever really taking the SAT II writing so collegeboard added it to the SAT I as an excuse to charge more for the test. Nice scheme if you ask me. Colleges dont consider the Writing portion much at all.</p>

13

<p>...writing was by far and away the most popular sat ii test
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/about/news_info/cbsenior/yr2004/2004_CBSNR_total_group.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/about/news_info/cbsenior/yr2004/2004_CBSNR_total_group.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

14

<p>Which test is harder depends on the student. SAT has trickier questions; ACT has more time constraints in answering. At least this is what people have been reporting on CC.</p>

<p>Way back when I took both and got comparable scores. My son took both and scored pretty much the same. My daughter did much better on the ACT in practice and simply liked the format of that test better, so didn't even take the SAT.</p>