<p>SAT</a> scores edge down; ACT now more popular exam - News - Boston.com</p>
<p>I just saw this article. I thought it was interesting that the ACT now surpasses the SAT in college entrance exam tests.</p>
<p>I find this interesting too…basically from the perspective of a parent having a child who is trying to figure out which test is best. DC’s classmates strongly favor the ACT…many have tried SAT once(or even just a “practice” PSAT in 10th grade) and then dump up, focusing solely on the ACT. </p>
<p>Is there a type of learner that finds greater success with the SAT than the ACT? I suspect I may have one of these kids but only time will tell as DC is scheduled to take the SAT for the first time this fall.</p>
<p>The general thought is that the ACT tests more like schools tests, direct learned knowledge is tested. It has a science section (which really is a how well you interpret graphs and chart section). Less focus on vocab. The math has a few trig questions. </p>
<p>The SAT is more logic, analysis oriented. You pick the best choice in the answers. No trig in the math. </p>
<p>The essay questions are also different. The ACT question has you present both sides of an argument. The SAT questions are usually some type of ethical or moral choice and does not require both sides presented.</p>
<p>My son is a science type of a guy and I thought he would like the ACT better but preferred the SAT. </p>
<p>It appears that the middle of the country prefers the ACT but each of the coasts like the SAT.</p>
<p>Another advantage of the ACT: if you take ACT with writing, many of the schools will use that in place of SATII.</p>
<p>^^and therein lies the answer to the OP’s question…there are only a small handful of schools that do not accept the ACT in lieu of SATII’s</p>
<p>Except if you apply to a school that wants an SAT 2 in Math or science. The ACT won’t help you then.</p>
<p>I live in ACT country, but prefer the SAT. ACT is more time-pressured, more reading- dominant. IMO, it is easier to prep for the SAT.</p>
<p>Most students will have comparable ACT/SAT scores, but some students seem to do significantly better on one test or the other. Sometimes it comes down to how they felt on that day, if they were well-rested, stressed, etc.</p>
<p>My son didn’t study for either test and did much better on the ACT. He is definitely a math and science guy, and scored extremely well on SAT 2 for physics and math, but not as well on SAT.</p>
<p>SAT is “trickier”–but once you get used to the types of questions they use, you can raise your score.</p>
<p>My S is like 1214’mom’s S. No prep for either but did better on the ACT. He’s more of an English/Humanities guy though.</p>
<p>D’15 will take both and go from there.</p>
<p>My son didn’t do quite as well on ACT and he hated the test. He thought the science was really hard. He’s not big on standardized tests, although he did prepare extensively for GMAT and did great.</p>
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<p>The questions on the ACT are more straightforward, but you have quite a bit less time per problem, so it’s harder to finish if you don’t keep moving rapidly. The SAT allows more time per question but the questions can be hard to decipher without multiple readings or modest reflection time. In either case, the goal of the test designers is to burn off your time or encourage you to make silly mistakes – so they obtain a nice continuous bell-curve shaped distribution of scores overall. Certain individuals may benefit more from one approach than the other, so it makes sense to at least try practice tests for both test.</p>
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<p>Yes, if you try to read all the copy. The trick is to read the questions and the graphs and read the copy as a last resort.</p>
<p>The reason for the increase in ACT testers is due to an impressive strategy by the company. They have succeeded in an integration plan at the state level with a two day test. Day one is the traditional ACT. Day two includes work keys which show how prepared the student is in entering the workforce. This state exam becomes one if the measures for all of the state’s 11th grade students. The teacher’s focus on the exam and ensure everyone is prepared for the test since again it is a measurement of the school’s success. I remember two years ago my son’s class didn’t do well on exam and the principal removed a senior privilege.</p>
<p>I made sure both of my children took both tests, however ACT easily won out because the school emphasizes it so much.</p>
<p>In looking through some of the test prep books I have bought for my kids, it does seem like the SAT is easier to prep for. We have a few different brands of books and each one talks about things like “if you see this on the SAT, the answer is always/never” or “the SAT always has one of these questions”, etc… The strategies are actually kind of fun to learn.</p>
<p>I’ve long heard the suggestion to take both tests, but I was still a bit surprised that my D did significantly better on the ACT. She’s much more a language kid, as math was by far her weakest area in both tests. She didn’t “study” per se, but she reviewed various SAT/ACT prep books and took sample tests to get an idea of what the questions would be like.</p>
<p>I’m an SAT/ACT tutor, and the vast majority of my students are prepping for the ACT these days…granted my specialty is ADHD kids and the ACT usually works better for them…but even for other students more and more are opting for the ACT. Most of them complain about the SAT’s “trickiness” as already mentioned. I also agree with the other post that the ACT has done a fantastic job of marketing in the last few years. I tutor online, so my students are all over the country, and in the past there were clear cut regional preferences (here in TX no one knew about the ACT when I was in HS). That’s definitely changed now, and I think it’s the result of the ACT pushing itself into everyone’s consciousness.</p>
<p>Re: above - I can’t figure out why everyone is getting this advice to take both tests. It’s a waste of time/effort/money to seriously prep for both (except in some limited circumstances). They’re also very different tests, so prepping for one doesn’t help all that much with the other. Take full length practice tests of both, then decide which one to take.</p>
<p>Isn’t the advice to take both simply to see which format plays to a student’s strengths? Or are you saying…“don’t pay for it”…figure that out by using free practice tests. </p>
<p>We assumed the ACT would be our DC’s test because every kid seems to take it around here. Then DC took it, attained what many consider a respectable score, but wasn’t able to finish the test sections…ran out of time. With the PSAT on the horizon, the focused was turned to that test. We knew little about the PSAT/SAT but were pleasantly surprised to see how much more time is available for the questions. DC has been easily finishing SAT practice test sections with time to spare and missing very few, if any, questions on the sections. It seemed to make sense to at least try the SAT once before turning back to the ACT to address the speed issue.</p>
<p>In my state, all 11th graders are required to take the ACT (at taxpayer expense) during regular school hours as part of school assessments. My kids’ HS even runs an in-house ACT prep class. The ACT scores then go right onto the kid’s HS transcript. </p>
<p>Unless the kid is trying to get into a very selective school, most no longer bother with the SAT.</p>
<p>We had our kids take an SAT too to see if they might do better on that. Since both were better on the ACT, we had them prep just on the ACT.</p>
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<p>In mine, too. My son took the ACT on his own as a sophomore, got a 36, and figured he was done with testing. But the following year, his school had him take the PSAT and told him he was required to retake the ACT as a graduation requirement. We at first tried to get a waiver from central administration but then decided, what the heck, it will help his high school’s stats and make his counselor happy.</p>
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<p>My son got into four top-20 colleges (two early-writes) without ever taking the SAT. The ACT is now acceptable everywhere as a legitimate alternative.</p>
<p>Our school has all juniors take the PSAT, no requirement for ACT. And here in Ohio we are in ACT country.</p>