<p>everyone on this website says colleges weigh ACTs the same as SATs. At the same time, they also verify that the ACT is much more managable than the SAT (I agree with this one). The two facts contradict each other.</p>
<p>Also, if you look on collegeboard, most people turn in SAT, especially in the top tier colleges. </p>
<p>So colleges must weigh SAT atleast a little bit more than ACTs, right?</p>
<p>ACTs are not more manageable. They test different areas. Most people that fail at the SATs think that the ACTs are easier and vice versa. And if one test is easier than the other, it doesn't mean that they are not comparable. It just means that a perfect score on one will only be equal to a high score on the other. The scales are created in a way that scales to the difficulty of the tests, hence the word scale.</p>
<p>All colleges in the US accept the ACT. My family/kids only take the ACT. If you're worried about Ivys, we have friends who only took the ACT and got into Brown and Yale. The tests are different and, depending on how you think, one or the other may be a better "fit" for you. That said, there is an "equivalency" scale that shows approx. what ACT score correlates to SAT and vice-versa, and this is often the case for students who take both tests.</p>
<p>The big difference is that if you take multiple tries on the ACT, you can decide which particular test to report to colleges. if you take any form of SAT more than once, including SAT IIs, all SAT scores taken will be reported to colleges. Some colleges say they will "superscore" the SAT, which means they may take the best scores you receive, regardless of different dates, i.e., if you do better in Math in April, but better in english in June, they will combine their scores for you to make you look your best.</p>
<p>We like the ACT because it is more straightforward and doesn't penalize you for wrong answers (as does the SAT). It has worked for our family quite well, and we feel as though WE'RE in control of the info, vs. the College Board. But that's just us...others love the SAT and it works for them. The ACT has gained great acceptance in the last couple of years. </p>
<p>Personally, I hope colleges throw test scores out completely....</p>
<p>Personally, I hope colleges throw test scores out completely....</p>
<p>I second that</p>
<p>I don't. Test scores are a way to compare students across different schools and different states.</p>
<p>If you happened to be rank 2 and lost a spot at Harvard to a rank 1 that happened to go to a third rate hillbilly school in Montana or something?</p>
<p>GPAs and ranks are relative to your school and your area. Test scores are standard throughout the nation. A 4.0 at one school may be only equal to a 2.5 at another school. Whereas a 2400 at one school equals a 2400 at another. Standardized tests are good for the college application process and they are here to stay.</p>