<p>I know that most prestigious colleges, even those on the coasts, say that they don't prefer one test over the other. However, is this actually true? If I submit an ACT and no SAT reasoning test score, will my ACT score be viewed as highly as an equivalent SAT score (using a conversion table)?</p>
<p>i have the same question</p>
<p>thats a hard question to answer. but it has been discussed many times on this board so give the search tool a try!</p>
<p>If you have a link to one of those threads, that would be great; I'm having trouble finding any specifically addressing this question.</p>
<p>ACT = SAT</p>
<p>same thing</p>
<p>Why do people even bother taking the SAT then!? A recent thread almost had a consensus that the SAT is a lot more difficult than the ACT.</p>
<p>I dont know if the SAT is more difficult, but I think everyone knows the SAT, but not everyone knows of the ACT. The College Board Pays alot of money for product placements and for coverage, so it is not surprising that most people know of the SAT but not ACT. Also, the coasts have always been friendly to the SAT, and since most people live on the coast, most know the SAT.</p>
<p>If you learn and take both tests, chances are you are going to prefer the ACT, I think. But certainly not everyone prefers or scores better on the ACT.</p>
<p>High score on SAT > High score on ACT.</p>
<p>I think a high school on the SAT is weighed more than a high score on the ACT. I've never heard of anyone doing better on the SAT than on the ACT. </p>
<p>My theory is that more stupid people take the ACT so the scores somehow appear to balance out. I personally think the ACT is wayyyyyy easier, and I'm a lot better at it.</p>
<p>tennisgal89, I don't agree with that opinion, and it really discredits people who do take the ACT.</p>
<p>The SAT and ACT are two different beasts. The SAT really tests easy material in a way to trick you, but the ACT tests difficult material with very tight time limits to pressure you. The ACT also tests science, which is one of the harder sections. You should take both and use which ever one you do better on. That's why people still bother to take the SAT; my friend does horrible on the ACT because he can't work fast enough, but he scored a 2250 on his first real SAT. I do better on the ACT because I can work well within the time limits and still understand what I have to do. I can't do that on the SAT, especially with CR, because I can't understand it.</p>
<p>Even Harvard admitted last year in an interview with New York Times that they don't care which test you take as long as you take one that best demonstrates your ability. They value the tests equally.</p>
<p>And the comment about more stupid people taking the ACT is completely uncalled for and mean. If you look on an ACT and SAT popularity test, then around 20 states show that the SAT is more popular and 30 states show the ACT as more popular. I highgly doubt that students in those thirty states are stupid. </p>
<p>Even with score concordance, the average on the SAT is around a 1600, which is a 66.66% of the total score. While the average on the ACT has been in the 20-21 range for the last two years, 63-65.6%. They are around the same percentages, so really, the viability of both tests is reinforced by the numbers.</p>
<p>In summary, you should take both tests and concentrate on the one that you feel most confident about. I can't stand the SAT, regular SAT, SAT IIs different story. I'm taking the ACT in June and am hoping for a 33+, which I think I can achieve. With the SAT, I think that's not possible for me. However, all schools will accept both tests.</p>
<p>And also, I think the second part of your question was answered in another thread. If you submit scores for both tests, then boths cores will be marked for the adcoms, but they'll just think that the SAT is not your thing if your ACT score is much much higher or you had a bad day or whatever, but it won't hurt you as long as one of them is high. My SAT score was a flat 2000, which I can't get into to Cornell with, but my ACT score, I think will be high. My SAT score won't be held against me.</p>
<p>I wasn't trying to be mean; that's just my theory. I work at a local SAT/ACT prep place called "College Quest" where I grade practice SATs and ACTs, and not that where I work represents the whole country, but I notice a lot more...well...dumb people, for lack of better words, that I know from my school, take the ACT prep classes, take the ACT test, and don't even attempt the SAT. Also, I actually suck at the SAT and scored terribly on it and so I have given up on it. I have taken the ACT and done mucher better; I think it's a lot easier. I thought the questions were easier, but that was probably because it was so straightforward, although timing was harder. So I don't really see how that's mean or whatever, since I myself am an ACT-taker. And...maybe the ACT is more popular because more people think it's easier. Also, I never said that ALL ACT takers were stupid (also I am one, so that would also be insulting myself), just that more of those of lower intelligence take it, thus making the average score lower than it would be without them. And about your friend, it's the first I've ever heard of anyone scoring better on the SAT than ACT.</p>
<p>I wasn't saying the whole post is mean. I was referring specifically to the part about more "stupid," and now, "dumb" people taking it. That, I think is mean, to call anyone that and of course you didn't say everyone was mean.</p>
<p>This is the map I was referring to, and it really is no surprise that more people take the ACT in Michigan without even trying the SAT. Both the ACT and SAT have their territories, but those barriers are starting to disappear.</p>
<p>And you're also forgetting that the same number of people take both tests each year, so what you say is just an isolated case then. </p>
<p>And, I've met many people who can't handle the ACT for whatever reason. Many of them get stuck on the science because that is really where interpretation comes in. In the end colleges look at both tests the same way. So, bottom line: use the one that you do better on.</p>
<p>Tennisgal89,</p>
<p>More "dumb" people take the ACT in Michigan for two reasons. Many of the local colleges prefer ACT scores as opposed to SAT. Secondly, and probably more importantly, every junior in Michigan is required to take the ACT in order to graduate.</p>
<p>My opinion is that it depends where you are applying. Most coast schools prefer SAT, but will still accept the ACT. To a lot people, the SAT is more "prestigious" of a test, and doing well on the SAT is thought to be better than doing well on the ACT. However, as tux08902 pointed out, they both test different things so it is hard to compare the two.</p>
<p>You also have to consider that they are completely different types of tests. The ACT is an achievement test while the SAT is an aptitude test, so again, their testing methods are different, which makes it hard to compare. However, both are viable tests, so either one will do.</p>
<p>Well, I still don't really see how it's mean since I wasn't actually referring to anyone specifically, just things I have observed. I apreciate the educated arguments and information you all have provided, but I still do think that many people (and colleges), whether they admit it or not, weight a high SAT score higher than a high ACT score. I'm not trying to bring down the ACT takers, since it's not like I'm this amazing SAT taker trying to discredit high ACT scorers (once again, I SUCK at the SAT!), but that's just all that I've gathered. I haven't done research or anything and I guess I don't know a lot about regional statistics, but we are all entitled to our opinions and that's just my theory.</p>
<p>Yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but you need to be able to back it up, but it's fine.</p>
<p>Umm...I have.</p>
<p>Really, it doesn't matter. Show which ever one you are better at.</p>
<p>its really a tough cookie tought, so look at the hypothetical situation: </p>
<p>u score in the 1200s on your SAT
u score 700-800s on a few SAT IIs
u score a great score on ur ACT, lets say, 34+</p>
<p>now if u want to send in ur scores to harvard,ACT will send ur best score, but stupid colelgeboard will send EVERYTHING, including ur crappy sat scores</p>
<p>obviously colleges will know that u want to subsitute ur acts for ur sats, but they will still take those SAT I scores into consideration, i mean theyre not just goin to ignore them. whcih sucks! thats why i hate collegeboard, cuz they send everything. so pretty much if u screw up in one SAT then ur screwd on ur whole score report, prettymuch</p>
<p>for those of you who said the ACT is for dump people id think again. a DARTMOUTH admissions counselor stated that they dont see any correlation between how a student does on the sat and how the student does in colllege. In fact, they said that college is taught similar to the ACT and that they see people who do well on the ACT will continue to do well in college because they are able to retain and apply information efficiently.</p>
<p>really? thanks lalala06!!!!</p>