<p>Why did you choose to take ACT instead of SAT?</p>
<p>I bombed the SAT but it looks like I will do waaayyy better on the ACT</p>
<p>I bombed the SAT but it looks like I will do waaayyy better on the ACT</p>
<p>personally i think ACT is the most valid test because it actully tests material that a person should know before college. </p>
<p>for example:
English- learn how to identify and in the future write proper and concise english
math- up to precalc, so IMO if you get a 30+ you should be ready for calculus
reading- how to read for “business” not for pleasure which is essential because in college you must learn how to effectively read
science- problem solving </p>
<p>as for the SAT how is having just a strong vocabulary the key to succeeding in college and for the math section it is not relavent to have questions like that. in physics, chem, and engineering the math you need to know is formuated</p>
<p>source: Me. who has a 4.37 gpa but got a 1700 on the SAT (540 CR, 600 M, 560 W) and then a 33 composite on ACT ( 34 E, 36 M, 30 R, 30 S).</p>
<p>@FutureENTSurgeon </p>
<p>:) you said everything I wanted to say our scores on both tests are exactly the same. Agreed</p>
<p>I took both … got a 29 composite on ACT and the equivalent of a 26 or 27 on SAT</p>
<p>I took SAT in January and got ~2250 and I am wondering whether I should stick to SAT or switch to ACT.</p>
<p>I took the SAT this month and got a 1950. I want to take the ACT to see if I can do better, since the questions are more straightforward. Then after that I’ll just retake whichever one I did better on.</p>
<p>I took both.
ACT: 30
SAT: 1750
There is a clear winner here.
Perhaps I’m just not intellectually gifted [innately intelligent, what have you], but if the ACT is looked at the same for * colleges *, I’ll take the ACT!</p>
<p>@happysunnyshine
there is truly no reason for not taking both … you got a great score but the ACT might give you an even better one. The only drawbacks are $45 and a few hours.</p>
<p>^You are right. But do you think that it is too late to start studying (I am a junior)?</p>
<p>Can’t you take it in october or something and have the scores ready before applying?</p>
<p>^So the last date acceptable is October 26 for EA/ED?</p>
<p>“English- learn how to identify and in the future write proper and concise english
math- up to precalc, so IMO if you get a 30+ you should be ready for calculus
reading- how to read for “business” not for pleasure which is essential because in college you must learn how to effectively read
science- problem solving”</p>
<p>“as for the SAT how is having just a strong vocabulary the key to succeeding in college and for the math section it is not relavent to have questions like that. in physics, chem, and engineering the math you need to know is formuated”</p>
<p>This is incorrect. First of all, the writing (English on ACT) section tests writing rules for both tests. And on the SAT, if there are 2 grammatically correct choices, the concise one is correct, also encouraging concise writing like the ACT. The SAT doesn’t have a science section, but the science section on the ACT is not really testing problem solving that much. Interpreting graphs is not exactly problem solving. Actual physics questions and AMC/AIME/USAMO math questions will truly test your problem solving skills. You don’t have to know a thing about science to do well on that section, although it can help. You say people need to learn to read for business and not pleasure. Well, the reading on the ACT doesn’t have passages that are only associated with business. Some passages are also “reading for pleasure” type passages. And anyway, if one reads for pleasure frequently he or she will inevitably become a strong reader in any type of literature (that’s why the people who read a lot easily get perfect scores for reading on both the ACT and SAT). Finally, the math. Ok, the SAT tests lower level math, but knowing some pre-calculus concepts actually can help with the SAT math questions (particularly understanding exponential growth). If you get a 30+ on the ACT math that does not mean you are ready for calculus. The SAT math is very good in that it sees whether you truly understand the lower level math and if you can apply your knowledge to tricky problems. Math builds upon previous knowledge. Those who do not truly understand the more basic concepts develop a superficial understanding of math that is not so based on understanding as it is on a plug-and-chug type mentality, in which calculators are frequently used, memorization is stressed, and comprehension is not. There is a student in my Honors pre-calculus class who has no idea how any of the math works. However, he consistently scores higher than most of my classmates because he either memorizes the steps to solving problems or uses his calculator. The reason you think a student is ready for calculus by scoring a 30+ on the ACT math may have several reasons:</p>
<p>a) Your teachers are too easy
b) You aren’t learning math properly (not blaming you; this is generally the teacher’s fault)
c) You haven’t seen how complex problems can truly get (in the American education system the math problems we’re dealt are often pathetically easy compared to the problems given in other countries; pick up an Art of Problem Solving book, and you’ll see exactly what I mean)</p>
<p>I got a 2230 on the SAT (800 math, 770 writing, 660 critical reading). I’m taking the ACT June. I’ve looked at practice tests. I’m certainly not bashing the ACT and calling it invalid. All I’m saying is that the SAT is perfectly as well. Looking at practice tests, the math is easy for me again (math is always my strong point), the reading is MUCH easier, but the timing sucks, and the writing is somewhat similar, but again, the timing sucks. The science questions are ok, but again, the timing sucks.</p>
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<p>I took the ACT because I had to. :)</p>
<p>Yamster: wow you are narrow minded i havent had the best teachers but i have compensated with extra effort to learn material witch is evident by my perfect score on the math section. </p>
<p>Now if you dont agree that a 30+ should be ready for calculus that is fine but what hypothetical score to you think a person should get on the ACT math to be ready?</p>
<p>silverturtle, do you enjoy standardized tests? haha</p>
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<p>Generally not, but it helps one to do better if he or she self-imposes the mentality that the test he or she is taking is fun.</p>
<p>I had a choice between ACT or SAT. I thought I would have a better chance at the ACT, so I took it. I felt it was rather easy, and I did very well (30), where BYU incoming freshmen average 28.</p>
<p>Silverturtle, did you take the ACT after your 2400? If so, why??</p>