<p>I know this has been discussed before. My son is trying to decide if he should focus on the ACT or SAT, he is leaning towards the ACT. I realize that if one looks at college websites they all say they accept the ACT or SAT. However does anyone have any statistics regarding how many students were offered admission who took the ACT vs SAT at any college? I cannot find this on any college web sites so far. To me, it is very easy for a college to say we accept both (many are also going towards test optional) but we all know colleges want to get their number of applicants as high as possible. So does anyone know if colleges really equally accept ACT and SAT test scores? Thank you.</p>
<p>I think they really do accept either and I recommend that if your son doesn’t know (from the PLAN and PSAT or practice tests) which is likely to turn out better for him, he should try both. Some kids do about the same on the two tests; some do much better on one or the other.</p>
<p>Another question to consider is:
Do any of the schools under consideration also require SAT II tests?</p>
<p>In the common data set of each school it state how many students provided ACTs and SATs. Colleges really do accept either test. I would have your son try both. Some students do better on one than the other.</p>
<p>They accept both. They are both equally accepted. You can find stats by googling …
“name of school” “common data set” 2009 … as 2010 won’t be in yet. This will tell you the scores and numbers of kids who submitted either or both scores.</p>
<p>If you read a lot of posts on this site, you will hear this … have your son take both the spring of his junior year, but June at least. Some kids will naturally do better on one test than the other - have him then focus on that test and study to take it a second time. If he scores about the same, he can take the one again he liked best. If he scores great - he’s done. There are conversion charts to compare the scores …you can find links on here under the sat/act section or google for it.</p>
<p>He should spend some time prepping for both of them - as there are “tricks” to know for each and they are different. Folks will also say that the ACT is more about time management, so knowing how to work the clock helps. </p>
<p>There are a lot of tips in the ACt and SAT discussion sections, and check out silverturtle’s ACT study guide.</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I hesitate to have him take both if he will not do well on both since some colleges (like Carnegie Mellon) seem to want every standardized test you took. And in regard to subject tests he already took 2 and did fairly well so that isn’t an issue.</p>
<p>Everything I’ve read indicates the school will only look at the highest score submitted … my son scored identical on them. If your son took two subject tests and did well … if he will study some, take a few practice tests - he’ll be fine. He may find he knocks one out of the park, maybe not. But you won’t know if you don’t try.</p>
<p>*I hesitate to have him take both if he will not do well on both since some colleges (like Carnegie Mellon) seem to want every standardized test you took. *</p>
<p>Uhhh…if you don’t have him take BOTH, how will you know if the one he does take will be his better score???</p>
<p>Have him take both exams.</p>
<p>The SAT is a longer test and my kid’s thought it was “trickier” because you get nicked for guessing. The ACT is knowledge based (which is why it’s one test and you don’t need the subject tests) so for some schools it’s SAT + subject tests or ACT + writing. Some schools are requiring submission of all test seatings for the SAT, but the ACT I believe you choose the date to have the ACT send. Mine tended to score about the same on the ACT and SAT (never took any subject tests) but some kids do better on one or the other. I don’t believe any posters have come up with a college or uni that doesn’t take either one or the other.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. I realize all colleges accept both, meaning they allow applicants to send in either test. My question is, in regard to their applicants, are they more likely to accept students for admission if they took (for example) the SAT instead of the ACT. So far I have looked over the common data set and they tell you out of the students accepted how many took the ACT or SAT but they don’t tell you (that I can see) how many applicants took the ACT or SAT so you can’t tell what percentage of each test type was accepted. At least that was my interpretation, I’m happy to hear what others have to say.</p>
<p>If they allow both why would they tilt one way over the other? I think you are overthinking this. There are charts that show what the ACT score interpolates to SAT and vice versa. There are and always have been regional preferences in this country - two companies making two different tests. But even has way back as the seventies I took both. Now that more kids are looking outside the various regions the colleges are simply accomodating those regional differences and giving kids a choice as some do test better with one or the other.</p>
<p>Overwhelmed - it sounds to me like you are looking for a statistic that says Harvard accepted 9% of the students who submitted SAT scores but only 8% of the students who submitted ACT scores - and then you want to use that to show the SAT is more respected. I don’t think you are going to find such a statistic and even if you did - I think it would have more to do with geography - the SAT is historically the test taken by kids on the East coast - and while the ACT is gaining ground - it is still prevalent. The ACT is mid-western in origin and most mid western kids still take primarily the ACT.</p>
<p>Every admission rep who has ever posted on this site states that they do not favor one over the other and that they will use the highest scores that are submitted. I don’t think there is any reason to doubt them.</p>
<p>There are kids across the country who take one and kids who take both. About the same total number of tests were given last year for each test. Clearly some of those totals were kids that took both and some of those totals were kids that took one or the other, but about the same total number of each test was taken. Take one, take both, send the one you want or send both. The colleges don’t care. They really don’t. Really, really simple.</p>
<p>Reinforcing the sentiments above, I’ve read at least a dozen books on “being smart about college,” getting into top colleges," “what Adcoms really look for,” etc. Every single one (written
by current Adcoms, former Adcoms, Deans of Admission, college consultants, etc. …states unequivocally that there is no preference for one test over the other. If you don’t want your son to take both, then at least have him take one of the practice tests of each and see which he does better on. Then focus on prepping for and taking that test. If you’re serious about excellent results, do have him prep. There’s no doubt that putting in the prep hours (dozens of them for most kids) pays off by boosting scores. Best of luck to your son.</p>
<p>However: 2400 on SAT + 800s in 3 subject tests >>> 36 on ACT</p>
<p>^^Nope, not >>>. An uneven comparison.</p>
<p>36 on ACT + 800s on 3 Subject Tests = 2400 on SAT I + 800s on 3 SAT Subject Tests. </p>
<p>Colleges do not prefer SAT over ACT. They do not think SAT is better than ACT. A 2400 SAT and a 36 ACT are equally praiseworthy, as far as colleges as concerned.</p>
<p>The only thing 2400 SAT + 3 800 SAT IIs has over a 36 ACT is that it is more info (because more tests taken). In terms of how the achievement is viewed, though, a 2400 SAT does not trump a 36 ACT.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone, this has been very helpful.</p>
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<p>No kidding and call me a cheap parent but much more $$ spent but whatever… the urban myth lives on much to the delight of the CB.</p>
<p>Hvae him take both. In our school (NY state) kids have traditionally done better on the ACT. We attribute this to our science curriculum (NY has the top national ACT science section score). SAT is a little more “problem solving”…ACT is more time management / speed. Not as complex questions, but being able to do them quickly gets you through each section in time to answer all of the questions & thus better your score.</p>