<p>Why don’t you have him take a full practice test of each one? Kaplan offers them and they’re usually either free or very inexpensive. That will give him a good idea of which test feels more comfortable. I regret that I had my daughter take a full SAT prep course before taking a practice ACT test. She self-studied for the ACT, and scored much higher than on her first SAT, so she’s not even planning to send her SAT scores with her applications.</p>
<p>What we heard from an admissions rep at one of those schools who want all tests (Yale) is that they <em>either</em> want <em>ALL</em> CB testing (SAT I + SAT II) OR they want all ACT testing (and require ACT with writing).</p>
<p>So if you plan to send subject exam scores, you will be required to send all SAT I scores. But if you only want to send ACT scores, that’s just fine and you won’t be penalized for it.</p>
<p>Obviously you can send all.</p>
<p>I think the hard decisions come in when the ACT score is better than the SAT score, but the subject exam scores are very strong.</p>
<p>What’s your point?</p>
<p>2400 on SAT + 800s in 3 subject tests = = = 36 on ACT + 800s in 3 subject tests</p>
<p>My point is that SAT I and ACT are equivalent for college admissions purposes.</p>
<p>I would tell anyone, especially top students, to try both tests. You never know what that particular test/test day situation might bring you. </p>
<p>However, If you prep for the PSAT (using SAT prep books), then you move right on to the SAT. If you are satisfied with your scores, you are done with testing–unless subject test are required.</p>
<p>You have to switch gears to prep for the ACT. No need to do this–unless your PSAT/SAT scores were not what you wanted and you feel there will be some advantage to taking the ACT.</p>
<p>Some things to consider (again, my opinion/experience): SAT is slightly more math heavy. ACT is more reading heavy. (even the ACT science is mostly reading/data interpretation). ACT is more time-pressured (harder to finish all questions) than SAT. SAT is “trickier”–more “brain-teaser” questions, more “misleading” wrong answers. Some students don’t like the “penalty for wrong answer” aspect of SAT scoring–though I tell students to answer every question–they can usually eliminate at least 1-2 wrong answer choices. Having to decide “guess or skip?” over and over during the test adds stress for some kids.
IMO, SAT is easier to prep for. Taking practice tests can help raise your scores on either test, but (again, IMO) you are more likely to be able to raise your SAT score more significantly by getting VERY familiar with the test. I think SAT is a little “friendlier” to bright kids who might not have the best academic training. ACT might favor kids who are excellent (and fast!) readers, who have excellent academic training.
BTW, I live in ACT territory, but choose to focus on the PSAT/SAT.</p>
<p>OP:</p>
<p>You can search the college’s Common Data Set to find the number of students who submit which test. But as others have noted, it does not matter for admissions. The ACT still predominates (but not by much anymore) in the midwest so UMich will have more ACT-submitters, while Stanford & Harvard have more SAT-submitters. In any event, Harvard and Stanford will be more than pleased to review a high ACT score.</p>
<p>Have him take both. There is no penalty for doing so, and after the results, you will see which one is best for your son. My son was a top student, he took both and did much better on the ACT. He sent his SAT, SAT II, and ACT scores (all of them for each test) to every college, and the outcome of the college admission process was very favorable. Good luck.</p>
<p>Atomom: Thanks for your analysis of the two tests. My daughter was pleasantly surprised by how much higher her ACT scores were than her SAT scores. She fits your description to a “T”. She’s a very strong, quick reader and is weaker in math.</p>
<p>REMINDER: MANY OF THE TOP COLLEGES THAT ACCEPT ACT IN PLACE OF SAT REQUIRE THE *** ACT WITH WRITING *** </p>
<p>Yes, I know that has been mentione above. Just trying to make it stand out for future CC skimmer.</p>
<p>SAT > for Left Brained, while, ACT > for Right Brained.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s that easy to predict whether a student will do better on the ACT vs SAT. My younger son is a really math-oriented kid, doesn’t like to read, strong in science - he did much better on the ACT. I do think a student needs to be good at taking tests very quickly to do well on the ACT.</p>
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I agree. This description fits my D to a “T,” and she did very well on both tests, but slightly better on ACT. (And preferred it.)</p>
<p>My son is strong in math, and relatively weak in Vocab - the Vocab section of the SAT was his downfall and did much better on the ACT.</p>
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<p>Absolutely spot-on, which is why it’s worth considering both.</p>
<p>Just when we decided to go with SAT alone, this thread pops up. My D is a fast reader and has excellent academic training. She misses out brain teasers on SAT that brings her score down. Should we have gone with ACT? What do you do if you have to send in subject tests?</p>
<p>In the last year nearly the same number of people took each test. ACT is growing rapidly while SAT is stable to fading a bit.</p>
<p>Igloo, my son took two SAT II’s in addition to the ACT (with writing); many of the schools he applied to required the SAT II’s.</p>
<p>Iglooo, SAT subject tests would be an additional Saturday morning (or two) of testing regardless of whether she takes the SAT or ACT or both. Subject tests are administered by the collegeboard and are generally at the same time and place as the SAT testing. Your D would register for subject tests using the same collegeboard log in she uses for the SAT, but SAT subject tests are separate from the SAT itself and those scores can be sent independent of her SAT scores. </p>
<p>Your D can take up to 3 subject tests on any one testing day; they last an hour each. Although she will select which tests to take when she registers, my S tells me that students can change their minds and select whatever tests they like, in whatever order, on testing morning. Most schools that require or recommend them ask for 2 subject tests. </p>
<p>To each school your D applies, she will definitely send in any combination of ACT and/or SAT test scores (sending all results or using score choice or selecting only the highest composite, etc.) In addition, if SAT subject tests are required or recommended, she would send her SAT subject test scores (score choice can be used for the SAT subject test scores as well).</p>
<p>The other advantage of the ACT is that it is reported as a Composite score, which is better for students who have a large discrepency between CR & M on the SAT…my daughter is at the 75th percentile in CR for her chosen college, but just below the 25th percentile in M. My hope is that her ACT score will be at least at their 50th percentile.</p>
<p>Even though the ACT composite is what most schools consider, the ACT does report subscores to all schools. Some schools consider these subscores (and a few even superscore the ACT). We have had to ask about this at specific schools to help decide which scores to send where; most schools’ websites just aren’t clear on the matter.</p>