Are SAT and ACT 100% equal?

<p>This question is in regard to those colleges that say they will accept either a) ACT w/ writing OR b) SAT + 2 SAT Subject Tests. To adcoms, will a comparable ACT and SAT score be used the same way in admissions to a school. Two main questions:</p>

<p>Example1: Student A applies with an ACT of 33....Student B applies with SAT of 1480/2190 (Direct comparison via online charts); 750 Math 2. 750 US Hist.</p>

<p>1) Will the two students be looked at virtually the same due to the higher popularity of the SAT?</p>

<p>Example2 : Student A scores 33 ACT; 1290/2050 SAT; 750 Math 2; 750 US History....So would it be in the students best interest to submit the SAT scores for subject tests to be viewed (if not required) or will the ACT be adequate by itself</p>

<p>2) Also, if you send in a good ACT as well as your SAT scores because of high Subject Tests (but a low SAT1 Score) will the adcoms be able to use ACT and Subject Tets or will it be in the students best interest to only submit the ACT.</p>

<p>I realize that nobody here is an adcom (or very few for that matter) but if you have any insight please share. Thanks to anyone who offers an opininon.</p>

<p>In theory, yes. In practice, hard to say, but probably.</p>

<p>Would it be in my best interest to send good ACT, bad SAT1, and good subject tests. Or should i just send the ACT as described in the situation in example 2^?</p>

<p>Most colleges will take only the higher of the SAT I or ACT into consideration. At least that's what they claim.</p>

<p>My question also. I'm thinking of holding off report scores until I review them and only send the best of the 2. Anyone have any additional thoughts?</p>

<p>Depends on the school. Some schools require (or strongly recommend) SAT II results. For those schools, you really have no choice but to submit both. If the school does not require SAT II results, still consider whether the school has at least some experience with the ACT. For example, at Amherst about 20% of the entering class submitted ACT scores rather than (or in addition to) SAT I scores. At Haverford, 0% of the entering class submitted ACT (at least according to the most recent Common Data set). I would be more comfortable using only ACT scores at a school that has experience workin with ACT scores.</p>

<p>My daughter was in this very situation. She had high ACT, high SAT II, and medium SAT I scores. She ended up submitting only her ACT scores to U Chicago, was accepted early, and decided to attend. Given her school choice, it was easy to submit only ACT scores. At Chicago, about half the entering class submits ACT, so the admissions office is obviously quite comfortable using only ACT scores.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>example 1 student B looks better.</p>

<p>Example 2 Student A with ACTs looks better.</p>

<p>If your Sats are equal then send them in, because historically (and still a lot now) the SAT was the primary exam for college and when students did not do as well on that test they would send in their ACT score. the SAT was a first choice and the ACT was a second. So from my experiences, I think that a strong SAT looks better than an identical ACT, yet obviously if the SAT is worse that the ACT then that changes.</p>