How will having a high ACT score but a low SAT score affect admissions?

Test Preparation
1

So here’s the deal. I took the ACT in December and got a 35, but I have to take the SAT to become a NMF. I’m wondering if receiving a score on the SAT that is comparably lower than my ACT score will affect my chances at universities. For example, if I had a 1500 on the SAT and a 35 on the ACT, would it have just been better to not have ever taken the SAT and stick with the ACT score, or do colleges just look at whichever is higher?

2

You can sent whichever test you want at most schools.

3

If you had a 1480 or better on the PSAT, why are you worried about doing well on the SAT?

4

Don’t send the SAT if its much lower - unless you have to. Very few schools (a handful) require all scores.

5

@ollie113 Still, I don’t want to run the risk of scoring low on the SAT.

6

The schools I plan on applying to next year require all tests to be sent. So if I received a 1500 or above on the SAT, would that hurt me compared to if I never took the SAT?

7

@TheRaveSkydiver Why don’t you take one of the official SAT practice tests under timed conditions. If you do poorly, then so be it and it may not be worth it to take the SAT. If you do well, then definitely take it for NMSQT. Who knows? You could do ever better on the SAT! You have nothing to lose in taking a practice test.

8

When schools say all test they mean all of one or the other. For example if you choose to send the ACT you have to send all scores from the ACT not all scores from both the ACT and SAT.

9

@kimclan1 Ok that’s a good idea! Thanks!

10

@sensation723 Ohhh so that’s what they mean. I always thought that it meant that the entire testing history had to be sent for both tests. Thanks for clearing that up

11

Well some schools specify that ALL SITTINGS from all tests must be sent, such as Georgetown.

12

@kobeman2000 Hmm ok, so what I’ll do is take a practice test for the SAT and decide from there. Thanks

13

Yeah that’s a good course of action. If you got a 35, though, why are you worrying about taking the SAT? Unless you get a perfect score or surpass your ACT score it probably won’t add anything to your application.

14

@kobeman2000 Main reason is to become a NMF because my index was well above last year’s, and wondering if it was worth taking the SAT.