<p>I agree with the conclusion in the refutation of my ■■■■■ accusation. I believe that a lot of admissions officers are (for no good statistical reason) biased against the ACT. Due to potentially inflammatory language and possibly unfounded thinking, I felt that your original and most of the subsequent posts were very ■■■■■ sounding, though my straight-forward accusation makes similar leaps!</p>
<p>I love conspiracy theories, even though I don’t believe most of them. Start a separate thread in HSL, and I’ll be more than happy to discuss any conspiracy theory. :)</p>
<p>@fignewton - a 1600 (new) is not the same and not nearly as impressive as 1600 (old), either. Given all the concern about declining SAT scores and validity of standard tests, I believe the true reason for re-centering was to boost scores, no matter what the College Board says. Now more people can be stars and feel better about themselves.</p>
<p>@qcassidy and @denizen - parents are on this site because we pay for college.</p>
<p>^Theories of complicity and duplicity (making tests more appealing and profitable by arbitrarily increasing test scores and giving non-truthful reasons for the change) are often more fun than real life (in this case, the psychometric correctness of scaling and equating).</p>
<p>I tend to think of the ACT as more of a robot test (not necessarily in a bad way). The questions are easier and straightforward and there are fewer “tricky questions.” However, you have to be able to work fast because there is less time per question. Robots like straightforward tasks and can work quickly.</p>
<p>My personal, biased, hunch is that the ACT is actually an easier test to get a high score, but fewer people prep for it and there are fewer “official tests.” Therefore, the ACT is statistically as “difficult” as the SAT. Two of my friends both got 35’s on the ACT without even looking at the test format and both were quick workers. By contrast, everyone I know who did well on the SAT studied incredibly hard or had worked with private tutors.</p>
<p>I agree that tests are just different…not easier/harder. Last year neighbor’s son had 2320 and 2340 on SAT exams but only 29 and 31 on ACT. He said he found the science section very difficult. His counselor told him not to submit ACT scores and he did get accepted to Penn. His older brother had 33 on both ACT and didn’t break 2200 on SAT. He attended Amherst. Both are very bright, but definitely had test preference.</p>
<p>I work in a high school and there are many examples of students scoring high on SAT but average on ACT and vice-versa. Going on college visits with my own D and three nieces/nephews this Fall has been eye-opening. Some schools test-optional (see very little value to either test), several schools mentioned they prefer SAT and will convert ACT to SAT score, and a few others mentioned they actually prefer ACT because stronger reading component (they also talk of strength of science as a critical reading analysis piece). </p>
<p>Best advice…take a practice of each and play to your personal strengths.</p>