<p>While I cannot dispute your facts, I would point out two things: 1) such comparisons only work for a large population, which means that outliers exist (by definition); 2) the mean ACT score of a college-wannabe is 21, with a SD of 4+. Since a 27 is at more than one SD from the mean, it is at the ~88% of all high school test takers, (which is college-bound-wannabes). Another way to look at it, of the 1.5 million test takers, only 176k scored higher than a 27.</p>
<p>My sister --who scored over a 140 on a real IQ test, was in a gifted program, and skipped a grade-- received a 1700 on her SAT. She, however, did significantly better on the ACT. I, too, did significantly better on the ACT than the SAT. </p>
<p>I am unaware of the SAT’s correlation with intelligience and would point toward the 19 vocabulary questions on the CR and the unnecessary essay on the Writing portion as examples of low ( < .5) intelligience correlations (not even including the abundance of exotic words used throughout the CR section and obscure grammar references in the Writing section). The high math curve attributed to simple math problems encourages people to only lose points over simplistic mistakes; the 1/4th penalty doesn’t help the SAT’s case either.</p>
<p>There is absolutely zero doubt that becoming comfortable with the test type and pace is important to scoring well. (And as an earlier poster noted, the tests are based on ‘American English’, so being raised in the US is a big plus.) But I would submit that no amount of practice is gonna get a ~100-IQ person to 2400/36. However, a 140 IQ-type can score extremely well with ‘enough’ preparation.</p>
<p>And, of course, SAT’s ‘reasoning’ type questions are better for some personality types than others. (Which is why some kids do better on the ACT – less reasoning, particularly in the math section.) Also explains why every year on cc kids post a sub-600 SAT-CR score, but a 5 on AP Lang/Lit. It’s the style of the test (for lack of a betrer word), not inherent knowledge ability of the test taker.</p>
<p>Sorry, guys, I but I’m not concerned with the credibility of either test. I just want to know which score is considered higher. And for the record, I had no test prep whatsoever for either test (to the person who said scoring high is relative to affluence).</p>
<p>We have always been told (by teachers, college guidance counselors, and the like) that the SAT is a test of one’s reasoning ability whereas the ACT is more a test learned information.</p>
<p>OP, your question is answered in post #9. But since you obviously don’t accept the response, do your own research. (Hint: google SAT-ACT concordance tables.)</p>
<p>Bluebayou, I’m sorry. I guess I was distracted by the extraneous discussion regarding which test is more qualified.</p>
<p>Obviously the 2110 is better than the 31; however, the huge chasm between my writing score and my math+CR score worries me.</p>
<p>Apparently it didn’t occur to you that I would want more than just your opinion. I asked (nicely) to receive more answers to my original question from other posters as opposed to receiving more about some stupid argument, but you decide to be rude instead. </p>
<p>For the record, most people have said that my scores are equal so I should send both.</p>
<p>@cjgone- I also skipped a grade because I was administered a real IQ test in my gifted school back in elementary school and qualified for Mensa. </p>
<p>I got a 2080 on my SAT and a 34 on my ACT, of course, it has been like an year since I have taken the SAT, but if I did take it again, I would get around the same score.</p>
Hehe, I have a 34 on the ACT and a 1910 on the SAT. I think the fact that I missed 8 vocabulary questions on the CR section of the SAT played a role in this discrepancy.</p>
<p>leah…your scores are almost identical to my son’s. He has a 680 math, 670 cr, and 790 writing. His ACT is only a 30, however due to a dismally low science score. I would send all of your scores if you are in doubt and let the colleges decide.</p>
<p>You asked a simple question in your first post, and reiterated the same in your later post (#24): ‘which score is better?’ I apologize if I appeared rude to you, but I was providing the answer to the only question in which you requested a response. And since this is a testing sub-forum, I find it helpful to be on-point; indeed, that is one thing for which SAT-ACT test. :)</p>
<p>Others have answered a question that you did not ask: ‘Which test(s) should I send?’. If that was your goal, you should have asked that question instead. </p>
<p>If you had, I would concur to send both, not because they are ‘equal’, but because they provide different information. But that is just my opinion.</p>
<p>You need to know that many top schools are not convinced about the writing portion of the SAT and do not consider it, or do not consider it equally. Therefore, you will see on many sites that the “middle 50” is expressed on the 1600 scale for CR and M. You should look at the schools you are applying to and see what they say on the subject. You may find that your 31 is more firmly in the range than your combined CR and M SAT. Or not.</p>