So I recently got my ACT score (bar writing) and this happened:
C-33
E-35
M-35 (honestly really disappointed)
R-28 (but I suppose nothing hurts more than this)
S-32
and my SATs are like this:
First sitting: 2140 (690CR/800M/650W/9E)
Second sitting: 2210 (680CR/800M/730W/10E)
Third sitting: pending
So truth is, I did not study for the ACT at all, but I didn’t expect to do that well on English and that bad on Reading. Which is better, my ACT or SAT? Also, are my scores ok for schools like the UCs, USC (I also have legacy), Cornell, Rice, Scripps and Harvey Mudd?
Take the ACT again. You’re R will go up. And if the other 3 sections hold steady, you prob have a solid shot at C34.
And if the other 3 sections also improve, you have an outside shot at C35.
At this point, I don’t see the SAT CR improving significantly enough to warrant another shot at the SAT. But you have plenty of room to improve on the ACT, especially since you didn’t prepare the first time. And you still did well!
@mmk2015 that was my first and last time taking the ACT. After my subject tests in November, I’ll be done with standardized testing.
ACTs are slightly better. Both are excellent. Congrats on being done with testing. Scores are good for all but Harvey Mudd.
My son stunk at CR, yet got a 4 on the AP English Language and Composition exam. Couldn’t improve his CR a bit.
2200 will be completely fine for all schools. Harvard wouldn’t blink as long as the rest of your app was on par.
I would stick with the SAT score, if you have a choice.
@rhandco same thing happened to me with AP Lang (and I didn’t take the class). I’m waiting on my October SAT score, and I hope my CR can break 700 knock on wood. But thanks for your input.
@HereToHelpYou thanks!
You are welcome and congratulations again.
Just another question, will my two lower subscores (Science and Reading) hurt me?
Since your composite score is still a 33, I don’t think your reading section will hurt you.
No, they will not. If you do decide to take again (and you do not have to), I would focus my studies on Reading.
Wait I have a question, I got my ACT Writing Score back, so now the breakdown is 33C (35E/35M/28R/32S/31W) and my third SAT is (660CR/770M/750W/11E). Are my SAT scores better or my ACT scores better? Also, is the “English” section on the ACT equivalent to CR or writing on the SAT?
A 33 ACT is better than a 2180 SAT imo, because a 33 is 99th percentile, while a 2180 is 98th percentile. I’m not exactly sure what the English section is equivalent to, but the CDS for various schools lists only the English, Math, and Combined E/W score (for the ACT). Based on this, I assume it is equal to the SAT CR.
Neither of your scores are bad!
Here is a link to convert them
https://www.act.org/aap/concordance/estimate.html
ACT is slightly better.
@HereToHelpYou Thanks, but my highest sitting is 2210 (high end of 33), and my superscore is 2240? Also, do you know what equivalent section the ACT English is to the SAT? Thanks again for your help.
Sorry, I thought you had a 2180 for some reason
Concordance between ACT Combined English/Writing Score And SAT Writing Score is the only published comparison I am aware of.
Here is the link
http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/pdf/report.pdf
@HereToHelpYou Thanks! And yeah I get why you saw the 2180 thing, that was my third sitting.