My SAT and ACT

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

<p>I was just curious as to the meaning of these scores.</p>

<p>I scored an 1850 on the SAT (I believe I got mid 600's for Math and english and in the 500's for the writing)</p>

<p>and I scored a 34 on the ACT (I can't remember the breakdown for this, since I only saw the early scores on the website and didn't copy it down)</p>

<p>I am a Junior in High School, I'm in the IB program, and am taking as many AP classes as I can with an adjusted GPA around 4.3.</p>

<p>I am starting to look at colleges and I was wondering how my SAT and ACT scores would affect my applications.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me.</p>

2

<p>Your ACT score translates to 2280-2330 on the SAT, maybe even higher. That is more than enough to get you into the some of the best schools in the country. I confirmed this with Common Application by e-mailing them, since I'm in the same boat as you. They said that even if you have taken both tests, the only one you list on your Common Application is the one they will use to make their decision. If you send colleges SAT II scores, then they will see your SAT scores as well, but according to CommonApp they aren't supposed to factor that into their decision.</p>

<p>Is a 4.3 unweighted or weighted? Recalculate your GPA on a base scale where A+ to A- is a 4, B+ to B- is a 3, and so on. Apparently, Cornell and other colleges I have looked at use this scale to compare applicants' high school GPAs.</p>

3

<p>I meant to say that it is weighted, but my regular GPA comes out to 3.6-ish.</p>

<p>Another thing I forgot to mention is that the ACT test I took was the version without writing. Will colleges not look at it because of this?</p>

4

<p>Colleges have different requirements; some want the writing and some don't. All Ivy League schools require the writing, but I don't know about other top colleges. So, you might need to take the ACT again with the writing section. However, what you can do is report both scores to colleges if you get very close to a 34 the second time.</p>

5

<p>ACT has a section on their website which tells you what schools require writing, what schools recommend it, and what schools don't care about it. If you know where you're applying, ask the admissions what they want. Next upcoming ACT test is June 9th, so look for the deadline for registering. Sounds like ACT is your test--congrats on your great score! BTW, are you a math & science person?</p>

6

<p>Yes, I'm very much a math and science person.</p>

<p>I can't write a good essay since my writing isn't very structured and is more stream-of-thought.</p>

<p>That's why I didn't take the writing ACT, but when I got my score I regretted not taking the writing.</p>

7

<p>I think you will do well on the writing if you research what ACT is looking for --it's different than the SAT-- and I think it can be conquered. You must have done decently on the English which is a good sign for your writing... If your writing isn't naturally very structured then adapt your ways (for the test!) to what they want! I'm sure you can do this!!</p>

8

<p>i dont understand how people can say that a 34 "translates to 2280-2330 on the SAT, maybe even higher"... when he took the SAT and only got a 1850. So obviously it doesnt translate like that.</p>

9

<p>"i dont understand how people can say that a 34 "translates to 2280-2330 on the SAT, maybe even higher"... when he took the SAT and only got a 1850. So obviously it doesnt translate like that."</p>

<p>...Right, because your anectdotal evidence is clear proof that it does not translate like that. When people say that a 34 translate to 2280-2330 or whatever it may be, they're making an attempt to show how a certain score on the ACT would be viewed when compared with the SAT. In your example, a college admissions officer would view both a 34 and an SAT score of between 2280 and 2330 as equally good.</p>

10

<p>In this case, it may not, but remember that the University of California interpolated data for a specific period and developed an ACT and SAT concordance table. This table is listed on Wikipedia's ACT entry. </p>

<p>smatz1, you're reasoning is flawed. Look at the percentiles. A 34 is a 99+, and the 99+ for the SAT starts at 2280.</p>

11

<p>Thanks, you all have helped me a lot.</p>

<p>Now I get to take all my tests. xD</p>

<p>I've taken one SAT and one ACT, and starting this saturday I will take:</p>

<p>IB Calculus
IB Chemistry
Ap Chemistry
AP Us History
AP English Lit
AP Calculus
and an SAT.</p>

<p>I'm only going to be in class for about 5 hours that week.</p>

12

<p>Look you're not the only one. My schedule is so screwy starting next week.</p>

<p>SAT II Chem-May 5: shooting for a 750+
AP USH-May 11: shooting for a 5
AP Chem-May 15: shooting for a 5
AP Psych-May 15: shooting for a 5
AP Eng-May 24 (late testing): shooting for a 4
SAT II Bio-June 2: shooting for a 750+
SAT II Math 2C-June 2: shooting for a 750+
ACT-June 9: shooting for a 33+</p>

13

<p>if i got a 2120 on the SAT, and 31 ACT composite, should i submit my ACT scores to colleges (since i was told i dont have to) or will it hurt me? im not familiar with the ACT so i dont know what colleges are looking for.
i'm looking at schools like possibly upenn, cornell, u virginia, u mich....schools like that</p>

14

<p>Did you take SAT IIs yet?</p>

15

<p>well if thats weighted
then
if u have good Ecs
u will probably at least get into some top schools like Hopkins, or Northwestern, vandy, etc.
maybe not all but some</p>

<p>and
ur ACT kills ur SAT</p>