<p>Hello. I am a new member but I have visited the site as a guest for around a year. I have taken the ACT and will soon take the SAT (for practice and to familiarize myself with the tests). I have some questions about scoring and how the tests compare. Any advice and answers would be appreciated.</p>
<li><p>How do the tests compare in terms of types of questions and sections?</p></li>
<li><p>What is a good score for each test and how do the scores compare?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I already somewhat answered this before here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=281076%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=281076</a></p>
<p>In short, the SAT is a lot trickier than the ACT, but is a lot easier on time. The SAT tests on less math concepts than the ACT, but again, is trickier. The SAT writing section is fairly similar to the ACT English section (I think, at least). The SAT reading section is a lot more based on vocabulary and interpretation that is the ACT. The SAT has no science section.</p>
<p>A good score depends on your own standards and what colleges you're applying to. If you give some more details (like how you scored on the ACT or what colleges you're looking at), I might be able to give you a better answer.</p>
<p>A good score is very relative. Check out averages for the schools you're applying to for that info.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies so far. Here are more details if they will be helpful.</p>
<p>I took the ACT last year in 7th grade. I got a 24 composite.
Reading 28; English 29; Science 23; Math 17.
My math score was low because I hadn't taken any algebra courses yet. I am currently in Algebra 1. </p>
<p>I do not know where I want to attend college, but I am not currently considering the Ivy League colleges. I will probably attend college somewhere in the midwestern U.S. but I will not be able to make that decision until sometime in high school. Thanks again for the help and advice.</p>
<p>You're only in 8th grade, so don't worry about it yet. You'll do fine when you retake in your soph or junior year.</p>
<p>Wow. ACT in 7th grade.... Talk about dedication ^^ Anyway, like trans-siberian said, you probably shouldn't worry about it much... But of course, since you've already posted here, I'm assuming saying that won't deter your curiosity, right? =P</p>
<p>Well.... If you scored like that on the ACT in 7th grade, by the time you reach 11th grade, you can expect to score at least 30~33 with no prep whatsoever. A comparable SAT score would probably be 2000~2250. I know that's a broad range, but I can't really tell you too much, since we're talking about several years from now. And of course, if you prepare for the tests, you can expect those score ranges to go up =]</p>
<p>Well, looking at those score ranges... The bottom part of those ranges (30/2000) should get you into pretty prestigious universities, and the higher part of those ranges (33/2250) is already scratching at the 25th percentile of the Ivies, I think... So yeah, I'd say you're in pretty good shape ^^</p>
<p>Oh, and to answer your question about good scores (I'll be talking about scores that will give you a good shot at these schools): If you're shooting at an Ivy level school, a good score would probably be 34/2300; UCLA level would be about 32/2100; for most others, a 30/2000 should be a pretty darn good score already ^^ (Of course, these are really broad generalizations)</p>
<p>Oh, and btw~ Generally GPA is more important than SAT/ACT scores, so make sure you keep those up instead of just worrying about your test scores~</p>
<p>Kitty_291--u r lucky not to hear phrases like "what the heck r u doing in CC? Go and enjoy ur life!" such and such. I was expecting someone to say that (since I've seen it happening a lot of times out here!) In that way u r lucky (although literally, I've said u so lol!!!)</p>