<p>My son hates the ACT. He never can quite finish and his scores show it. His SAT scores are much better. Does one have to have ACT scores in or are SATs fine? Is there any advantage to having both in your file?</p>
<p>SATs are fine...the AFA will take the highest scores...if SAT is higher than that is what they will score you for the WCS.</p>
<p>A little concerned with you saying
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He never can quite finish
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If one set of tests scores are low, don't submit them. I only submitted ACT (actually though it was easier than the SAT) and I just got a LOA</p>
<p>Patriotmom and others concerned about test scores,</p>
<p>Do not be discouraged because of ACT/SAT scores. My son tends to be a slower test taker also. His ACT scores were better than the SAT, although they were not outstanding by any means. They met the mins however! He was #1 in grad class (500 students), had many other academic honors (AP scholar etc) and had varsity letters in XC, track, soccer, wrestling and swimming. He is also an Eagle Scout and had done lots of community service. We were concerned that his ACT/SAT scores were nothing exceptional. He was offered an appt to the academy in November, and had no LOA. The academy is looking for a well rounded individual. Not being exceptional in one area will not prevent an appointment. He is doing fine academically at the academy. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. bulletandpima - He never enough time to finish some of the sections on the ACT. He just finds the SAT easier to get through.</p>
<p>hey Equiracer i have the same problem, I am a really bad test taker but everything is good like my leadership and I am ranked 3rd out of class of 348 and with a 3.73 gpa as the USAFA configured it. Can you please tell me his ACT scores because my ACT scores are not exceptional at all and I am better on the ACT's? Thank You</p>
<p>upate123...I am just going from memory....math was 31, but his english was a little lower24??....overall I believe was 27. His GPA was 4.0 (USAFA). Again, nothing exceptional for a bright kid....this met the mins, and he was offered an early appt. Do not give up based just on test scores!! As I mentioned, he is a slow test taker, and seems to leave some unanswered on standardized testing. Good luck!</p>
<p>Make sure he has at least a 25 on ACT...if you look at the site it clearly states a score under 25 is considered non-comp. I believe the V for SAT is 590...just look on the admissions page.</p>
<p>Again, don't worry they take the best score...so if your overall computes to 1100/1600 on the ACT and you have 1230 on the SAT they score on the SAT. </p>
<p>Remind him...never ever leave an answer empty, you lose less points for a wrong answer compared to leaving it blank</p>
<p>"If one set of tests scores are low, don't submit them. I only submitted ACT"</p>
<p>I thought all scores had to be submitted. Perhaps my son misunderstood?</p>
<p>This info is copied from the USAFA admissions site:</p>
<p>Students who score below 580 verbal and 560 math on the SAT Reasoning and below 24 English/reading and 25 math/science reasoning on the ACT normally will not be competitive for an appointment. Your PSAT I and/or PLAN scores will be replaced by ACT or SAT Reasoning scores. ACT and SAT test taken before February 2005 will be accepted without the Writing Test. Test scores must be achieved under national testing conditions on a national test date. We do not accept nonstandard (extended time), or special scores.
The ACT and SAT tests are an important indicator of your academic ability.
Plan to take them early.
Each of these tests has a slightly different emphasis, so you should take both to reflect your true potential.
You may take these tests several times to try to improve your scores – your highest scores will be accepted.
Your results must be in our records for you to be considered for an appointment.
When you register for the tests, request that your scores be sent to the U.S. Air Force Academy. The SAT code for the Academy is 4830 and the ACT code is 0530.
See your guidance counselor, Air Force Academy Admissions Liaison Officer or base education officer for registration procedures and test dates.</p>
<p>You can either submit ACT or SAT. You can submit both if you want. The academy is going to use your highest score. If you do poorly on the lst try and do better the 2nd time around, they will take the best score; you will not be "penalized" for submitting scores that are poor, if they improve the second try! You will have to meet the minimums however. I have also read that the math scores are more impt than the English scores. Good luck to you guys. I know this is a stressful time waiting.</p>
<p>When you sign up for the ACT/SAT you can have your scores automatically sent free of charge to 3 schools. Our DS sent to the AFA</p>
<p>Another note...at our school the official transcript showed ACT/SAT scores, so the AFA would see the ACT score anyway.</p>
<p>Don't worry it is about getting the nom and having the highest WCS for the nom!</p>
<p>What is WCS?</p>
<p>WCS = Whole Candidate Score</p>
<p>This is the points that they assigned to your package. The candidate with the highest points wins the appt from their MOC...unless it is is principal, and then of course they automatically win!</p>
<p>Look under the admissions part of the page and they show you how they assign pts for the WCS...I think it is a pie chart...X % for Academics, X % for CFA, etc</p>
<p>Your ALO rec is also included in your pts.</p>
<p>Hi again from the AZ ALO!</p>
<p>SAT and ACT...which is better?</p>
<p>The answer is actually quite simple: whichever you do better on! :-)</p>
<p>The academy will take the highest score you EVER get; never downgrading you for a lower score than your previous test. So...it is ALWAYS to your advantage to take the test as all you can do it help your case.</p>
<p>That being said...if you are better at one versus the other, or are just more comfortable with the particular format, then focus on that one. </p>
<p>But don't short change yourself by "undertesting" if you can afford more than one or two tries.</p>
<p>Steve
DLOD, AZ</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So does this mean every time I take the ACT or SAT I should take the writing optional writing portion?</p>
<p>My son took the SAT and took writing both times. However, when he took the ACT (which he did much better) he did not take the writing portion. I just think you need to establish a writing score that is good. After that, I don't think you need to keep working on the writing. Our son got an LOA dated 10/14/08 and his highest scores were ACT without writing although he had a fairly good SAT writing score that had been previously submitted.</p>