SAT/ACT Questions

<p>Alright, I am a freshman in high school and want to be prepared for the SAT/ACT/PSAT(Sophomore) when I take it as a junior and/or senior. I was thinking about getting an SAT tutor so that I could build up my vocabulary, grammar, and some mathamatics. I know that most of you will think that doing so would be ridiculuous because I will learn those elements in high school, but it isn’t all that true. So, here are my questions.</p>

<li>Can I take one hundred SAT’s/ACT’s and just end up turning in my highest one on transcripts or will the colleges see every SAT I take? </li>
<li>When applying to Ivy League schools, like let’s just say Columbia, how many SAT II’s am I required to take?</li>
<li>Which is generally considered easier, the ACT or SAT?</li>
<li>What SATSAT II/ACT books really helped you and not just filled you up with tons of un useful facts?<br></li>
<li>What SAT I or ACT score would you say is up to par for an Ivy League type applicant? </li>
<li>Are the SAT II’s hard? Which is considered the easiest/hardest? </li>
<li>Do you think any of these standardized tests will change their format substantially over the next couple of years? </li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>g0ldenboy</p>

<p>p.s. Sorry if I’m asking too many questions.</p>

<p>Anyone? Please...</p>

<p>Also, I can't interchange to make the best score, right? I can't take the SAT five times and just take my best scores out of the five in each section and combine them, can I? Or, I can't just take one section of the SAT right? It is all or none, right?</p>

<p>Well, I'll answer a few that I know off the top of my head.</p>

<p>1.) For the ACT: take it as much as you want, it has scorer's choice. SAT: They send ALL your scores, so be careful if you want to slack off on your first one.
2.) It depends on the school. Some will count the writing section on the SAT as a subject test and thus only require 2 SAT II's while others still demand 3. For some schools, if you take the ACT you are not required to submit SAT II exams.
3.) Before the new versions of the tests came out, it was generally considered harder to score a 36 on the ACT than a 1600 on the SAT (at least that's what I was always told because the ACT grading curve can be pretty harsh.) Now, however, it at least FEELS like the SAT got harder and the ACT easier. My guess is that they are pretty equal, it just depends on where your strengths lie (i.e. ACT seems more verbal based.)
5.) I've heard so many different scores for this. I would say that on the ACT you probably need a 32+. I'm not as famaliar with SAT scores, but I think a 1420 M+CR is the equivalent of a 32.
6.) SAT IIs are generally considered easier than the SAT/ACT because they cover finite topics and you can prepare for them better. As for which subject is the hardest/easiest, that's relative to your own strengths and weaknesses.
7.) In my opinion, I doubt that there will be a major change while you are in high school simply because the tests and colleges will be adjusting to the writing changes. I think it will take a little bit before the test makers begin te re-evaluate the tests.</p>

<p>Hope that helps some! Good luck with getting the scores you want.</p>

<p>what do you suppose is the rough equivalent of ........CR & Math at 1360 in ACT score.........31 or 32?..........today on a college scholarship calculator........there was mention of achieving next level of scholarship award if student were to raise score to 1400 or a 33 ACT........so for that particular scholarship calculator, 1400 and 33 ACT were the criteria.</p>

<p>Here's a chart I found on Brigham Young, it seemed to have loose estimates which I thought might be more helpful in this situation:</p>

<p>SAT ACT Equivalency SAT ACT Equivalency SAT ACT Equivalency </p>

<p>760-800 16 1060-1080 23 1320-1350 30
810-850 17 1090-1120 24 1360-1400 31
860-890 18 1130-1160 25 1410-1450 32
900-930 19 1170-1200 26 1460-1500 33
940-970 20 1210-1230 27 1510-1550 34
980-1010 21 1240-1270 28 1560-1590 35
1020-1050 22 1280-1310 29 1600 36 </p>

<p><a href="http://saas.byu.edu/depts/admissions/actsat.aspx%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://saas.byu.edu/depts/admissions/actsat.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>thanks scurf - very helpful.</p>