<p>Most of the top 25 schools let you combine your best SAT scores from different tests, but they allow you to use only your best ACT composite score. This seems a bit unfair to Midwesterners who are trying to get into Eastern schools. (Some schools, such as Princeton, don't even accept the ACT.) The concordance tables should be adjusted to reflect this. Can you guess which test I (and everyone else at my school) took?</p>
<p>A 32 composite ACT translates to 1420-1450 (or thereabouts). If the schools took into account the use of multiple test scores on the SAT, this should impact the concordance table so that a 32 ACT is closer to 1450 - 1500.</p>
<p>Of course, I chose to skip the SAT (thus, my dsipleasure). However, there are no SAT review courses within driving distance of where I live, so I figured I would be at a disadvantage when competing against East coast applicants who have been preparing for the SAT since 9th grade (or, in some cases, even sooner).</p>
<p>Does the ACT versus SAT treatment seem unfair to anyone else? Maybe they are just trying to weed out the dumb Midwesterners? :)</p>
<p>Yep, my son agreed. ACT was easier and the score showed it mostly in the reading/verbal sections. More of a true thinking and reasoning test according to him, so maybe harder for some?</p>
<p>First, you don't need a prep course. Second, most students do equally well on either test. However, SOME students do significantly better on one. Third, you don't need a prep course for either test, IFF you have self-discipline. Use the Xiggi practice method for the SAT, and your score will soar.</p>
<p>Sorry, that may be true for some, but not others. The SAT/ACT concordance was developed using a huge pool of students who took both tests. Thus, the concordance accounts for the difference between those who find it easier and those who don't. What the concordance doesn't account for is the selection of the best scores from multiple tests (SAT) versus the score from only one test (ACT). Your conclusion may appear emperically sound, but is not backed up by the statistics of thousands and thousands of students. I'm still looking for someone to punch a hole in my logic.</p>
<p>Princeton only accepts the ACT if the other schools you are applying to only accept the ACT. Check out the applicant instructions on their website. Plus, I sent an email to Princeton to confirm, and they did.</p>
<p>If it means anything the ACT ranges at the elite colleges are generally lower than that of the SAT ranges. Perhaps while things may not equate quite soundly, they are letter justified by giving some slight compensation to the ACT kids.</p>
<p>Your answer makes some sense to me. Perahaps, there is some "rough justice" that takes into account the different treatment for ACT scores. Thanks!</p>
<p>If you have never taken the SATs, Princeton will accept ACT scores. Even if you've taken the SAT before and do not want them to see it, Princeton will still see the scores because you are required to send SAT II scores.</p>
<p>First, how can it be easier when there is a conversion between ACT and SAT scores? The conversion is set up so that roughly equivalent levels of achievement are equated. Where is the easier part?</p>
<p>The ACT does seem to be easier for some people to score higher than the equivalent SAT score, AND vice versa. The ACT is more of an achievement test and the SAT is more of a multiple choice test where you can use tricks and test-taking techniques. Not surprisingly, different people can do better on one or the other. Standard advice is that if you don't do well on the SAT, then try the ACT, and vice versa.</p>
<p>I agree that the fact that most colleges let you mix and match SAT scores is odd when you consider that they don't let you mix and match ACT section scores. It obviously isn't logical.</p>
<p>TAWS in the previous post had an interesting post about how the ACT has an advantage over the SAT.</p>
<p>I did a little checking , just used USNWR data, so sue them , not me. The top 9 SAT schools at the 75th%-tile with their corresponding 75th%-tile ACT are :</p>
<p>So, it looks like they are giving ACT applicants a 1 point advantage versus the concordance, which may closely approximate a mix and match ACT. It works out that way for me. Thanks!</p>
<p>However, as you can see, Princeton and a few others don't admit enough ACT only applicants to register on their scale. These schools punish the ACT applicants (such as Princeton).</p>
<p>One thing I like about the ACT is the number of levels on its scale. The ACT scale is from 1 to 36. The SAT scale is from 400 to 1600 so it has 121 levels. At the same time, the possible statistical error is around plus or minus 40 points (4 levels). There is something about the scoring scale that makes the SAT test look more important/accurate than it should be. If it was on a different scale, I think people (yes, adcoms too) would worry less about it.</p>
<p>The only thing is... how can you get easier than the SAT . Agreed Verbal is n walk in the park, but the math is a joke. If you get easier then that..</p>
<p>3x + 7 = 2x - 6 - Solve for x (SAT)
to
x = 7 - Solve for x (ACT)</p>
<p>"Of course, I chose to skip the SAT (thus, my dsipleasure). However, there are no SAT review courses within driving distance of where I live, so I figured I would be at a disadvantage when competing against East coast applicants who have been preparing for the SAT since 9th grade (or, in some cases, even sooner)."</p>
<p>Uh, most people don't prep for the SAT at all, and even the majority of those who do just do some practice tests at the most. Nobody here (even the smart kids) does any of the intensive "SAT prep" that a bunch of CC students do, at most going through some of the blue book and certainly hardly ever taking a "review course." Some people are even, gasp, opposed to prepping for the SAT!</p>