<p>I noticed that the 50% score ranges for many colleges are much lower on an equivalent basis for ACTs than for SATs. Yet for others, the score ranges are more or less the same. For example, Swarthmore's SAT range is 2090-2230, while its ACT range is 29-32, the equivalent of 1920-2130. Why do ACT takers get such a huge break?</p>
<p>Not all schools have such a good range for ACT..... trust me</p>
<p>1) It's not a huge break. 29 is the 94th percentile of the ACT. 2090 is the 96th percentile. It's pretty equivalent. </p>
<p>You can't really compare the scores using a conversion chart. The better way, IMO, is to use percentile rankings.</p>
<p>2) Also, perhaps some food for thought: ACT scores are usually sent by people from the Midwest, which are underrepresented at schools in the Northeast (usually speaking.) Perhaps they admit more people with what you believe as slightly lower scores for the sake of geographic diversity?</p>
<p>I don't think you can use percentiles at all. That is because several states require all high school students to take the ACT, while the SAT is only taken by a sub-set of the high school population that wants to go to selective colleges.</p>
<p>Eh. I doubt it'd skew the percentiles as much as you think. In 2007, there were only two states that required statewide testing: one was Illinois (rather populous because of Chicago), and the other was Colorado (a medium-sized state). </p>
<p>Even so, at a lot of top schools, test scores are de-emphasized because they know that SAT/ACT scores are poor predictors of grades. They want a certain level for the SAT/ACT, but once you're there, they really don't care how far else you achieve. This, for example, is especially true at Berkeley.</p>
<p>it really doesn't matter which one you take... most colleges accept either or... some coastal colleges only accept SAT, and i've seen a couple colleges that take the ACT only... but from what i've seen for the most part, they don't care as long as you take one of them and it's high enough for their standards.. they really don't predict your grades.</p>
<p>^true once you get in their average score range they put your score aside and look at more important stuff like YOU</p>
<p>I think its best to take the ACT it gives a fuller picture of your capabilities in school and you don't have to send it in. But the ACT is less widely taken so perhaps thats why the average scale is off</p>
<p>i think the SAT is crap.... it sucks and you can't choose which score to send off... they all are automatically</p>
<p>i prefer the ACT a whole lot better</p>
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But the ACT is less widely taken so perhaps thats why the average scale is off
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<p>Actually, that's only part of it. Think also about the most widely represented states at top private colleges in the Northeast like Swarthmore: Massachusetts, Texas, California, New York, Florida (sometimes). They're all SAT states.</p>
<p>Any more people have an opinion on why ACT ranges are lower than SAT ranges at many colleges?</p>
<p>It's pretty much because less people take the ACT than the SAT.</p>
<p>"... some coastal colleges only accept SAT, and i've seen a couple colleges that take the ACT only..."</p>
<p>Wrongidy wrong info. Of the colleges that require standardized tests, either ACT or SAT are accepted w/o prejudice. Couldn't find the link that hashed that out, but it's here somewhere.</p>