Hi,
I’m a sophomore in high school. I recently took both the SAT and ACT. The subject I am best at is Math. I’m conflicted on which one I should study for over the summer. I got pretty similar scores in each. I will be taking the 2400 SAT if I choose the SAT. Do college prefer one over the other?
Here is my breakdown of each:
SAT: 1880
Math: 740
Reading: 560
Writing: 580
Essay: 10
ACT: 29
English: 29
Math: 29 (surprising low)
Reading: 33
Science: 26
Essay: 8
Which one should I take?
My target colleges are in the UNC Chapel-Hill range.
I feel like you’ll improve more on the ACT with studying.
Just try to memorize some English rules and get your English to a 30+
Study math, work with time, memorize ideas, and get to a 34+
Reading is great, stick with the 33+
Study science strategies, it’s usually harder the first time and get to a 30+
Then you’re in the 32+ range, which is great. Though I’m sure you’ll be able to improve SAT as well, I feel like you’d have an easier time improving ACT.
I recommend taking each a second time, especially since there are score disparities. Your composite scores are similar but you might want to show the higher Math SAT and Reading 33. Are you in-state for UNC? It’s a huge reach, if not. My son had similar test scores on his first try in both the SAT and ACT. He took them both a second time, and went up to a 2060/31. That improvement is well above the norm. UNC was his super-reach and top choice. He did not get in. Like you, the composites were similar, but with different strengths and weaknesses.
Your ACT score is actually better than your SAT score. Note that your Math section score should improve after Algebra 2. The national average for each section of ACT is around 20-21 while that for SAT is around 500-520. You can see you are not too far above average in two of the 3 SAT section scores, while you are well above average in all ACT section scores.
Generally colleges don’t prefer one over the other. If they did, they would just specify which one to take rather than accepting both.
You’re only a sophomore, so once you’ve learned a bit more math your scores will definitely improve. Colleges will accept either the SAT or the ACT, there is no preference, but usually you need to do either the SAT with 2 SATIIs of your choice or ACT with writing. My suggestion would be to take both. I got a prep book for both, and went through each. You’ll realize that essentially they are testing most of the same grammar and math rules, there is very little difference other than format. Study the basic rules that come up a lot and take a few practice tests to get used to each format. That’s what worked for me (SAT-2330, ACT-35).
Good luck!
One more consideration would be the format change in SAT next year. You would be in the transition year. For that, you may want to focus on ACT.
Yes, I am in-state for UNC. Thank you guys for the info! I will probably be studying for the ACT to get 32+… especially with the changed SAT and all
i went from a 29 to a 33. For english I used Barron’s 36. For science I got a 25 at first and then I got a 36. Type in PaulPierce ACT science and you’ll see a thread i made under an acc named PaulPierce34.