SAT score vs. ACT score

<p>so i'm that type of person who doesn't have natural intelligence/brilliance. you know, i'm not those type of people who doesn't have to study for the SATs and can get a 1450 nevertheless.
knowing this, i tried so hard, i've been prepearing for the SATs for nearly a year or two. my scores at this point (i've taken the may SAT as my last SAT) are about 1370-1390 at the maximum. </p>

<p>i'm that kind of person who does good in objective and school related kind of tests. i know that the SAT is more reasoning and the ACt is more subject related, if i'm correct. So does that mean i'll do better on the ACT than the SAT or will my scores be approximately the same?</p>

<p>Are those scores out of 1600 or 2400?</p>

<p>It's a mixed bag, but people who take higher level classes and do better in school generally score higher on the ACT. However, the ACT has very difficult time limits, which compensate for the test not trying to "trick you" as the SAT does. If you can master the time limit, then I'd say you'd be golden for the ACT.</p>

<p>Those scores are out of 1370-1390. He implies that a 1450 is an amazing score, so it has to be out of 1600. And even colleges still use the 1600 scale because they don't count the writing score, except for one school, Northwestern University, but they are known for their journalism program, so it doesn't come as a surprise.</p>

<p>those scores are out of 1600 and otu of 2400 i have approx 2050ish? (the colleges im looking at don't really emphasize writing that much).</p>

<p>yes, i'm doing really good in school i'm taking aps and everything and i get As for the most part (well...except physics which i really hate, including the teacher). </p>

<p>but on the ACT, are the questions easier than the SAT? if so, i'll do great but if they're the same level of difficulty, then i'm screwed</p>

<p>The questions on the ACT are not easier. They are more straightforward. They become difficult with the time limits. For example, on the reading section you get 35 minutes to read four passages ranging from 750 to 1000 words and answer 40 questions, ten on each passage. The question types for each passage are different because each passage is of a different type including humanities, science, prose fiction, and social science. </p>

<p>The math section contains material that some students don't take until their senior including basic calculus, except I have only encountered two calculus questions in all the practice tests I've taken. There are 60 questions, and there is a 60 minute time limit.</p>

<p>The science section has seven passages with 40 questions. The number of questions per passage vary. This is basically what critical reading is for the SAT. I do really well on this, but it's not running calculations. You have to basically interpret data and viewpoints among other things.</p>

<p>The English section has 75 questions distributed through 5 passages. There is a 40 minute time limit. Just read a grammar book and you'll be fine. I used the Elements of Style by Strunk and White. And keep moving. Do not get bogged down on one question.</p>

<p>I explained the reading above, but keep moving. Don't bogged down anywhere.</p>

<p>The writing section is 30 minutes long. The ACT essay questions aren't as random as the SAT ones are. However, the essay is graded harder than the SAT essay.</p>

<p>People have this wrong idea that the ACT is an easier test than the SAT. Some do better on the ACT than on the SAT and vice versa. They employ different formats with emphasis on different things. You really can't compare them too much except give an object description of each section.</p>

<p>Try a practice exam. You might like the ACT better, and if you are thinking of taking the ACT you should be somewhat familiar with the exam before going to take it for real.</p>

<p>thanks! :D
i think i will do better on the ACT...i hope so at least
is 32 too unachievable?</p>

<p>I don't know if you can achieve a 32. I took the SAT in March, and my score was a 2000 (700W/720M/580CR). And on all of my practice tests, I broke I broke 2250. Then when I checked my answer sheet that CB sent me, I found out that I had actually made a bubbling error, which killed my CR score. I've been taking ACT practice tests, and I've been doing really well. I feel more confident about it. I'm taking it in June. Only you will know if you can achieve a 32, and the only way you will find out is if you take a couple of practice tests. I suggest using the official ACT book, the red one. It has three old ACT exams with actual curves and the national distribution of the scores. That will give you the best idea of what you can achieve.</p>

<p>nikkigirl12~
i, too, think you might do better on the ACTS, but what's so bad about 2050?? and remember schools are actually looking at your whole "package"...there are plenty of applicants out there that were rejected with perfect scores, with their lower scoring counterparts getting in! they had something the school wanted BESIDES grades and scores!</p>

<p>hey thanks :D
but see, i'm trying to apply for this scholarship which needs 1400 SAT min or 32 ACT min, so i'm really trying to get it.
if i get it, then i'll just have to fill otu some apps and essays which i know ill do GREAT on...
im hoping lol...</p>

<p>i get it...well lots of luck to you!!</p>

<p>happycollegemom is absolutely right. Look at the UPenn acceptance threads. You will find students with 1900-2170 on their SATs being accepted and students with 2250+ being rejected. And the 1900 is not just an isolated case; there are many students who got in with a score close to 1900. Tests aren't everything, so do not concentrate on them completely. Work on the subjective part of your application because that probably has more weight than your test scores.</p>

<p>Although, since you're trying to apply for a scholarship which requires certain scores, I understand why you want to do so well.</p>

<p>ACT Reading- much, much easier. ACT Grammar- a tad easier. ACT Math- significantly harder. ACT Science Reasoning- nothing like you've ever seen before with insane time limits.</p>

<p>I think i might fit the higher-midclass person who somebody said will do better on the ACT. I got sub-2100 on the SAT but rocked the ACT at a 35. I really don't know what happened.</p>