SAT vs ACT

<p>So, I live in the midwest, where 95% of students don't even consider taking the SAT, but I have heard that if you're planning to apply to coastal schools that SAT scores are more valued that ACT scores. I got a decent score on my ACT (33), would it be beneficial for me to also take the SAT?</p>

<p>Your ACT score is phenomenal. Don’t forget other factors are considered when an officer is reviewing your admission. What were your subscores?</p>

<p>You can take the SAT in order to see whether you perform slightly better.</p>

<p>thanks for the response! </p>

<p>and 34 on math/english/science and 30 on reading</p>

<p>How did you prepare for the ACT? 33 is a phenominal score. A 34 on those sections is in the 95-98th percentiles which is amazing. You should take an SAT just to see how you do. You never know it could be helpful.</p>

<p>lol, i didn’t, other than the things we do in school to prepare. i’m surprised you guys see that as phenomenal, i always thought it was a mediocre score. haha thanks though, greet self esteem boost. :D</p>

<p>Ya its just CC has crazy kids with scores here. Most everyone is applying to Harvard and MIT basically so ya. Compared to the rest of the world thats a very high score. I got a 25 on the February one and thats the 79th percentile.</p>

<p>Is it good to take the ACT and the SAT? What I mean is that will it boost my chance of getting into a good college?</p>

<p>Not necessarily. Both are weighted evenly. It only benefits you because you may perform better on one over the other. However, per se you recieve a 28 on the ACT math but a 720 on the SAT math and a 34 on the ACT reading but a 650 on the SAT CR, both tests may be considered. Bear in mind that universities consider such circumstances differently. </p>

<p>@rrcjm, did you take the ACT w/ writing? Some institutions require it. BTW, did you feel the timing of the reading portion bogged you down? If so, the SAT gives more time on the critical reading portion, which may benefit you. Who knows, you may even get a 2400 on the SAT! Haha…</p>

<p>The idea that the SAT is valued more than the ACT is outdated, back many years when the ACT was much newer. Now, most, if not all colleges view the SAT and the ACT equally.</p>

<p>Nonetheless, I would advise taking both. Not because the SAT is valued more, but simply because the tests have their differences, and it’s very possible to do better on the SAT than the ACT. </p>

<p>I have not taken the SAT, but I have taken both the PSAT and the ACT. I felt that the ACT’s questions were a little bit easier, but with the PSAT (I imagine it would be the same on the SAT), I felt that I had a lot more time to do the questions. Since I consider myself a slower but steady worker, I got a better score on my PSAT than my ACT, so it could end up being the same for you!</p>

<p>@overachiever - mhm, i took the writing as well! yeah, i definitely felt short on time for the reading portion. honestly, i think i just lack the focus needed to read all those passages in a time efficient manner. i took the PSAT in school though and didn’t score that great, got a 192, so I figured i wouldn’t do much better on the SAT.</p>

<p>I see… It wouldn’t hurt to try, though.
Did you prepare for either test? Peruse an SAT practice test, and maybe you will have a clear decision on whether to take it or not.
Make sure whether the schools you want require SAT II’s. If any do, prep for those and do not worry about the SAT… unless you have the time to spare to study for 3-4 disparate tests.</p>