Is there a disadvantage to sending both the SAT and ACT scores to college if they are approximately the same, given the chart that converts between the two? The overall composites are about the same, but the breakdowns aren’t identical between the tests.
I know the obvious cost is additional money
I was thinking the benefits might be at least three-fold:
First, as much as we like to think the SAT and ACT are equivalent, maybe it’s good to be sending ACT scores to colleges in regions in which the ACT is still very popular, like Wisconsin?
Second, maybe it’s good to show that between the two tests, I did very well on every section on at least one of them. That is, I had at least 1 good Math score, 1 good Reading, and so forth
Third, maybe it’s good to show proficiency on the Science, something not tested in the SAT?
Yes, you should send both if cost is not an issue but it is not for any of the reasons you mention. When you send both colleges will use the one they believe is the better (higher) for you to determine admission. Though you think they are equivalent based on equivalency tables you find online, the colleges are not required to follow any of those tables, which happen to be about eight years old since they are based on data from 2006 and 2007 used by SAT and ACT to create those tables in 2008. Colleges today have more current data and what they are showing as equivalent may be somewhat different than those online tables. Thus, you should send both and let them determine if one is higher than the other.
That ACT is popular in Wisconsin means nothing. Colleges accept either SAT or ACT without preference for one, including in Wisconsin, As to showing proficiency or that you did well on every section in another test, you are trying to read into the admission decision process far more than what actually occurs with test scores. They will use the test they believe is the higher and they won’t be sitting around trying to find lots of other nuances when comparing the two tests.
@drusba You are saying that the ACT-SAT table might not be correct. Which direction would you wager the error is in? That the ACT converts to a higher SAT score or a lower SAT score, on average?
Are we certain that every college looks at the SAT and ACT with equal preference or is this a myth we tell ourselves?