<p>My best score on the SAT is an 1880 in one sitting (I've taken the SAT only twice), and I did full-length practice tests and such. I got a 29 on the ACT, with no prep, although I think that studying for the SAT helped me with time management and such. I am fairly pleased with my ACT score, so I would like to concentrate on bringing it up, but I can't help feeling that I should try to raise my SAT score. But does it really matter? I am from New York, so the SAT is the bigger standardized test here, so if I apply to a college like NYU and I submit only my ACT score, will schools like NYU look negatively upon me?</p>
<p>My daughter has a similar conundrum. She has taken SAT twice; scored 1160 and 1200 (CR & M). Her SAT writing score each time was 620 while her CR each time was 540. Between the SAT test dates, she took the ACT and scored a composite 30 (despite a 23 in the English section). An ACT Composite 30 is supposed to be equivalent to a 1330 - 1350 SAT. Living in Virginia, most state schools and East Coast selective schools prefer the SAT scores but will accept ACT with writing. Does it make sense to only send the ACT scores and not share the SAT results, which don’t appear likely to improve much if she retakes a 3rd time? Counselors at my daughter’s school say to send everything and schools will look at the scores that put her in the best light. I’m not so certain, fearing they will focus on the low CR scores. Any advice from the CC board?</p>
<p>Our counselors also say send everything but I’m not sure I will do that. My son got a 30 composite on the ACT (all scores between 29 and 31, except writing at a 27) but have a 1350/1980 SAT score for best single sitting and a superscore (based on two sittings) of 1430/2080. I think the latter score is much better than the 30 ACT and so for schools that superscore, I think he shouldn’t send the ACT at all but for schools that don’t, maybe send both. I would also like to hear others’ thoughts on this.</p>
<p>R2R: Thanks for your perspective. I too would like to hear from other posters on this. I realize counselors are in favor of full disclosure and transparency but in cases where test scores can be viewed as borderline by some schools, I don’t see the advantage of providing the lesser scores for them to consider. Am I missing something?</p>
<p>Oakton Parent…the only thing about your daughter’s scores is that the English score is really low. I’m sort of wondering if the colleges break up the ACT the same way they do the SAT, and look at certain scores as more important than other scores. For instance, why would the writing score be important in the ACT but not important in the SAT? Do they not really consider it much? And how about the science score? Is that as important as the math and verbal scores?</p>
<p>Also, when you look at ACT/SAT Concordance, look at the table on the official ACT site, which does concordance based on SAT math/CR only and then SAT writing separately. How did your daughter do on just the math/CR part of the SAT?</p>
<p>I looked at the ACT Concordance tables as you suggested-thanks. Daughter got 1200 on SAT CR+Math only on the 2nd try; first try was 1160 (40 point bump all attributed to Math 660). Her ACT scores for combined 26 with writing score of 11 out of 12. Obviously vocabulary is an issue but I really am unsure whether additional test taking, barring unforeseen substantial improvement is really the way to go. Wouldn’t a third SAT CR score in the mid-500s only solidify a “red” flag in an Admissions office?</p>