<p>Daughter took SAT and ACT in the spring. Using the concordance tables, for reading/math (excluding writing) the ACT was about 70 SAT points or 2 ACT points better than the SAT. She retook the SAT in the summer and improved reading/math to the point where the summer SAT is now 50 SAT points or 1 ACT point better than the spring ACT. For reading/math, the Summer SAT is clearly her best score.</p>
<p>However, using the concordance table, her ACT writing was much better than either of the SAT. An implied differential of 70 SAT points or 3 ACT points on that one score.</p>
<p>Ever hear about colleges superscoring between SAT/ACT, not just within SAT or ACT?</p>
<p>Georgia Tech will also score the best scores from SAT (CR, Math, Writing) and the ACT (English, Math, English/writing) and come up with a SAT-scaled score based on their conversion tables. I don’t have link but believe conversion table is online.</p>
<p>Most schools we looked at will just take the higher of the 2 scores into consideration. VERY few schools superscore the ACT for admissions, many will superscore the SAT though.</p>
<p>Not sure what you mean by “ACT Writing”. Do you mean the essay score? I think very few colleges superscore across the tests at all, and I suspect not at all with the essay score.</p>
<p>I had a conversation about that essay score the other day with D2’s guidance counselor. D2 has a very strong SAT superscore, but also got a very good ACT score with a perfect 12 on the ACT essay (a miracle in pretty much her and my opinion! Her SAT essay scores were good, but not great the two times she took it, but strong multiple choice performance brought up the SAT writing score anyway). I told the counselor I knew we should send the SATs due to the strong SAT superscore (a bit better than the ACT score), but asked if it was worth sending the ACT score as well to display that perfect ACT essay score. She said no, because the colleges typically look more at your application essays for writing quality instead of the specific essay score anyway. They may look at the overall SAT writing score (multiple choice plus essay) or the ACT English + essay score, but the actual essay score will really not get considered. She is a former admissions counselor at a top 25 LAC, so I am taking her word for it. Not sure if that helps you, though.</p>
<p>Too bad our kids can’t put it all together in one sitting, huh? :)</p>
<p>Colleges that are “Test Flexible” allow applicants to choose the best subscore across different types of tests, including SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Test, AP, IB. Examples: Colorado College, University of Rochester, Hamilton.</p>
<p>If school’s don’t use the Essay Score, then why do they say that the kids have to take the SAT/ACT with Writing? I’ve heard that the writing score is not used much. Seems odd to ask for it, and then not use it. Maybe it is a confirming type score. Score really low, and have great essays makes you wonder who wrote the essays. Then again, Admissions Officers say they are good at spotting when the kid “got a lot of help” writing the essay.</p>
<p>BTW: Is there a school that says they take lower scores into account? I can’t think of any. That is why I am of the opinion to send all the scores and let the school’s figure it out. Take the highest scores at one sitting; super score; take the highest between the SAT/ACT; whatever. I did hear that taking a test more than 3 times is not recommended.</p>
<p>^Have had several schools say in presentations that they use the writing on the SAT/ACT as a sort of tie-breaker for applicants who are otherwise on the fence.</p>