<p>My DD didn't score real well on the math section of the SAT. Due to the advice I got here she took the ACT this month and did FAR better ie: over 30%age points better in a national comparison. </p>
<p>My question is : Do schools who admit holistically look at the scores of both tests and should we therefore submit both SAT and ACT because though she did better in Math on one she didn't so so well on English. In other words, I think sending both score reports gives a more complete picture of my kid and I want to know if that is what I should do.</p>
<p>She has taken high level math throughout hs and will have taken 4 years. She has earned C+s and Bs
First SAT Math 490 YIKES!!!! 41% ile Will retake in June
First ACT Math a 24 which puts her at the 75%ile Much more in keeping with her demonstrated skill level</p>
<p>She has had straight As in English classes throughout hs until this year when she earned a B in AP comp which is weighted so that the B is worth A credit.</p>
<p>Sat CR score 610 83%ile
ACT Reading 30 92%ile
ACT English 22...65%ile The spelling got her!</p>
<p>I would have her re-take the ACT June 14 and send the best score. If some tutoring is available to her, have her work on perfecting the test-taking technique and sections of the ACT and go for it. The two tests have such different styles--if you believe the style of the ACT suits her better, get some tutoring/test prep and hopefully the scores will improve.</p>
<p>first of all, the GC at DD's school repeatly told all students - college will look at your best scores and he encouraged everyone to send in scores even if only one sub score is good.</p>
<p>Talk to GC at your school. If the score is below her per GPA and course taken. Take another shoot at ACT.</p>
<p>The UCs say they take the best scores from a single sitting. If the SAT and ACT are both submitted, even if multiple times, they convert the scores of the ACT to a SAT equivalent and take the best one submitted. By 'single sitting' I mean they don't 'super-size' the scores like some colleges do - i.e. taking the highest section (math, etc.) of any sitting.</p>
<p>historymom:
I know that a number of students seem to do better on the ACT than the SAT so taking both is a good idea. The advantage to taking them multiple times or to prep for it somehow either through a prep book (but they have to read it!) or a class, is that one has a chance to maybe refresh their memory on certain subjects they might not have touched on for a while and they'll know what to expect on the test and maybe be more relaxed.</p>
<p>I don't know about the paid prep classes. I've heard that for some people they don't really help at all but that for some they might. I'm sure there are some threads somewhere on CC about this. My kids didn't do them though. </p>
<p>If she did better on the ACT than the SAT maybe taking the ACT another time, if possible, would be a good idea. </p>
<p>There's a conversion chart for the ACT and SAT for UCs here - </p>
<p>Thanks, that link was very helpful. I think it's ironic that for the first time in her life my D scored higher on Math than she did on English. sigh... did that happen to anyone else?</p>
<p>SAT II are set for May and SAT I retakes are set for June. Both of my girls are working on test prep for SAT right now in hopes of bringing that original math score up significantly. I think what we will do is just plan on retaking the ACT on the first fall date so that they have test scores ready for EA</p>
<p>Did she do any prep for the ACT? My daughter used the princeton review and also did the real ACT practice tests and found the english tips pretty helpful.</p>
<p>I would suggest doing some prep and redoing the ACT.</p>
<p>Thanks swimcatsmom. No, other than looking at the sample questions on line, she did not do any prep. It does seem like with some additional prep she will be able to bring them up. She has trouble with spelling. She is an avid reader and loves to write creatively but her spelling is in the tank. It goes along with a general lack of attention to detail she demonstrates in many aspects of her life. She inherited that from me. The forest is visible but those darn trees escape our view. ;)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Both of my girls are working on test prep
[/quote]
Twins??</p>
<p>It seems to me that it'd be difficult to study to improve spelling at this point other than she could see if she improves much by just paying very close attention to how she spells the word. Some people with spelling issues can do better if they just pay closer attention to how they spelled the word - but not always (sometimes it makes it worse!). However, if she finds certain math questions that she just doesn't remember how to do because it's been a couple of years since she's done those particular kinds of problems, then refreshing in that area might help. Time, i.e. the time it takes to get through the questions, can be a factor as well. The practice tests can help with pacing by not lingering too long on some questions at the expense of ever getting to some other questions.</p>
<p>she did tell me that she ran out of time on the English portion so she bubbled in B and C on her remaining questions. Shocking because she is my one who I have to remind to slow down and be careful. I think just taking the time to do practice tests in a somewhat controlled environment will be helpful to her in that regard.</p>
<p>It's not surprising that your daughter ran out of time on the ACT. The biggest challenge with that test is completing it in time -- it goes at a much faster pace than the SAT. The best advice is to have her practice working under the timed conditions. Also, I think you're getting some muddled advice here. Most colleges superscore the SAT -- taking the highest sections from SATs taken on different dates. There are a few exceptions to this -- UCs, UT, Northwestern (and a few more). Most schools do not superscore the ACT, although I understand that Wash U does. I have not heard of any schools that will take the highest math section from the ACT and the highest reading section from the SAT. Someone can correct me if they know otherwise. That said, your daughter should take the ACT again and then you should re-evaluate the options of what to send based on the results. I bet she'll have higher scores now that she's familiar with how fast to work. Also, the ACT does not subtract points for wrong answers, so bubbling in answers that she doesn't have time to finish is exactly the way to go. But when she does it she should pick one letter and bubble that in all the remaining blanks before the time is up -- all B's or all C's (etc.). She has a greater chance of getting something right, statistically speaking.</p>
<p>Hang in there. This testing part will all be over soon and then it is what it is.</p>
<p>Hey...curm LOL...we have always told her that as long as she uses spell check and gets help with proofreading she'll be OK. Problem is they won't let her bring a lap-top into the testing room. :)</p>
<p>blackeyedsusan thanks for the encouraging words. I look forward to that day when they decide they are done with testing. It may mean they have to edit their "to apply to" lists but since they both have found some great schools well within their ranges (even with these lower scores) at least we know they have some really great options. Thanks also for the advice re. choosing a letter and sticking with it. Makes sense.</p>
<p>did she take the ACT PLUS (w/writing)? some schools accept this in lieu of the SAT. i would suggest she directly contact the admissions rep for the schools and ask them which test is required to submitted? she could let them know she has already taken both.</p>
<p>i'm another poster in favor of her taking the ACT again.</p>
<p>When I was referring to 'superscoring' I was referring only to the SAT and stating that the UCs didn't do it although many colleges do (which results in skewed stats for SAT scores of the incoming class). I haven't heard if any superscore the ACT or not.</p>
<p>blackeyedsusan-do you have a link or list or ? as to the schools that do not take the highest sections from SAT'S taken on different dates? This is news to me and might help explain my D's problem years ago with Northwestern.</p>
<p>Did your D list her school on the SAT and the Act? You might check with your HS and see if they send the scores with the student's transcipt. I called my S's and learned that they do. Knowing that I did not put the HS name on the ACT. I had already done so on the SAT. If the ACT ends up being the one he uses I will make sure the HS does not send out the SAT. Maybe this is info you already know-it was a surprise to me.
My D took the SAT 3 times and raised her math significantly. Did some private tutoring. I know you have been very careful with this college search and your D's are going to end up in great schools.</p>