<p>Do colleges prefer SAT or ACT? Because I hear one is harder than the other, so I figure they would prefer the SAT?</p>
<p>Also, how does the SAT and ACT work? Is it only critical thinking and math? Or does the writing part count as well?</p>
<p>Colleges generally say they have no preference between the SAT and the ACT. Even if one of the tests was harder than the other it wouldn’t matter because to arrive at your score (/2400 or /36), you are compared to other students that took the test. </p>
<p>I haven’t taken the ACT but I know it involves a science section, for one thing. If you are better at recalling information and have an aversion to more logic-based questions, you’ll probably do better on the ACT. Most people suggest taking both tests to figure out which one suits you better and then doing prep for just that one to maximize your score.</p>
<p>Almost all colleges readily accept either without preference. The Cal Poly’s, which are in a state where the SAT predominates, adopted a preference a few years ago for the ACT but still readily accept either. Because of the history of the tests and where they were introduced and managed to become predominate, the SAT is the usual test taken by high school students in the east and far west; the ACT is the usual test taken by high school students in most states in the middle of the country. You will find those who believe the SAT is the superior and more difficult test and claim that it is therefore the better to submit. Generally, those are persons who live in the east or far west and often build their ego around their SAT scores. You will find some in the middle of the country who believe the opposite in that the ACT is superior. The truth is the tests are what they are, merely admission tests, which are only one part of the consideration for admission. Colleges do not view either test as some talisman that determines one’s IQ or anything else other than a score to be used in the admission process and the higher your score the better your chances. In other words, do not try to overthink these admissions tests but do try to score as high as you possbily can on whichever ones you take.</p>
<p>You can do a search on google for the SAT test and the ACT test and find tons of information about what the tests are about.
SAT has three sections, math, critical reading, and writing and the writing section actually has one part where you do an essay. ACT has four sections, math, English, reading, and science, and an optional essay. However, for many colleges the ACT essay section has become mandatory.</p>
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And where did you hear this?</p>
<p>Difficulty is insignificant in general, because the two tests are compared by a concordance table (that is a percentile table based on a group of students who took both tests). If a score becomes easier to get, it’s value will decrease in concordance to the other test and in comparison to other test-takers of that test.</p>
<p>[Estimated</a> Relationship between ACT Composite Score and SAT CR+M+W Score](<a href=“http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/estimate.html]Estimated”>http://www.act.org/aap/concordance/estimate.html)</p>
<p>
I do not recall a critical thinking section on the SAT.</p>
<p>Basic Comparison:</p>
<p>ACT
-out of 36
-math, various english sections, science
-<em>supposedly</em> girls do better on this one</p>
<p>SAT
-out of 2400
-math, reading, writing
-more popular (i.e. more people take the SAT since there are more resources out there)</p>
<p>I suggest you to take both a couple of times and see which one you do better on. For me, it was the SAT.</p>
<p>More people take the ACT now: [The</a> College Puzzle Blog Archive ACT Surpasses SAT In Number Of Test Takers](<a href=“ACT Surpasses SAT In Number Of Test Takers | The College Puzzle”>ACT Surpasses SAT In Number Of Test Takers | The College Puzzle) It IS a good idea to take both. Concordance tables notwithstanding, some students do better on one than the other.</p>