SAT vs ACT

by Kimberly Russell - 11/07
NEIRAD enilno edition

The college application season has rolled around once again at Darien High School. Each year, the selection criterion gets more and more competitive. Many things go into the rigorous process, but, perhaps, the most grueling is the dreaded test scores. However, unlike 10 years ago, the applicants have the option of taking one of two tests: the SAT or the ACT. Many colleges these days are accepting both tests. But with this option comes the question of how many and which tests to take.
According to the Princeton Review, the ACTs and SATs have at least three sections including writing, reading and math. The ACTs also have a science section, which discourages many students. However, the science section does not include the most difficult aspect of the discipline such as manipulating numbers or conversions. Instead this section focuses on reading and understanding graphs and tables.
The SATs is a ten-section exam with three critical reading, three math, three writing and one experimental test. The experimental does not count toward the final grade.
 The ACTs contain four sections: English, math, reading and science. The grading process is also different. For example, the SATs have a penalty for wrong answers; ACTs do not penalize in the same manner. In the SATs, a quarter of a point is taken off the students' incorrect answer. Because of this grading policy, SAT administrators recommend not freely guessing because leaving a question blank will not result in subtraction of points. In the ACTs, guessing is highly recommended, because a student has a one in four (25%) chance of getting the answer correct without subtraction of points.
In the new SATs, it is graded on a scale out of 2400. Each section is scored out of a total of 800 points, then the totals are added together ultimately resulting in the total score. Many colleges will accept just the reading and math scores, in which case the total score is a 1600. Each section of the ACT is graded on a scale out of 36. Thirty-six is the highest possible score. Each section is then averaged, resulting in the composite score (maximum score also being 36).
The SAT scores are automatically sent to each school the student applies. However, many colleges give students the opportunity to provide a "Super Score", meaning the highest total from each section is added together to create their highest possible score. The ACT scores allow more latitude by giving the test taker the option of releasing the test scores depending on how comfortable a student is with the end result. However, the ACT composite score cannot be manipulated into any sort of "Super Score".
Many students chose to take only one test. "I only took SATs, and I was happy with my score. I don't think it would be worth it to take a whole other test, and most schools take both, so I'm sticking with just one. The ACT is based on what you learn and the SAT is based on what you can figure out. I figured I'd be better at the SATs," DHS senior Courtney Finkel said.
DHS senior Max Florian only took the ACT. "Well, I only chose the ACTs because I liked the format a lot better and how the sections were divided. The questioning seemed more logic based than knowledge based. I felt the ACTs were a party of epic academic proportions."
Though some students only take one, many DHS students sat both exams. "I actually preferred taking the SATs because it seemed like more of a game and I hated the science section on the ACTs. Ironically, I did better on my ACTs, so who knows. I'd recommend students take both," Sarah Mckay, a Darien senior, said.
  Nina Palmer, another senior, also opted to for the two-test route. "People often say the ACTs are much easier, but I don't think that's necessarily true. I think it's good to take both; you get the feel for which format you like better. I recommend the ACTs if you're good at science, because science is in the test. I felt more comfortable taking the SATs because I was at the high school and more comfortable in that environment because I am used to working there, whereas I felt really uncomfortable taking the ACTs in New York. Also, I think I rushed in the ACTs, it feels faster because you don't get as many breaks, and you are doing one subject at a time rather than switching around like you do in the SATs."
Former Darien student, Mika Roux, had her own strategy for test success. "I wanted the opportunity to see which test I would do better. I had no idea which I would do well on. I liked the SATs better in the end, the math only goes till Algebra II and doesn't cover pre-calculus. Also, colleges only accept the best ACT composite score, but with the SATs, they combined my three best scores."  
There is no one right answer. Each student has to make a tough decision, which gets even tougher in the intense competitive environment DHS students face in the quest to get into college.