A big part of your kid’s college application is going to be standardized tests. These are scene by college admissions boards as an equalizer. Each year they get thousands of applications from qualified young high school students from all across the country. Each has put together an exceptional record of academic achievement, as well as involvement in a number of different civic, scholastic, sporting, ethnic and religious groups. Some of these may be sponsored by the high school, like mock trial and basketball, while others may be engaged in by the student in his or her local community. In addition, each prospective college student will supply at least one personal essay or statement so the admissions board can get a better sense of the student as an individual.
With all of this information, how do the admissions board end up making the decision between student A and student B? Many times, it may come down to scores on standardized test. On the plus side, these can be a great equalizer for students who come from different parts of the country. Let’s face it, not every locality’s public high school is as good as that of another. The same goes for private and parochial schools. In addition, many essays and personal statements are written in conjunction with high school guidance counselors and English teachers. With standardized tests, it is just the student and either the SAT or the ACT. For college admissions boards, this can be seen as a level playing field for all students.
What are the SAT and ACT?
The SAT originally stood for the Scholastic Aptitude Test and then was changed to the Scholastic Assessment Test. At one time, it was the sole, major standardized test for college admissions. However, it came to be joined by the ACT or American College Testing, another standardized test that is similar in design.
Both tests used a scoring scale, with the SAT runs from 400 at the lowest to 1600 at the highest. In contrast, the ACT runs from 1 as the lowest score to 36 as the highest. As such, there is more scoring gradation within the SAT. As we shall see, this has to do with the structure of both of these tests.
Basically, if you are planning to apply to college, you will need to take either the SAT or the ACT. Choosing the right one for you is crucial to making sure you get the best score possible to put yourself in the best position to get into the college of your choice. The Princeton Review provides study materials for the SAT and ACT, so you can take a practice exam online just to give you a sense of how you will score on each test. This can then also be used to see if your scores will be good enough to get you admitted to the colleges you are considering.
What are the parts of the SAT?
The SAT is comprised of two sections, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is then broken down into two tests, Reading, and Writing & Language. The test consists of 154 multiple-choice questions and is taken in one sitting.
The Reading portion lasts 65 minutes and consists of 52 multiple-choice questions. This section covers of passages dealing with literature, historical documents, social sciences, and natural sciences. The students are then asked a series of questions on each passage to get a sense of their reading comprehension.
The Writing & Language portion is shorter and focuses on grammar, editing skills, and vocabulary in context. This only lasts 35 minutes for a total of 44 multiple-choicequestions.
The Math section lasts a full 80 minutes. You should bring along a calculator, as 55 minutes of this part of the SAT allow you to use a calculator. The remaining 25 minutes of the Math portion must be done without a calculator. In all, there are 58 multiple-choiceMath questions, 20 of which are No-Calculator and 38 of which permit the use of a calculator. The topics covered include algebra I and II, geometry, and some trigonometry.
Each of the two sections count for half of the score, so the most you can get on the Match section is 800, which is the same for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. The College Board runs the SAT.
What are the parts of the ACT?
The ACT is run by ACT, Inc. It is actually a broader exam than the SAT, as it adds Science as a topic. In fact, there are five different parts to the ACT: English, Match, Reading, Science, and Writing. It also has more questions than the SAT, a full 215 multiple-choice questions. It is a longer test, lasting 215 minutes, compared to 180 minutes for the SAT. However, 40 minutes of the ACT are for the writing test, so you actually have 175 minutes to answer 215 questions. The SAT gives you 180 minutes to answer the 154 questions. As such, you will have to answer more questions more quickly if you choose to take the ACT instead of the SAT.
The English section of the ACT has 75 multiple-choice questions in just 45 minutes. This part will test you for grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. Math has 60 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes. Like the SAT, this covers algebra I and II, geometry, and trigonometry. Unlike the SAT, you can use your calculator for all questions in this section.
The Reading section has 40 multiple-choice questions in just 35 minutes. You will have to read four passages, answer 10 questions about each one. The topics are prose fiction, social studies, humanities, and natural science. Like the similar section of the SAT, this will test you for reading comprehension.
The Science portion is unique to the ACT. This gives students science-based passages presented with graphs, charts, tables, and research summaries. You have 35 minutes to answer 40 multiple-choice questions on these passages.
The final section is a Writing test. This is optional, but most colleges that accept the ACT like to see their applicants complete this part. Students are given a topic and required to write an essay in the 40 minutes allotted for this section.
Reasonable accommodations
Both the SAT and ACT provide reasonable accommodations for students who may need extra time or other assistance while taking the exam. If you have an IEP or 504 Plan, you should let the group running the exam know about this beforehand so that steps can be taken to give you an equal footing on your exam day.
Criticism of standardized tests
While there are those who support the ACT and SAT for providing a level playing field for all students across the country, the tests are not without their critics. There are those who claim that the tests discriminate. The point to studies that show a correlation between higher scores and the economic standing of the students. Basically, the wealthier the student, the more likely that he or she will have taken at least one course or had a tutor to help prepare for the test.
There is some support for this, as test preparation classes have been a big business dating back to 1938 and the foundation of the Stanley Kaplan test prep business in Brooklyn. Kaplan actually started it in the basement of his parents’ home. However, from those humble beginnings sprang a major industry of test preparation classes and tutors. The reality is that you can study for the ACT and SAT. While it is doubtful that a C level student could get an 1800 on the SAT or 36 on the ACT (in other words, a perfect score), it is true that test preparation can bring a score up significantly.
There are also charges that the tests have a racial bias. These allegations claim that the choice of reading passages favor White and Asian students at the expense of those who are Black and Hispanic. This may also correlate with the economic factors that favor the more affluent students taking the exams. This one of the reasons why some colleges and universities have become test optional, meaning that students don’t have to take the exam, or submit their grade on their application.
Choosing the right one for you
Regardless of the issues, for now, most colleges require that applicants take either the SAT or ACT. Even if a college you are applying to is test optional, if you score well on the exam of your choice, then it will be helpful to provide the score. Also, if you are unhappy with the score you received, you can take the exam again and only submit the better score on your application.
In general, if you work fast and do well at science, then the ACT will be right for you. On the other hand, if you need a little more time and aren’t that great at science, then there is no advantage to taking the ACT, and you should probably consider going with the SAT. Choosing the right test for you will go a long way to helping you get into the college of your choice.
Sources:
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat
https://www.princetonreview.com/college/sat-sections
https://www.princetonreview.com/college/act-information
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/guide-to-sat-scores#:~:text=The%20highest%20SAT%20score%20you,between%20200%20and%20800%20points.
https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores/understanding-your-scores.html#:~:text=Your%20Composite%20score%20and%20each,to%20the%20nearest%20whole%20number.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/02/politics/sat-act-standardized-tests-what-matters/index.html
