How is the SAT different from the ACT
The SAT Reasoning Test is designed to measure critical thinking skills you'll need for academic success in college. The test assesses how well you analyze and solve problems-skills that you'll need in college. The ACT test, on the other hand, measures academic knowledge and skills you have acquired in your standard high school courses, covering material which you should have already studied and been tested on.
How the ACT is different from the SAT
The ACT measures academic knowledge and skills you have acquired in your standard high school courses, covering material which you should have already studied and been tested on. This differs from the SAT Reasoning Test. The SAT is designed to test the knowledge and reasoning ability you have developed by the end of your junior year, thus predicting how well you'll do in your freshman year of college. Because the ACT is based solely on the high school curriculum, students are generally more comfortable taking it than the SAT. Some students consistently perform better on the ACT than on the SAT.
What the SAT includes
The SAT is a three-hour-and-45-minute exam covering three areas: Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing. The College Board, which administers the SAT, made major changes to it in March of 2005 after several years of research, feedback and sometimes heated discussion about its content and ability to determine a college applicant's chances for academic success.
- Mathematics. This test covers math concepts through Algebra II, including arithmetic, geometry, statistics, data analysis, probability, exponential growth, absolute value and functional notation. It puts more emphasis on linear functions, exponents and tangent lines. You are allowed to use a four-function, scientific or graphing calculator during the test. (70 minutes: two 25-minute sections, one 20-minute section)
- Critical Reading. This test is divided into three subsections and concentrates on sentence completion and vocabulary and reading comprehension. The test includes both long and short reading passages. For the short passages, you'll be asked to choose the most correct explanation of a word, phrase or idea in the passage. (70 minutes: two 25-minute sections, one 20-minute section)
- Writing. This test has two parts. One part consists of multiple-choice grammar, reading comprehension and sentence construction questions. These involve finding errors or ways to improve a sentence or paragraph. (35 minutes: one 25-minute section, one 10-minute section) The second part is an original essay that you have to write on the spot. You will learn the essay topic at the exam. It may ask your opinion of something or why you agree or disagree with a statement. Your essay will be scored on whether or not it sticks to the topic, on how well it is organized, and on the use of examples to support your ideas. (25 minutes)
What the ACT includes
The ACT is a 215 question test broken down into 4 sections (5 if taking the Writing test) Testing begins after all examinees present by 8:00 a.m. are checked in. A break is scheduled after the first two tests. A brief break is also scheduled before the Writing Test. Students testing with standard time are normally dismissed at about 12:15 p.m. (1:00 p.m. if you take the Writing Test).
- English. This test covers English usage and mechanics and rhetorical skills is made up of 75 questions - 40 for usage/mechanics and 35 for rhetorical skills.
- Reading. This test is divided into two subsections - Social Studies/Sciences and Arts/Literature. 20 questions for each subsection.
- Mathematics. This test has three parts. One part consists of 24 questions on Pre-Algebra and Elementary Algebra; the next part consists of 18 questions on
Intermediate Algebra and Coordinate Geometry; the last part consists of
18 questions on Plane Geometry and Trigonometry based math.
- Science. This part of the test is comprised of 40 total questions on basic science skills.
Taking the ACT Plus Writing
At this time, the Writing part of the ACT is not required by the NCAA. Howeber, taking the ACT Plus Writing will provide you and the schools to which you report scores with two additional scores beyond what would be reported if you took only the ACT multiple-choice tests. If you take both the English Test and Writing Test, you'll receive a Writing Test subscore and a Combined English/Writing score, plus comments about your essay. And your essay will be available to the colleges to which ACT reports your scores from that test date.
You must take both the English and Writing Tests to receive Writing scores. The Combined English/Writing score is created by using a formula that weights the English Test score two-thirds and the Writing Test score one-third to form a combined score. This combined score is then reported on a 1-36 scale.
Taking the Writing Test does not affect your subject area scores or your Composite score. Your essay will be evaluated on the evidence it gives of your ability to do the following:
- express judgments by taking a position on the issue in the writing prompt
- maintain a focus on the topic throughout the essay
- develop a position by using logical reasoning and by supporting your ideas
- organize ideas in a logical way
- use language clearly and effectively according to the rules of standard written English
Your essay will be scored holistically—that is, on the basis of the overall impression created by all the elements of the writing. Two trained readers will read your essay, each giving it a rating from 1 (low) to 6 (high). The sum of those ratings is your Writing subscore, which can range from 2 to 12. If the readers' ratings disagree by more than one point, a third reader will evaluate your essay and resolve the discrepancy.
How the SAT is Scored
The Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing tests are each scored on a scale of 200 to 800 points. The highest combined score you can earn is 2400. The national average is 1500.
First, you are given a raw score for each test. You earn one point for each correct answer. For any multiple choice question you answer incorrectly, 1/4 of a point is subtracted. If you leave a question blank, no points are awarded or deducted. Your raw score is the sum of points for correct answers minus any points deducted for incorrect answers. If your raw score contains a fraction, it will be rounded up to the nearest whole number.
For the Mathematics and Critical Reading tests, the raw score is converted to a score on the 200-800 point scale. For the Writing test, the final converted score is also on the 200-800 point scale; however, the scoring method is a little more complicated because of the essay. There is a raw score for the multiple choice component as well as a raw score for the essay. The two raw scores are converted to a single score on the 200-800 point scale.
The essay is scored by two readers on a scale of one to six points, six being best. The essay raw score is the sum of the two readers' scores. (If the readers' scores differ by more than a point, a third reader scores the essay.) In addition to the single score of 200-800 on the Writing test, the multiple choice component raw score is converted to score on a scale of 20-80 points.
Your SAT score report will include a Mathematics score of 200-800, a Critical Reading score of 200-800 and a Writing score of 200-800. The report will also include two Writing subscores: for the multiple choice component, a subscore of 20-80; and for the essay, a subscore of 2-12. (You could get a 0 for the essay if you don't write on the assigned topic.)
How ACT is Scored
First the number of questions answered correctly on the test are counted. Points are not deducted for incorrect answers. Then the raw scores are converted (number of correct answers) to "scale scores." Scale scores have the same meaning for all the different versions of the ACT Assessment offered on different test dates. Your Composite Score and each Test Score (English, Math, Reading, Science) range from 1 (low) to 36 (high). The Composite Score is the average of your four Test Scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. The seven Subscores are then computed ((Usage/Mechanics, Rhetorical Skills, etc.) in the same way, but subscores range from 1 (low) to 18 (high). There is no direct, arithmetic relationship between subscores and test score—this means your subscores usually won't add up to your test score.
Cost of the SAT
$43
Cost of the ACT
$30 - Click here for test dates and testing centers near you
When to take the ACT/SAT
It's a good idea to take the ACT/SAT at some point in your junior year. This will give you time to take the test a second or third time in your senior year if you need to. You will need your test score in order to be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
SAT Testing Dates 2007-2008
|
|
Test Date |
Registration Deadline |
|
October 6th, 2007
November 3rd, 2007
December 1st, 2007
January 26th, 2008
March 1st, 2008
May 3rd, 2008
June 7th, 2007 |
September 10th, 2007
October 2nd, 2007
October 30th, 2007
December 26th, 2007
January 29th, 2008
April 1st, 2008
Mar 6th, 2008
|
|
| |
|
|
ACT Testing Dates 2007-2008
|
|
Test Date |
Registration Deadline |
|
September 15th, 2007
October 27th, 2007
December 8th, 2007
February 9th, 2008
April 12th, 2008
June 14th, 2008
|
August 10th, 2007
September 21st, 2007
Nobember 2nd, 2007
January 4th, 2008
March 7th, 2008
May 9th, 2008 |
|
| |
|
|
Click here for more information on the SAT
Click here for more information on the ACT |
|
| |
|
|
