Big IDEAS you should know about ACT and SAT ACT measures student achievement in English Composition, Writing, Social Sciences, College Algebra and Biology ACT sets benchmarks for student achievement that are empirically derived based on the actual performance of students in college. The ACT definition of college and career readiness is widely accepted as the industry standard. Kershena Before we begin, there are a few things that we thought may help you in understanding the full suite of ACT assessments.

Some students score substantially higher on the SAT. Colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT. So which should you take? Some students score substantially higher on the SAT. Others do better on the ACT. The Princeton Review offers a free assessment to help you determine which test is best for you. Many colleges take both college entrance exams. Therefore, it is to a students advantage to take the entrance exam that best fits their academic background.

New SAT Overview Structure Timing Scoring Category Features Evidence-based Reading & Writing Math Optional Essay Structure Timing 3 hours + 50 minutes with Optional Essay Now scored on a scale of 1600 New optional Essay scored separately No more guessing penalty Scoring

Test & Cross-Test Scores Scoring Details Composite Score Sum of the two Area Scores Range of 400 - 1600 Area Score Math Range of 200 - 800 Area Score Evidence-Based Reading + Writing Range of 200 - 800 This section is complicated but important! There are significant changes to scoring The Composite score - most similar to the score we know and love - is a sum of two area scores One Area score for Math, one for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing The two area scores are translated from three test scores - Math, Reading, and Writing & Language - these tests are scored on a scale of 10-40. Test & Cross-Test Scores 3 Test Scores: Math, Reading, and Writing & Language 2 Cross-Test Scores: Science, History/Social Studies Range of 10 - 40

Updated ACT Overview Scoring Math Reading Category Features No changes to 1-36 scoring New scores reported ELA STEM Career Readiness Text Complexity Scoring Math More probability & statistics Reading New paired passages

Average of four test scores (No writing) ACT Composite Scores The test maker then averages your four test scores for the composite, or overall, score. This is also scored using the 1-36 score range. Composite Average of four test scores (No writing)

Reading Skills Tested Words in Context SAT Words Words in Context Evidence-based Reading Comprehension Reading Comprehension Evidence-based Words in Context Reading Comprehension Current SAT New SAT ACT

Math Skills Tested Data Analysis/Problem Solving Number & Operations Data Analysis/Problem Solving Geometry Algebra Algebra Geometry Geometry Algebra Trig Trig Current SAT New SAT ACT

Writing Skills Tested Grammar/Usage/Mechanics Rhetorical Skills Essay Current SAT New SAT ACT

New SAT and ACT: 5 Key Differences The New SAT has a greater focus on History & Social Studies passages Both focus on Algebra, but the New SAT has a greater emphasis on Data Analysis & Problem Solving The ACT requires more Science reading The New SAT requires more mental math The New SAT has grid-in questions, and an extended thinking grid-in question ACT? New SAT? What’s the Difference?

Essay (subsection of English Test) Average ACT Scores by Test Average Test Scores by Subject: Test Score Range Average Score English 1-36 20.1 Math 20.6 Reading 21.3 Science 20.8 Essay (subsection of English Test) 2-12 6.9 Test Score Range Average Score English 1-36 20.1 Math 20.6 Reading 21.3 Science 20.8 Essay (subsection of English Test) 2-12 6.9

ACT Scores of accepted students 20.8 Average Score Here’s an approximation of what the distribution of score percentiles could look like: What do all those numbers mean? In short, the middle-scoring 50% of incoming students scored within this range. 25% of incoming students scored below the lower number, while 25% of incoming students scored above the higher number. Everybody else (the middle 50%) scored between the two.

The 50th-percentile SAT composite score—the average SAT score—is 1080. What is the average SAT Score: The 50th-percentile SAT composite score—the average SAT score—is 1080.

In the Middle (Average Score) Here’s a chart with the most recently-released ACT percentiles for composite scores:   ACT Percentiles for Composite Scores: ACT SCORE Percentile 16 Bottom 25% 20 In the Middle (Average Score) 24+ Top 25% 28+ Top 10% 30+ Top 5% PERCENTILE 99 98 96 95 92 90 87 83 79 74 68 63 56 50 43 36 30 24 18 12 7 4 1 33 + Top 1%

In the Middle (Average Score) Here’s a chart with the most recently-released ACT percentiles for composite scores:   SAT Percentiles Composite Score (Out of 1600) SAT SCORE Percentile 400-920 Bottom 25% 1080 In the Middle (Average Score) 1410+ Top 5% 1510+ Top 1% 1250 80 1190 71 1130 60 50 PERCENTILE 99 98 96 95 92 90 87 83 79 74 68 63 56 50 43 36 30 24 18 12 7 4 1

A strong ACT/SAT score can put you in the running for scholarships. What is a Good Score For Scholarships? A strong ACT/SAT score can put you in the running for scholarships. Every 10 points a student earned above the average SAT score was worth around $115 in additional funds per year.

Merit Scholarship: GPA Geography Demonstrated interest Major Colleges award scholarships based on academic performance and other non-academic criteria such as: GPA Geography Demonstrated interest Major Community service, and more Not based on a student’s financial need

Better Scores Can Earn You Big Rewards Higher scores can increase a student’s desirability It can increase the size of the aid package that student is offered. In fact, standardized test scores (along with GPA and rigor of coursework) may determine who will receive merit scholarships. Some schools even give out guaranteed scholarships to students whose scores meet a minimum threshold.

New SAT (starting March 2016) The SAT Features ACT New SAT (starting March 2016) Old SAT (before March 2016) 36 1600 2380-2400 35 1540-1590 2290-2370 34 1490-1530 2220-2280 33 1440-1480 2140-2210 32 1400-1430 2080-2130 31 1360-1390 2020-2070 30 1330-1350 1980-2010 29 1290-1320 1920-1970 28 1250-1280 1860-1910 27 1210-1240 1800-1850 26 1170-1200 1740-1790 25 1130-1160 1680-1730 24 1090-1120 1620-1670 23 1050-1080 1560-1610 22 1020-1040 1510-1550 21 980-1010 1450-1500 20 940-970 1390-1440

Scholarships applying for School you hope to attend What does that look like? ACT Score Percentile 30 10th Percentile Mid 20’s Above 50 percentile You can still get a scholarship even if you are scoring in the mid-20’s Factors to Consider: Scholarships applying for School you hope to attend GPA

What does that look like? SAT Score Percentile 1330 10th Percentile Mid 1000’s Above 50 percentile You can still get a scholarship even if you are scoring in the mid-20’s Factors to Consider: Scholarships applying for School you hope to attend GPA

How Much Money Will You Get? Nothing can change a student’s fortune faster than a big increase on the SAT or ACT.

No extra application or paperwork needed Based on: Many Colleges Offer Automatic Scholarships based on SAT/ACT Scores No extra application or paperwork needed Based on: ACT/SAT Class Rank GPA

School Name SAT Scores*  (concordant) ACT Scores** GPA Admit Rate Merit Award*** Albion College 1140 23 3.37 72% $18,800 College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University 930 20 3.56 88% $16,240 Dickinson College 1350 31 NR 43% $17,042 Illinois Wesleyan University 1100 24 3.75 58% $15,636 Juniata College 1080 22 3.71 75% $18,672 Le Moyne College 1150 25 3.45 65% $18,839 Quinnipiac University 3.40 76% $17,000 Rollins College 1200 27 3.32 61% $19,085 Santa Clara University 1380 3.67 48% $18,680 Saint Louis University 1070 3.89 $18,041 Texas Christian University 1230 28 38% $17,824 University of North Carolina at Charlotte 3.97 62% $17,107

Florida Gulf Coast University   So if you have at least a 3.0, a 2-point ACT increase gets you $1,000 more dollars. Read more about scholarships on FAMU’s admission website. Florida Gulf Coast University President’s Gold Florida Resident $5,000 per year 3.9 + GPA, 1320+ SAT, 28+ ACT President’s Silver $3,000 per year 3.5 – 3.89 GPA, 1220+ SAT, 25+ ACT Blue and Green Scholars Award Non-Florida Resident $15,000 per year Blue and Green Directors Award $10,000 per year 3.5 – 3.89 GPA, 1220 SAT+, 25 ACT + Florida Gulf Coast University FGCU has scholarships based on GPA and SAT/ACT score, but you have to apply by November 15th to be considered.

  So if you have at least a 3.0, a 2-point ACT increase gets you $1,000 more dollars. Read more about scholarships on FAMU’s admission website. Florida A & M Scholarship Test Score Requirements Math Score Requirements FAMU GPA Amount Per Year George W. Gore ACT 26/SAT 1170 ACT 26/SAT 550 3.5 $6,000 3.0 $5,000 Presidential Special Scholarship ACT 24/SAT 1000 ACT 24/SAT 500 $2,000-5,000 (varies) If you have at least a 3.0, a 2-point ACT increase gets you $1,000 more dollars. Read more about scholarships on FAMU’s admission website.

University of Texas at Arlington   So if you have at least a 3.0, a 2-point ACT increase gets you $1,000 more dollars. Read more about scholarships on FAMU’s admission website. University of Texas at Arlington Scholarship Criteria Award Amount Per Year President’s Charter 1300 SAT / 29 ACT and top 10% of class or 3.5 GPA $8,000 Outstanding Freshman 1200 SAT / 26 ACT and top 10% of class or 3.2 GPA $6,000 Freshman Honors 1100 SAT / 24 ACT and top 20% of class $4,000 UTA Top 10% Top 10% of your high school class $2,000 - can be combined with Charter, Outstanding, or Honors UTA Top 50% 1200 SAT/26 ACT and top 50% of your high school class Scholarship Criteria Award Amount Per Year President’s Charter 1300 SAT / 29 ACT and top 10% of class or 3.5 GPA $8,000 Outstanding Freshman 1200 SAT / 26 ACT and top 10% of class or 3.2 GPA $6,000 Freshman Honors 1100 SAT / 24 ACT and top 20% of class $4,000 UTA Top 10% Top 10% of your high school class $2,000 - can be combined with Charter, Outstanding, or Honors UTA Top 50% 1200 SAT/26 ACT and top 50% of your high school class

College School Score Amount of Scholarship Baylor University 36 (perfect score) $42,000 29 $29,000 Oklahoma State 24 $7,000 30 $12,500 Academic Classes, GPA and application requirements affect amount of distribution.