What You Need to Know (or not) About SATs and ACTs December 2010

College Admissions Testing SAT was traditionally and East Coast test and ACT a West Coast Test SAT was traditionally and East Coast test and ACT a West Coast Test SAT more common in the area, but ACT participation has increased dramatically SAT more common in the area, but ACT participation has increased dramatically Most colleges accept both scores Most colleges accept both scores Some colleges do not require admissions testing or may use it for course placement Some colleges do not require admissions testing or may use it for course placement Two-year programs do not require testing Two-year programs do not require testing

What is the SAT First administered in 1926 First administered in 1926 Originally an acronym for Scholastic Aptitude Test Originally an acronym for Scholastic Aptitude Test Now just a “brand” – College Board refers to it as a test of critical thinking skills Now just a “brand” – College Board refers to it as a test of critical thinking skills

What is the ACT? First administered in 1959 in response to t the SAT First administered in 1959 in response to t the SAT ACT Inc claims that it measures aptitude and achievement ACT Inc claims that it measures aptitude and achievement More closely tracks HS curriculum More closely tracks HS curriculum

Notes on Both The correlation between SAT and ACT scores is between.89 and.92 The correlation between SAT and ACT scores is between.89 and.92 This means that most students will perform similarly on both tests This means that most students will perform similarly on both tests There can be huge differences for some students There can be huge differences for some students ACT has “score choice”. SAT has “score choice” at colleges who permit it. ACT has “score choice”. SAT has “score choice” at colleges who permit it.

SATACT Length3 hours and 45 minutes in 10 sections (one experimental) 3 hours and 25 minutes in four sections (plus 30 minutes if taking essay) English/ Writing Three sections 25 min Essay 25 min multiple choice (35 Questions) 10 min multiple choice (14 Questions) One Section 45 min multiple choice (75 questions) ReadingThree sections Two 25 minute sections One 20 minute section Sentence completion and passage comprehension One section 35 minutes Four passages with 10 questions each MathThree sections Two 25 minute sections One 20 minute section Multiple choice and grid in No Trig One section 60 minutes for 60 questions Small amount of trig ScienceNot standard – can be assessed through SAT Subject Test, which assesses course knowledge One section 35 minutes 40 questions Read experiment summaries and data sets to interpret data and draw conclusions EssayFirst Section Part of Writing Score and Composite Last Section Optional Test – reported separately from composite GivenSeven times per yearSix times per year

English/Writing Take SAT if: Take SAT if: You have time management issues You have time management issues Want a more “macro” essay question Want a more “macro” essay question Are a good writer since it is factored into composite score Are a good writer since it is factored into composite score Take ACT if: Take ACT if: Writing essay first will drain energy Writing essay first will drain energy Want essay optional and not factored into composite Want essay optional and not factored into composite Want a more direct essay question Want a more direct essay question

Reading Take SAT if: Take SAT if: Good at strategy Good at strategy Strong vocabulary Strong vocabulary Take ACT if: Take ACT if: Fast reader Fast reader Good at skimming text Good at skimming text Weaker vocabulary Weaker vocabulary Need more predictability Need more predictability

Math Take SAT if: Take SAT if: Can solve problems multiple ways Can solve problems multiple ways Like “mental sprints” Like “mental sprints” Can combine math from different levels Can combine math from different levels Good reasoning and critical thinking Good reasoning and critical thinking Take ACT if: Take ACT if: Good familiarity of classroom math Good familiarity of classroom math Benefit from straightforward questions Benefit from straightforward questions

Science Take SAT Subject if: Take SAT Subject if: School requires it School requires it Very strong in a specific science Very strong in a specific science Strong content knowledge Strong content knowledge Take ACT if: Take ACT if: Good at interpreting info and making conclusions Good at interpreting info and making conclusions Good score here can pull up composite Good score here can pull up composite

SAT vs. ACT SAT is: SAT is: More vocab heavy More vocab heavy Math requires reasoning and combined concepts Math requires reasoning and combined concepts Essay required and part of total score Essay required and part of total score More sections that are shorter in length More sections that are shorter in length Switch between tested areas Switch between tested areas Schools will look at section scores AND total score Schools will look at section scores AND total score Fewer charts and data sets Fewer charts and data sets Requires careful reading on all sections Requires careful reading on all sections Good for good test takers with good strategies Good for good test takers with good strategies ACT is: ACT is: More straightforward More straightforward Assess reasoning through science Assess reasoning through science More advanced math, but only a few questions More advanced math, but only a few questions Essay optional Essay optional Fewer sections that are longer Fewer sections that are longer All questions in an area presented at one time All questions in an area presented at one time More “big picture” – total score most important More “big picture” – total score most important Good for students who work hard and benefit from review of concepts Good for students who work hard and benefit from review of concepts Good for students who need predictability Good for students who need predictability

Accommodations Accommodations available on both tests Accommodations available on both tests Not flagged on score reports Not flagged on score reports Most common is 50% Extended Time (Time and a Half) Most common is 50% Extended Time (Time and a Half) All other accommodations are much harder to obtain All other accommodations are much harder to obtain Having accommodation in school does not mean you will receive it on SAT or ACT Having accommodation in school does not mean you will receive it on SAT or ACT

Sample Accommodations Extended Time Extended Time Use of a computer (no spell or grammar check) Use of a computer (no spell or grammar check) Scribe Scribe Enlarged print Enlarged print Enlarged scantron Enlarged scantron Longer breaks Longer breaks Individual testing Individual testing Testing over multiple days Testing over multiple days Braille Braille Small group testing Small group testing Reader Reader

How to Apply for Accommodations SAT Complete consent form with case manager (by Spring of 10 th grade) Complete consent form with case manager (by Spring of 10 th grade) Case Manager will apply online Case Manager will apply online Takes 6+ weeks for approval depending on documentation needed Takes 6+ weeks for approval depending on documentation needed Will be notified by mail and to Case Manager Will be notified by mail and to Case Manager Will be assigned SSD Number that can be used when registering for all PSAT, SAT and AP tests through graduation Will be assigned SSD Number that can be used when registering for all PSAT, SAT and AP tests through graduation

How to Apply for Accommodations ACT Decide on testing date Decide on testing date Go to ACT.ORG and search for students with disabilities Go to ACT.ORG and search for students with disabilities Complete application for Extended Time National Testing or Special Testing Complete application for Extended Time National Testing or Special Testing Both forms have sections to be completed at school by case manager and may need documentation Both forms have sections to be completed at school by case manager and may need documentation Both forms have different submission directions and addresses Both forms have different submission directions and addresses Must be done EARLY! Must be done EARLY!

How to Increase the Odds of Being Approved Apply early to allow time to submit additional documentation or to appeal Apply early to allow time to submit additional documentation or to appeal Have updated assessments and/or documentation (within three years for testing and within one for medical and psychiatric diagnoses) Have updated assessments and/or documentation (within three years for testing and within one for medical and psychiatric diagnoses) The accommodations need to be used regularly in school The accommodations need to be used regularly in school

Other Options to SAT/ACT Score Optional Colleges (fairtest.org): These schools do not require SAT or ACT for admission. Some may request it for course placement only (in lieu of placement testing) Score Optional Colleges (fairtest.org): These schools do not require SAT or ACT for admission. Some may request it for course placement only (in lieu of placement testing) Two-Year Colleges: Most have transfer agreements with several to many prestigious four year programs as long as the student achieves certain criteria (like GPA). Two-Year Colleges: Most have transfer agreements with several to many prestigious four year programs as long as the student achieves certain criteria (like GPA).

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