1. Welcome! SAT and ACT Information Session
Presented by
Lynn Johnson
College Tutors

2. Why are there two different tests?
Common Questions
Why are there two different tests?
Why do most colleges require an SAT or ACT
Does my student need to take both tests?
Think coke and pepsi -- battle for market share
Give colleges a tool that indicates possible college readiness
All schools will accept either test
90% of students score similarly on the two tests

3. Does your student need to write the essay?
Common Questions
Does your student need to write the essay?
Do you need to send all scores to every school?
What is a good score?
My recommendation is yes, write the essay
Some schools demand the essay be completed (UT)
Incase student adds a school late in the process that wants the essay, error on safe side
It Depends….some schools require this (Rice) some schools will Super Score (Baylor)
SAT designed so that average come in around 1000
ACT designed so that average comes in around 20
The bell has steep sides: ie for the SAT nearly 40% of all test takers fall between 950 and 1150
Nearly 65% fall between 850 and 1250
Less than 20% score above 1250
Less that 10% score above 1350
What score are your schools looking for? What scores can help you scholarship $$

4. This test is unlike anything else students have done
Why All The Stress?
This test is unlike anything else students have done
Marathon, 4 solid hours, with time limits
Broad range of topics, tests both memory and understanding

5. Day to day school performance is still #1 piece
To Reduce The Stress
Students should keep in mind, these tests are only ONE piece of the admissions puzzle.
Day to day school performance is still #1 piece

6. GPAs have risen in the last 25 years, test scores have remained same
Interesting Note
GPAs have risen in the last 25 years, test scores have remained same
In 1991 less than 30% of seniors applying to college had an A average
In 2015 almost 50% (48%) of seniors applying had an A average
During the same time period, test scores remained consistent
That being said, test scores are still only 1 piece of the admissions puzzle.
They are NOT the #1 piece

7. Let’s Compare: Similarities
Both tests have 4 sections
Both tests take close to 4 hours to complete
SAT 3 hours 50 minutes, including the essay
ACT 3 hours 35 minutes, including the essay
Both test have NO penalty for wrong answers
Both tests are about how many questions you answer correctly
SAT Reading, Writing & Language, Math (no calculator), Math (w/calculator) and optional Essay
ACT English, Math, Reading, Science and optional Essay
SAT no longer has a penalty for wrong answers (student should leave NO blanks on either test)
It may sound counter intuitive, but slowing down can often help a student improve their score.
The goal is to answer more questions correctly, not just answer more questions.

8. Let’s Compare: SAT Writing&Language/ACT English
Most similar section of the 2 tests
SAT 35 minutes 44 questions
ACT 45 minutes 75 questions
Both test basic grammar and punctuation
SAT has more complex passages
SAT has more emphasis on rhetorical skills
ACT Writing
The reading level on the SAT is slightly higher.
The SAT will ask some main idea type questions in this section
The material on the ACT looks like peer tutoring (as if it were written by a high school student)
As will all sections of the test, the SAT allows more time per question

9. Let’s Compare: SAT/ACT Reading
SAT 65 minutes 52 questions
SAT typically has more complex passages
SAT has more inference/evidence questions
ACT 35 minutes 40 questions
ACT more emphasis on basic reading comprehension
ACT is a speed challenge
ACT Reading
questions.
Reading level on SAT varies from high school level to early college level reading
SAT test for a deeper understanding of what is being read
SAT has 2 part questions where the student had to ID the lines upon which they based a previous answer
Reading level on ACT stays in the high school level
ACT test a more basic reading comprehension
ACT gives less time per questions, again speed is a big factor
SAT Reading

10. Let’s Compare: SAT/ACT Math
Both tests cover Pre-Alg – Trig
SAT 60+% Algebra ACT 30% Algebra
SAT has 2 Math sections (formulas provided)
No Calculator Section 25m/20q
Calculator Section 55m/38q
13 Grid-In questions (not multiple choice)
Requires deeper understanding of fewer concepts
Math section has some of the biggest differences

11. Let’s Compare SAT/ACT Math
ACT has 1 Math section (NO formulas provided)
Calculator allowed 60m/60q
Covers extensive range of concepts
Questions are more straight forward than SAT
Time is a challenge
ACT has more straight forward questions, but gives few clues
You either know it or you don’t

12. Let’s Compare: SAT/ACT Science
ACT Science is another reading section
40 questions 35 minutes
ACT does not test Biology, Chemistry, Physics
ACT is “technical” reading / charts and graphs
SAT does not have a stand alone science section
Incase a student is leaning toward the ACT because the reading section is shorter, Surprise
Science is just another reading section…just a different type of reading

13. Let’s Compare: SAT/ACT Essay
SAT – Rhetorical Analysis
Emphasizes understanding and analyzing how arguments are crafted
3 scores 2-8 (Reading, Analysis, Writing)
ACT – Argumentative Essay
Emphasizes crafting and comparing arguments
Allows more creativity
4 scores 2-12 (Ideas & Analysis, Development & Support, Organization, Language Use and Conventions)
While some colleges are requiring student write the essay, I do not know any that publish a required or desired score range

14. Let’s Compare: SAT/ACT Essay
Both tests are looking for a clear thesis
Both tests are looking for strong structure, clear writing, good support for thesis, and proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Rubric for grading each essay can be found on the respective websites.
The Essay score is a stand alone score on both tests
Stand alone score means it does not figure into the SAT Reading/writing&Language Score
Of the ACT English score

15. Tips to Improve Performance
Write in the test booklet
Remember Easy and Hard questions have the same point value
Know when and how to use your calculator
Learn to recognize question types
Use a two pass approach
Read actively and do not skip straight to the questions (Reading Section)
Do the questions as you read the passage (ACT English/SAT Writing & Language sections)
Work backward using the answer choices (Math Section)

16. Parting Shot
The single biggest thing a student can do to improve their score on any standardized test is READ.
Questions?