1. ACT VS. SAT

2. What are ACT and SAT? College Admission Tests
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) by CollegeBoard
American College Test (ACT) by ACT

3. Why Colleges Want the ACT/SAT
National standard measure of ability
High School Variability
GPA measurements
Course offerings
One of the only standard measures
Other options are typically content driven AP IB
CLEP
SAT II
NOTE: Colleges will look at transcripts, test scores, extra-curricular activities, recommendations, and essays.

4. Why Take the ACT or SAT? Often required for 4-year college entrance
Academic Placement
Scholarship Opportunities
NOTE: Colleges will look at transcripts, test scores, extra-curriculars, recommendations, and essays.

5. Which Do I Take?

6. The SAT: What is it? 3 hour and 45 minute exam 10 sections
Critical Reading Sections
Math Sections
Writing Sections
1 Experimental Section
Scored range is a in three sections
Total score is between a 600 and a 2400

7. The SAT: What is it? Writing Section
Two multiple-choice writing sections
Identifying sentence errors
Improving sentences
Improving paragraphs
One 25-minute essay

8. The SAT: What is it? Essay Example
Think carefully about the issue presented in the following excerpt and the assignment below.
Frederick Douglass once said, "If there is no struggle, there is no progress. This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle." He was right. Progress is something that must be fought for; without conflict, progress simply does not occur.
Assignment: Does progress result only from struggle and conflict? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

9. The SAT: What is it? Critical Reading Sections Math Sections
Passage-Based Reading
Sentence Completions
Math Sections
Geometry, Algebra, and Arithmetic and some Algebra II
Triangles are tested on the SAT, no trigonometry
Students can use calculators and get a formula sheet
1 Experimental Section
Used as a practice for future tests.

10. The ACT: What is it? 2 hours and 55 minutes, 5 sections
1 English Test (45 minutes)
1 Math Test (60 minutes)
1 Reading Test (35 minutes)
1 Science Test (35 minutes)
1 Optional Writing Test (30 minutes)
Composite Score between 1 and 36.

11. The ACT: What is it? English Examples of English Content
Usage/Mechanics
Rhetorical Skills
5 passages to read.
Portions of the passages will be underlined and students must decide whether these portions are correct as they stand or whether one of the answer choices is better.

12. The ACT: What is it? Math Pre and Elementary Algebra
Intermediate Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
Students can use calculators
Unlike the SAT, ACT does not provide students with a formula sheet

13. The ACT: What is it? Reading Four Types
Prose Fiction
Social Studies
Humanities
Natural Sciences
The passages are usually excerpts from various books and magazines.
Students read the passage and answer questions about it.

14. The ACT: What is it? Science Sample Question (after reading a passage)
Topics Include
Data Representation
Research Summaries
Conflicting Viewpoints
Sample Question (after reading a passage)
The experimental designs of Study 2 and Study 1 differed in that in Study 2:
a. storage temperature was held constant.
b. storage time was held constant.
c. germination temperature was varied.
d. germination time was varied.

15. The ACT: What is it? Writing Sample Question
In some high schools, many teachers and parents have encouraged the school to adopt a dress code that sets guidelines for what students can wear in the school building. Some teachers and parents support a dress code because they think it will improve the learning environment in the school. Other teachers and parents do not support a dress code because they think it restricts the individual student's freedom of expression. In your opinion, should high schools adopt dress codes for students?
In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

16. ACT vs. SAT: Key Differences
ACT FORMAT
SAT FORMAT
English
Math
Reading
Science
Writing (optional)
Shorter
2 hours 55 minutes long.
Writing
Critical Reading
Math
Longer
3 hours 45 minutes

17. ACT vs. SAT: Key Differences
The ACT asks you to take a stand on a potentially controversial issue and address the counter-argument as part of you essay. The SAT essay prompts tend to present a broad issue that you need to explore using examples from history, literature or your personal experiences.

18. ACT vs. SAT: Key Differences
Scored 1-36
Composite is averaged from the sub-scores.
Sub-scores = score from each part
English (1-36)
Reading (1-36)
Math (1-36)
Science (1-36)
National Average = 21
Scored
Score is totaled from the different sections.
Writing
Math Section
Analytical Reasoning
National Average = 1000

19. ACT vs. SAT: Key Differences
Content-Based Test
Straight forward questions
No penalties for wrong answers
Random difficulties
Reasoning Test
Tricky phrasing
Penalties for wrong answers
Increasing difficulty

20. ACT or SAT? Which to take? Which test fits you?
Things to Consider
Which test fits you?
What resources are available to you?
Cost
ACT is free once to Juniors at Washburn
ACT= $52.50 (with writing)
2 ACT fee waivers available for students on free and reduced lunch.
SAT= $51.00
Which test do your colleges want?

21. ACT or SAT? Which to take?
This map, roughly, shows nationally where each score is more prevalent.
CHECK WITH EACH SCHOOL TO WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

22. How Do I Sign Up? www.actstudent.org April 28th at Washburn Cost Cost
SAT
April 28th at Washburn
April 18th test
March 13th registration
June 13th test
May 8th registration
Future Dates
September, October, December, February
Cost
$52.50 (with writing)
None offered at Washburn
March 14th test
Feb 13th registration
May 2rd test:
April 6th registration
June 6th test
May 8th registration
Cost
$51.00

23. Should I Take A Test More than Once?
Many students do better the second time.
57% increased their Composite score on the retest
21% had no change in their Composite score on the retest
22% decreased their Composite score on the retest
May help overcome jitters.
Better prep the second time around.
In between is a chance to practice on weaknesses.
Should I take the ACT 10 times?
NO. Scores pretty much settle after the 2nd or 3rd time.

24. Should I Send My Scores? Send up to 4 schools for free.
ACT
SAT
Send up to 4 schools for free.
Students can choose which scores each college or university sees.
Can send up to 4 scores for free.
Sending a score sends all SAT scores to the selected colleges.
Most colleges and universities will use your highest score.
Some will even super score.
It is expensive to send scores later
ACT- $12.00 per test date per college/university
SAT- $11.25 per test date per college/university.

25. Average Test Scores (Of Schools
College
SAT Average Score
All Students (R/M only)
ACT Average Score
All Students
WHS Students
U of M, Twin Cities
1300 28 23
University of St. Thomas
1160 25 24
Hamline University
1110 21
Gustavus Adolphus
1210 27
Augsburg College
1099 22 20
MSU, Mankato
N/A 19
St. Cloud State
1006
U of M, Duluth
1075
Carleton College
1430 31 26
UW, Madison
1280
UW, Stout
University of Oregon
1105
New York University
1355 30
St. Olaf 29
De Paul
1155
Loyola
Marquette
1175

26. How Can I Improve My Scores?
Naviance Prep Me!
Course: Free, can start anytime
Prep Guides
Free to check out at library and CCC
$30 to purchase
MPLS Community Ed Washburn
$120
Offered in March and April
Washburn Course in May
$75
Before and after school.
Seat limit is 25 per class. Date TBD. Info to come.
Private Tutoring
Sylvan, Huntington, Kaplan, etc.
Ranges from $500-$5000.

27. The End
QUESTIONS?