WELCOME To the JSSG
Presentation
:
SAT vs. ACT
February 13, 2014


Over 700 U.S. colleges do NOT require a
standardized test for admission
But the majority of colleges require either the
SAT or ACT –
Since admission to all colleges has
become so competitive, you need to
decide – which test is best for you?
SAT



Created and
administered by College
Board
www.collegeboard.com
Accepted by all colleges
ACT



Created and
administered by
ACT.org
http://www.actstudent
.org/
Accepted by all colleges
US Colleges say they don’t prefer one
test over the other . . Japanese and
Korean Colleges prefer the SAT .
SAT



Reasoning and
problem-solving skills
4 sections
3 hours, 45 minutes
ACT




Curriculum-based
Questions more
knowledge-based and
some think even more
“straightforward”
10 sections
2 hours 55 minutes (plus
30 minutes with optional
writing test)
SAT
10 sections




Essay + 2 multiple
choice writing sections
3 critical reading
sections
3 math sections
1 experimental section
ACT
4 sections





English
(language/rhetoric)
Math
Science
Reading
Writing (optional – but
colleges require it for
admission)
SAT





ACT - READING
- READING
70 minutes
19 sentence completion
4 short passages, 4 long
passages, 2 comparison
passages
48 questions passagebased reading
More emphasis on
VOCABULARY



35 minutes
4 reading
comprehension
passages
40 questions (10
questions per passage)
SAT – MATH





70 minutes, 54 questions
(45 m.c. + 10 student-produced
reponses)
Math accounts for ½
(1600) or 1/3 (2400) of
total score
Topics covered
Arithmetic, geometry,
algebra, and Algebra II
Questions may be more
reasoning that calculations
May use calculator
ACT - MATH

60 minutes, 60 questions
(all multiple choice)




Math accounts for ¼ of
your total score
Topics covered:
Arithmetic, algebra,
geometry, and
trigonometry
Questions tend to be more
straigtforward
May use calculator
SAT – SCIENCE

Science not included
ACT - SCIENCE

Science (analysis,
interpretation,
evaluation, basic
content, and problemsolving)
SAT - ESSAY





First thing you do
25 minutes
Factored into overall
writing score
Abstract, philosophical
topic – pick a side
Not optional
ACT - ESSAY






Last thing you do
30 minutes
Not included in composite
score
Topic is about something
of importance to high
school students
Take position, explain
different sides
Optional, though most
schools require it
ACT questions tend to be more straightforward.
 ACT questions are often easier to understand on a
first read. On the SAT, you may need to spend
time figuring out what you're being asked before
you can start solving the problem. For example,
here are sample questions from the SAT essay and
the ACT writing test (their name for the essay):
 SAT: What is your view of the claim that something
unsuccessful can still have some value?
ACT: In your view, should high schools become more
tolerant of cheating?
SAT




Total score = 2400
Critical Reading 200-800
Math 200-800
Writing 200-800
ACT


Total composite score of
1-36 (based on average
of 4 tests)
Score of 0-12 for
optional essay
SAT


GUESSING PENALTY ¼ point subtracted for
wrong answers
Your ENTIRE score
history will be sent
automatically to
colleges – you may not
choose scores
ACT


No GUESSING
PENALTY – nothing
subtracted for wrong
answers
You decide which
scores to send to
colleges and may send
just your highest scores
ACT
SAT
MATH/READING
SAT
MATH, READING, WRITING
36
1600
2400
35
1560-1590
2340
34
1510-1550
2260
33
1460-1500
2190
32
1410-1450
2130
31
1360-1400
2040
30
1320-1350
1980
29
1280-1310
1920
28
1240-1270
1860
27
1210-1230
1820
26
1170-1200
1760
ACT
SAT (math, reading)
SAT (math, reading, writing)
25
1130-1160
1700
24
1090-1120
1650
23
1060-1080
1590
22
1020-1050
1530
21
980-1010
1500
20
940-970
1410
19
900-930
1350
18
860-890
1290
17
810-850
1210
16
760-800
1140
15
710-750
1060
14
660-700
1000
13
590-650
900
12
520-580
780
11
500-510
750
SAT




Reasoning Test - $91
Fee waivers available
Change or Late Fee $27.50
4 score reports free
Additional score reports
- $11.25
ACT




ACT (no writing $69.50
USD) ACT + Writing
(85.50 USD)
ACT + writing - $85.50
4 score reports free
Additional score reports
$12.00
SAT

http://sat.collegebo
ard.org/register
ACT

http://www.actstud
ent.org/regist/
SAT
ACT
Test Date
Register by
Test Date
Register by
October 5
September 6
September 21
August 23
**November 2
October 3
**October 26
September 27
December 7
November 8
December 14
November 8
January 25
December 27
February 8
January 10
**March 8
February 7
**April 12
March 7
May 3
April 4
June 14
May 9
June 7
May 9
Since colleges accept both . . .
and since some students perform better on
the ACT . . .
and some perform better on the SAT . . .



Saturday Febuary 15th in the
morning
Open to all high school students
Sign up will be available later today
Realistic College List
 Visit Campus if possible
 Essay
 Letters of Reccommendation
 Apply




Summer Discover will be at the high
school office
Multiple campuses all over the USA
and the world
Academic Enrichment, Sports,
Service, Internship Opportunities