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 more common in the area, but ACT
participation has increased dramatically
 Most colleges accept both scores
 Some colleges do not require admissions
testing or may use it for course placement
 Two-year programs do not require testing
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What is the SAT
First administered in 1926
 Originally an acronym for Scholastic
Aptitude Test
 Now just a “brand” – College Board refers
to it as a test of critical thinking skills
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What is the ACT?
First administered in 1959 in response to t
the SAT
 ACT Inc claims that it measures aptitude
and achievement
 More closely tracks HS curriculum
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Notes on Both
The correlation between SAT and ACT
scores is between .89 and .92
 This means that most students will
perform similarly on both tests
 There can be huge differences for some
students
 ACT has “score choice”. SAT has “score
choice” at colleges who permit it.
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SAT
ACT
Length
3 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)
Reading
Three sections
Two 25 minute sections
One 20 minute section
Sentence completion and passage comprehension
One section
35 minutes
Four passages with 10 questions each
Math
Three 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
Science
Not 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
Essay
First Section
Part of Writing Score and Composite
Last Section
Optional Test – reported separately from composite
Given
Seven times per year
Six times per year
English/Writing
Take SAT if:
 You have time
management issues
 Want a more “macro”
essay question
 Are a good writer
since it is factored
into composite score
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Take ACT if:
 Writing essay first will
drain energy
 Want essay optional
and not factored into
composite
 Want a more direct
essay question
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Reading
Take SAT if:
 Good at strategy
 Strong vocabulary
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Take ACT if:
Fast reader
Good at skimming
text
Weaker vocabulary
Need more
predictability
Math
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Take SAT if:
Can solve problems
multiple ways
Like “mental sprints”
Can combine math
from different levels
Good reasoning and
critical thinking
Take ACT if:
 Good familiarity of
classroom math
 Benefit from
straightforward
questions
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Science
Take SAT Subject if:
 School requires it
 Very strong in a
specific science
 Strong content
knowledge
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Take ACT if:
 Good at interpreting
info and making
conclusions
 Good score here can
pull up composite
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SAT vs. ACT
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SAT is:
More vocab heavy
Math requires reasoning and
combined concepts
Essay required and part of total
score
More sections that are shorter in
length
Switch between tested areas
Schools will look at section scores
AND total score
Fewer charts and data sets
Requires careful reading on all
sections
Good for good test takers with
good strategies
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ACT is:
More straightforward
Assess reasoning through science
More advanced math, but only a
few questions
Essay optional
Fewer sections that are longer
All questions in an area presented
at one time
More “big picture” – total score
most important
Good for students who work hard
and benefit from review of
concepts
Good for students who need
predictability
Accommodations
Accommodations available on both tests
 Not flagged on score reports
 Most common is 50% Extended Time
(Time and a Half)
 All other accommodations are much
harder to obtain
 Having accommodation in school does not
mean you will receive it on SAT or ACT
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Sample Accommodations
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Extended Time
Use of a computer
(no spell or grammar
check)
Scribe
Enlarged print
Enlarged scantron
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Longer breaks
Individual testing
Testing over multiple
days
Braille
Small group testing
Reader
How to Apply for Accommodations
SAT
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Complete consent form with case manager (by
Spring of 10th grade)
Case Manager will apply online
Takes 6+ weeks for approval depending on
documentation needed
Will be notified by mail and email to Case
Manager
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
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Decide on testing date
Go to ACT.ORG and search for students with
disabilities
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 different submission directions
and addresses
Must be done EARLY!
How to Increase the Odds of Being
Approved
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)
 The accommodations need to be used
regularly in school
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Other Options to SAT/ACT
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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)
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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).
Thanks for Coming