NOTE: This post covers the differences in the current versions of the ACT and SAT. The College Board has announced changes to the SAT beginning in March of 2016 that are not reflected in this analysis. See our previous post “What Do the SAT Changes Mean to Tutors” for more information.
Frequently, parents and students alike turn to college advisors and tutors with a tortured look on their faces, seeking to find the answer to the Sphinx-like riddle that plagues high schoolers: How do I know whether I should take the ACT or the SAT?
This is a relatively new debacle for high school juniors and seniors, as in the past, the SAT was the gold standard on the west and east coasts with the ACT reigning supreme in the Midwest. Now, both tests are offered everywhere and the ACT has been growing in popularity. Quite often, even though the tests are considerably different, a student will score roughly the same on both tests. Still, there are ways to ascertain which test score will more easily improve with tutoring.
Let’s examine some of the most obvious differences. The SAT is comprised of Critical Reading, Writing, and Math, with shorter and longer sections of the Critical Reading and Math interspersed throughout the test. The ACT is comprised of five sections: English, Math, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing section (though any tutor worth her salt will tell you this section is NOT optional—you MUST take the Writing section. Many colleges will require it for an ACT to stand in for the SAT.) As far as Math is concerned, both tests cover the same basic material, though it is true that the ACT will ask some content questions about trigonometry, which is beyond the scope of the SAT. Mostly, though, the differences lie in the English, Reading and Science departments.
It’s important to note that, even though the ACT splits its English sections into English and Reading, it really covers the same Critical Reading content as the SAT (though there is less emphasis on vocabulary). Likewise, while you may be thinking, “Hey, my child is GREAT at Science!” you should be aware that the Science section on the ACT is really testing reading comprehension, combined with some graph and chart analysis. No actual knowledge of Science is necessary to score well on the test.
Now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Many people will tell you that the ACT is an easier test because the questions are more straightforward. In some ways, this is true; however, the challenge with these questions becomes the extremely limited time that the ACT allots. The ACT is a race against the clock in every section, particularly the Reading and Science sections. Perhaps a student will not have to read between the lines as much in his reading comprehension, but he will still have to comprehend a great deal of information from long passages in a frustratingly short amount of time. For this reason, I sometimes recommend the ACT to athletes who are used to running drills over and over again to improve speed and precision, as a similar drilling technique is used in training for the ACT.
The SAT, on the other, allots a more comfortable amount of time for a student to digest the information presented. Further, the SAT contains its famous vocabulary sections, which means if the test-taker is skilled in the area of memorization, the SAT may be the best choice, as a simple drilling of vocabulary can significantly raise scores (as long as there is a consistent, disciplined drilling regiment in play.)
It’s also important to note that the SAT deducts points for answers guessed wrong, while the ACT has no guessing penalty. If a student learns techniques for when to guess on the SAT, the guessing penalty should not make a significant difference to the score. Still, studies have shown that certain students do better with the ACT because it takes “whether or not to guess” out of the equation.
When all else fails, the best approach is to take both practice exams and, regardless of score (as long as they are somewhat close), start prepping for the one that feels most comfortable. Still not sure? Take advantage of our current promotion – during the month of August, Mosaic College Prep is excited to offer a limited number of Test Analysis and Strategy Meetings with one of our test prep tutors for only $50! This hour-long meeting, normally priced at $125, will expose you to both tests and help you determine which test is the right choice for you. From there, our expert tutors can help you plan a test taking strategy to set you on the right path for college appellations!
We strongly believe that because each student has distinct strengths and challenge areas, test prep and test choice should not be a one-size-fits-all. Each student’s approach should be tailored to ensure they can achieve their personal best and our expert tutors are just the people to help start you on the right path!
Contact us today be emailing us at info@mosaicprep.com or call us at 310.210.7499 to set up your Test Analysis and Strategy meeting today! No matter what you decide, with proper preparation, significant increases in scores can be made on either test!
