2. Over 700 colleges do NOT require a
standardized test for admission (11 in NC)
(See http://www.fairtest.org/univ/optional.htm for more information)
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?
3. 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
Colleges say they don’t prefer one
test over the other . . .
4. 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)
In the last 5 years, the number of ACT test-takers on the East Coast has risen
over 66 percent, and on the West Coast, 44 percent –
largely as a result of the new, longer SAT
5. SAT
4 sections
English
(language/rhetoric)
Math
Science
Reading
Writing (optional – but
colleges require it for
admission)
ACT
10 sections
Essay + 2 multiple
choice writing sections
3 critical reading
sections
3 math sections
1 experimental section
6. SAT - READING
35 minutes
4 reading
comprehension
passages
40 questions (10
questions per passage)
ACT - READING
70 minutes
19 sentence completion
4 short passages, 4 long
passages, 2 comparison
passages
48 questions passage-
based reading
More emphasis on
VOCABULARY
7. SAT – MATH ACT - 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
60 minutes, 60 questions
(all multiple choice)
Math accounts for ¼ of
your total score
Topics covered:
Arithmetic, algebra, geom
etry, and trigonometry
Questions tend to be more
straigtforward
May use calculator
8. SAT – SCIENCE ACT - SCIENCE
Science not included Science (analysis,
interpretation,
evaluation, basic
content, and problem-
solving)
9. SAT- ESSAY
ACT - ESSAY
First thing you do
25 minutes
Factored into overall
writing score
Abstract, philosophical
topic – pick a side
Not optional
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
10. 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?
11. SAT ACT
Total score = 2400
Critical Reading 200-800
Math 200-800
Writing 200-800
Total composite score of
1-36 (based on average
of 4 tests)
Score of 0-12 for
optional essay
12. SAT ACT
GUESSING PENALTY -
¼ point subtracted for
wrong answers
Your ENTIRE score
history will be sent
automatically to
colleges – you may not
choose scores
No GUESSING
PENALTY – nothing
subtracted for wrong
answers
You decide which
scores to send to
colleges and may send
just your highest scores
15. SAT ACT
Reasoning Test - $51
Fee waivers available
Change or Late Fee -
$27.50
4 score reports free
Additional score reports
- $11.25
Offered FREE to all high
school juniors at
Williams
ACT - $36.50
ACT + writing - $52.50
4 score reports free
Additional score reports
$12.00
16. SAT ACT
Test Date Register by
October 5 September 6
**November 2 October 3
December 7 November 8
January 25 December 27
**March 8 February 7
May 3 April 4
June 7 May 9
Test Date Register by
September 21 August 23
**October 26 September 27
December 14 November 8
February 8 January 10
**April 12 March 7
June 14 May 9
** @ Williams
@Williams High School - free -
for all juniors (TBA)
** @ Williams
Oct. 5 SAT will report for Early
Admission
17. Check out their
Freshman
Profile
http://colleges.co
llegetoolkit.com
/Colleges/State
/North_Carolin
a/37.aspx