One of the biggest questions we get is whether or not a U.S. bound student should take both the SAT and ACT. Both tests hold equal weight with U.S. college admissions and both tests require preparation and studying. However, there are several differences between the two tests and this makes it difficult to determine which test will be best for each individual student.
For starters, the SAT is designed to measure aptitude. Meaning, it tests abilities and not necessarily what you have learned in school. The ACT is designed to measure achievement, meaning it tests students on the curriculum that they have learned in school. For students that study extremely hard in their classes and have a strong grasp of their curriculum, it might be beneficial to take the ACT. One thing to be aware of, however is the difference between the U.S. and Canadian curricula. Students will still need to study and prepare for the ACT to fill the curricular gaps.
The content of both the SAT and ACT is different as well. The ACT has a science section while the SAT does not. The science covered in the ACT includes biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. It can be helpful for a student to have received some instruction in school in each of these particular areas to succeed on the ACT. However, you do not need to be a science genius. Most of the science section requires you to interpret graphs, read and understand research summaries, and make sense of scientific hypotheses. If you are a strong critical reader, it is likely that you will do well on the science section.
The SAT math section is mostly comprised of the basic rules of algebra and geometry. The ACT includes some trigonometry in addition to algebra and geometry. Students need at least a basic understanding of trigonometry and in particular a good grasp of sine and cosine before jumping in to take the ACT.
There are style differences between both exams as well. The SAT places more emphasis on vocabulary and the questions progressively get harder through each section. The ACT’s questions tend to be more straightforward and easy to understand, yet it has a more constant level of difficulty.
And finally, there is a difference between the way the tests are scored and viewed by admissions. The SAT provides individual scores for each section, which makes it very obvious to admissions if a student is very strong in one section and not in another. For the ACT, colleges and universities look more at the combined composite score than the individual section scores. This means that you can still have a strong overall composite score even if you are not as competent in some areas.
The choice to take either the SAT or ACT, or both, will be different for each student. We recommend meeting with one of our consultants to determine which test would best fit your student. Or come in for any of our upcoming SAT and ACT full-length exams to determine your baseline score for each test. We have full prep courses for all sections of the SAT and ACT. Please see the calendar for upcoming dates and contact our office to schedule your appointment.
