My niece is a junior in HS. I'm years removed from such testing. Any pros or cons and any recommendations for solid prep programs in the Monmouth County area?
OT - SAT or ACT or both?
- Thread starter RU-Kidding
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ACT is mostly for STEM majors, not all that needed for liberal arts and social science majors.
So it depends on what she plans on studying in college and how good she is in math. Does she take a lot of advance math and science classes in HS?
So it depends on what she plans on studying in college and how good she is in math. Does she take a lot of advance math and science classes in HS?
It doesn't matter. Ask her to take both. Give the better score in her applications.
I never took the ACT, only took the SAT (1450/1600) and applied to engineering programs with no issue in 2005 so it really doesn't matter which one you take and for what majors. The only thing that matters is how good your scores are.
I never took the ACT, only took the SAT (1450/1600) and applied to engineering programs with no issue in 2005 so it really doesn't matter which one you take and for what majors. The only thing that matters is how good your scores are.
Most colleges will superscore your SAT - take the best grades from each section and use that as the overall score. They do not do this with ACT.
Some kids do better on one than the other. The ACT does have science etc. sections. Depends on your neice. There are score comparison charts out there. Have her take them both once and then focus on the one she does better at.
Some kids do better on one than the other. The ACT does have science etc. sections. Depends on your neice. There are score comparison charts out there. Have her take them both once and then focus on the one she does better at.
In today's world of college application/admission they are both acceptable - might want to double check for a specific school if you have questions - but most schools are indifferent as to which you take - and now lots of kids take both and see how they do - - then take the one they felt most comfortable with a couple more times to push their score as high as they can.
... and some school will now say you can opt to not submit standardized test scores if you choose - some impressive schools are on the list :
http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional
http://www.fairtest.org/sites/default/files/Optional-Schools-in-U.S.News-Top-Tiers.pdf
If you are seriously considering the 'optional' path - just do plenty of double checking - for some schools it is an all or nothing - so you can't submit some tests but not others - so if you sign up to take the ACT and/or the SAT - don't automatically send scores to the test optional schools unless you have checked everything out - you can always make a supplemental request to send scores later if you want them sent.
Many years ago it was different - you had to have scores & - SAT pretty much ruled the world- especially in the East & Midwest - some western/ southwestern schools leaned toward ACT but would use the SAT. It seems that when SAT went from the 1600 scale to the 2400, they lost some popularity.
KEY POINT - if your child is planning to play NCAA sanctioned inter-collegiate sports - they will need an acceptable SAT or ACT score & an acceptable GPA to get through the NCAA Clearing house.... so even if they want to go to a testing optional school - they will still need the tests for the NCAA.
... and some school will now say you can opt to not submit standardized test scores if you choose - some impressive schools are on the list :
http://www.fairtest.org/university/optional
http://www.fairtest.org/sites/default/files/Optional-Schools-in-U.S.News-Top-Tiers.pdf
If you are seriously considering the 'optional' path - just do plenty of double checking - for some schools it is an all or nothing - so you can't submit some tests but not others - so if you sign up to take the ACT and/or the SAT - don't automatically send scores to the test optional schools unless you have checked everything out - you can always make a supplemental request to send scores later if you want them sent.
Many years ago it was different - you had to have scores & - SAT pretty much ruled the world- especially in the East & Midwest - some western/ southwestern schools leaned toward ACT but would use the SAT. It seems that when SAT went from the 1600 scale to the 2400, they lost some popularity.
KEY POINT - if your child is planning to play NCAA sanctioned inter-collegiate sports - they will need an acceptable SAT or ACT score & an acceptable GPA to get through the NCAA Clearing house.... so even if they want to go to a testing optional school - they will still need the tests for the NCAA.
HS Junior going through the process now. They are looked at equally, and for the first time ever the ACT was more popular last year (by a slight amount). With the New SAT (no wrong answer penalties, optional writing) they are trying to become more like the ACT. The ACT math is a little harder while the SAT reading/writing is a little tougher. ACT has a science section which is basically reading comprehension (just all scientific).
So basically, if you are stronger at math, go ACT. Stronger at reading, go SAT. If there's no discernible difference/preference, use science as the tiebreaker (do you or do you not want a reading comp section that is solely science?). No need to take both if you do well on one. All credible schools will accept either.
So basically, if you are stronger at math, go ACT. Stronger at reading, go SAT. If there's no discernible difference/preference, use science as the tiebreaker (do you or do you not want a reading comp section that is solely science?). No need to take both if you do well on one. All credible schools will accept either.
That is completely not true - most schools will superscore both. The ones that don't - will not do for either. I have a son who's a junior in college and a daughter who's a junior in HS, so these are differences that I've seen.
- the ACT/SAT use in HS was split about 50/50 before this year. There is a new SAT that was just utilized for the first time (March 2016) so you definitely want to see the reviews on that. In 10 years, the ACT is expected to be the dominant test.
- ACT has more defined Math and Science sections (STEM) so different strokes for different folks. ACT is considered a test people can study more for, whereas SAT was historically more of an IQ test.
- If you take SAT, you will be more inclined to be asked to take SAT subject tests in addition to SAT. ACT does not have subject tests.
What your niece should do is take a PRACTICE test of both by one of those testing shops (Huntington for example) - it will be in test conditions and they will evaluate her tests by section and give you a sense which test suits her better. Then, specialize tutoring based on that evaluation.
Just my 2 cents.[/QUOTE]
- the ACT/SAT use in HS was split about 50/50 before this year. There is a new SAT that was just utilized for the first time (March 2016) so you definitely want to see the reviews on that. In 10 years, the ACT is expected to be the dominant test.
- ACT has more defined Math and Science sections (STEM) so different strokes for different folks. ACT is considered a test people can study more for, whereas SAT was historically more of an IQ test.
- If you take SAT, you will be more inclined to be asked to take SAT subject tests in addition to SAT. ACT does not have subject tests.
What your niece should do is take a PRACTICE test of both by one of those testing shops (Huntington for example) - it will be in test conditions and they will evaluate her tests by section and give you a sense which test suits her better. Then, specialize tutoring based on that evaluation.
Just my 2 cents.[/QUOTE]
I've been told that the ACT is more closely tied to the curriculum, and SAT was more designed for critical reasoning. BUT, the SAT will be brand new in May (if I'm not mistaken), and is supposed to be more straightforward than other versions.
There are many schools that are "Test optional", meaning they don't necessarily require that these test scores are submitted. While this certainly helps a student that might not test well (and there is some validity to the idea), it is also a great benefit to the schools. The next year the school will advertise that their average test scores have gone up 10%, meanwhile only about 60% of the kids might have submitted scores. I'm sure this benefit to the school is unplanned and completely coincidental. LOL.
My opinion, based on my daughter's experience, is, they are looking for a more well rounded student. Good grades and test scores are a plus, but they also want to know that the student was active in other extracurricular activities; e.g. clubs, athletics, volunteer or work experience.
Hope it helps, but either test should be fine. FWIW, my daughter did bette on ACTs, but I was pretty happy with SAT numbers as well.
There are many schools that are "Test optional", meaning they don't necessarily require that these test scores are submitted. While this certainly helps a student that might not test well (and there is some validity to the idea), it is also a great benefit to the schools. The next year the school will advertise that their average test scores have gone up 10%, meanwhile only about 60% of the kids might have submitted scores. I'm sure this benefit to the school is unplanned and completely coincidental. LOL.
My opinion, based on my daughter's experience, is, they are looking for a more well rounded student. Good grades and test scores are a plus, but they also want to know that the student was active in other extracurricular activities; e.g. clubs, athletics, volunteer or work experience.
Hope it helps, but either test should be fine. FWIW, my daughter did bette on ACTs, but I was pretty happy with SAT numbers as well.
My daughter just went through the process (HS Senior). She took the SAT twice during her junior year then took the ACT twice during fall of her senior year. Het total score improved only by a small amount with the 2nd SAT test but her 2nd ACT test improved significantly. One of the reasons was that the first ACT was the first weekend of school. She had done little prep but did take a timed practice test. The 2nd ACT was about 6 weeks later (morning of the RU-Ohio State game) so she was back in the swing academically. Here are some thought
- if possible, pay for one on one tutoring. Its better than a group setting. Most important is that the student do the work assigned (practice tests)> My son did (4 years ago) and improved his 3 test SAT score by 300 points after 5 tutoring sessions for each subject,
- watch the timing of the tests - If going early action and you are planning on taking tests in the fall, you need to get in on the first or second sitting. This probably means tutoring in the summer.
- My daughter applied to some "Test Optional" schools and I talked to several admissions offices about this. I do believe they do not hold it against you. The schools that had this option were good, solid but not elite private schools who are looking to fill seats. Some schools say that if you apply test optional then its a one time decision. Others will let you submit scores after applying without scores. My daughter did not apply to any state schools but my guess is the top ones like Rutgers want the scores.
- if possible, pay for one on one tutoring. Its better than a group setting. Most important is that the student do the work assigned (practice tests)> My son did (4 years ago) and improved his 3 test SAT score by 300 points after 5 tutoring sessions for each subject,
- watch the timing of the tests - If going early action and you are planning on taking tests in the fall, you need to get in on the first or second sitting. This probably means tutoring in the summer.
- My daughter applied to some "Test Optional" schools and I talked to several admissions offices about this. I do believe they do not hold it against you. The schools that had this option were good, solid but not elite private schools who are looking to fill seats. Some schools say that if you apply test optional then its a one time decision. Others will let you submit scores after applying without scores. My daughter did not apply to any state schools but my guess is the top ones like Rutgers want the scores.
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schools that had this option were good, solid but not elite private schools
actually - there are a few "Test Optional" schools that are really quite selective - upper tier - here are just some -
Bowdoin College
Middlebury College
Hamilton College
Smith College
Wesleyan University
Colby College
Bates College
Bryn Mawr
Holy Cross
Mount Holyoke College
Pitzer College
Union College
Dickinson College
Franklin and Marshall College
Trinity College
BardCollege
Connecticut College
Wake Forest University
New York University
University of Rochester
Brandeis University
Univ. of Texas–Austin
George Washington University
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Good to know that schools superscore both. I never ran into a college that superscored the ACT when looking at colleges for my sons just 6 years ago. The bottom line is that suprescoring is real important. For instance, if you get a great math score on the SAT the first time out, you can sit for the SAT again and just focus on the other sections without ever taking the math.
Now I know why my kids laugh at me when I tell them I got a 1250 on my SAT's. Did not know the scale changed.
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This.
A practice or diagnostic test will tell the student which he or she is better at ... or more comfortable with ... The student should take the test with which they are more comfortable, as they should do better.
Both my kids (Junior in HS and Freshman in college) took the ACT - but because that is the test with which they were most comfortable.
I bias towards the ACT, since most schools would not require taking the SAT 2 subject tests if the student takes the ACT. Also, no one, including the colleges, know what the NEW SAT means for future academic potential. Truthfully, I think these tests are all garbage (I worked for Stanley Kaplan 30 years ago, writing practice tests and tutoring). But all kids take them, and should take them. Another advantage of the ACT is that if a kid scores particularly poorly relative to another time they take the ACT (if you take it 2 or 3 times), you can wipe out that score entirely, unlike the SAT.
Finally, be aware that increasingly colleges are moving towards test optional admittance. Though that does not help you now, I bet within 5 years 50% or more of the colleges will be test optional.
Hey Kidding, this is an area I specialise in to some degree, so if you'd like some practical advise in detail, feel free to email me at jeffreyksmith which is a gmail account.
The ACT is a more subject matter oriented test whereas the SATs are really a more school version of an IQ test. However, correlations between the two is very high, so they are really tapping into the same abilities of kids. The superscoring thing is a bit overplayed, but depends where you are applying. Colleges use superscoring for their own benefit, not the kids'. They do this so that they can report the highest possible SAT/ACT scores used for national rankings.
Colleges use the scores differently. At RU, gpa is much more important in the formula used than SATs or ACTs (unless the system has changed in the past couple of years).
Your child should definitely study for the tests, as some kids are really not good test takers. You don't have to go super expensive or high end, though. The kind of ultra tricks that some of these places promote are snake oil. Also, make sure if you are doing a practice test to see where your child is, use one from ETS or ACT, DON'T use one from a company. They are typically awful at mimicking the real test items. Writing those items well takes a lot of practice and feedback (I've written books on this.)
I'm not too familiar with the new SAT, but am having dinner with a senior ETS person in a couple weeks and will get the low down on that.
Not true that ACT is for STEM majors. More students take ACT now than SAT. Major difference (which may be changing from what I heard) is SAT penalizes you for wrong answers more than leaving the question blank. ACT deducts equally. Therefore you get penalized for guessing. For example, one of my daughters it is just not in her DNA to leave a question unanswered. That time of person will not do well on ACT. Some kids do better on one over the other, some test out equally. Just went thru process with daughter number 2. She took both tests initially and did much better on ACT. From that point we just focused solely on ACT. Through work with tutors and her own dedication, improved ACT score 9 points from 1st test. I doubt we would have seen that improvement if we tried to improve both. That would be my suggestion; initially take both and then focus on the one she did better.
Jelly is right, more schools are moving to test optional. Right now though there is a however. If you want to be considered for scholarships test scores are generally required.
It depends on what and where your niece wants to study. I'm going through this now with my daughter. She is going to take the ACT for two reasons. She is strongest in science, which is scored on the ACT but not the SAT. She wants to go to South for school, where the ACT is more widely used/accepted than the SAT.
NOTE, most schools will accept both test and some won't require either,depending on other factors such as HS GPA, HS ranking and class ranking. BUT that is not always true. Also, we ran into a situation at UNC-W where they accept the ACT of admission, BUT only accept the SAT for merit scholarships. So she really needs to check with each school she is interested in, in order to make sure which test to take.
NOTE, most schools will accept both test and some won't require either,depending on other factors such as HS GPA, HS ranking and class ranking. BUT that is not always true. Also, we ran into a situation at UNC-W where they accept the ACT of admission, BUT only accept the SAT for merit scholarships. So she really needs to check with each school she is interested in, in order to make sure which test to take.
Well, it was that case years ago. :)
After reading the responses in this threads, it is starting to look like many take both.
My daughter took both and she got a higher score on the ACT which enable her to get a scholarship to an out of state university. Getting the scholarship also qualified her for in state tuition which ended up saving me about $14,000 per year.
take both - and then focus only on the test that yields the higher score if she plans to retake. if you're thinking of a prep program, most will give practice tests to help determined which test is better suited to your child's strengths. my kids applied to a wide range of east coast schools (ivy, upper tier, state and safety). each super scored and and accepted either test. b/t/w they went with the act.
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