As more and more colleges require standardized testing to get in, Madison juniors are scrambling to get the best score they possibly can. But how should one pick which test – SAT or ACT – to take?
The SAT and the ACT have very different formats. The SAT is an adaptable test, which means that it has a part one and a part two, and part two will change depending on how well (or poorly) a student does on part one. It also means that the curves will vary for different students. Both parts have a math section and a reading and writing section. The math section allows for the use of a built-in Desmos graphing calculator or a handheld calculator. The reading and writing section features questions both with and without stimuli, and has a relatively heavy emphasis on vocabulary. The 2 sections are each scored on an 800 point scale and are added together to create a cumulative score.
The ACT is not an adaptable test, which means that every student takes the exact same test and has the exact same curve. The test has three mandatory parts: English (which is a grammar section), math, and reading. The English section features six passages that a student has to “edit” by choosing alternative punctuation or sentence structure. The math section allows for a handheld calculator, and goes up to basic trigonometry (as opposed to the SAT going up to Algebra 2). The reading section has four passages and focuses on reading comprehension. Each of the three sections are scored on a 36 point scale and are then averaged to create a cumulative score.
The SAT will be better for STEM students, as half of the test is math-based and a significant portion of the reading and writing section has science-based questions. It is important to have a deep understanding of Desmos’ functions because most math questions can be solved through Desmos in a significantly easier way than on a handheld calculator.
The ACT requires students to be fast readers, as the time pressure is significant, however, in exchange, students are tested on their genuine reading comprehension and grammar knowledge in context, as opposed to the luck-based system of the SAT’s random vocabulary or hypothetical grammar questions. The ACT will be a better test for strong readers and writers, especially as two out of the three sections are humanities-based.
No matter what you choose, good luck testing!
