SAT/ACT Why So Confusing?
How We Got Here…
Carl Brigham
The SAT
1926 First Administered to College Applicants1938 All members of the College Board were persuaded to use the SAT in Admissions1952 The test started to look like it does now.1957 Over a half million students took the SAT1959 A competing college admissions testing organization is formed-
American College Testing1960 The California Board of Regents begins requiring the SAT for
member schools thus becoming their biggest customer.
How we got here… the SAT
1960 The California Board of Regents begins requiring the SAT for member schools thus becoming their biggest customer.
1994 The math “grid” and calculators were allowed
1990 Name Change to Scholastic Assessment Test
1993 SAT 1 and it does not stand for anything
1995 428 V and 478 math was reentered to 500
2004 Name Change to SAT Reasoning Test
2005 Based on University of California systems threats to stop using the test the SAT is overhauled- Analogies and quantitative comparison sections are deleted, a writing test is added and the difficulty of the test is increased slightly to decrease the incidents of perfect scores.
How we got here….. The ACT
It would test broad competencies, rather than rote memorization.
It would encourage students both to acquire knowledge and to learn how to use it in productive ways.
Results from the new test would ultimately serve many purposes—providing information for◦ educational planning, ◦ course planning◦ placement◦ career counseling◦ Instructional planning
E. F. Lindquist
How we got here ACT First administered in 1959
1989 ACT better integrated the career development aspects of the assessment changing the name to the Enhanced ACT
The ACT re-centered scores in the mid-90s in response to SAT
2005 Optional Writing Assessment is added.
SAT/ACT ComparisonSAT Total Score ACT Composite Score SAT Total Score ACT Composite Score
2400 36 1620–1670 23
2340–2390 35 1560–1610 22
2280–2330 34 1500–1550 21
2220–2270 33 1440–1490 20
2160–2210 32 1380–1430 19
2100–2150 31 1320–1370 18
2040–2090 30 1260–1310 17
1980–2030 29 1200–1250 16
1920–1970 28 1140–1190 15
1860–1910 27 1080–1130 14
1800–1850 26 1020–1070 13
1740–1790 25 960–1010 12
1680–1730 24 900–950 11
Which is Harder SAT/ACT?
SAT/ACT ComparisonSAT
assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college
ACT
incorporates the objectives for instruction for middle and high schools throughout the United States, reviews approved textbooks for subjects taught in Grades 7–12, and surveys educators on which knowledge skills are relevant to success in postsecondary education
SAT/ACT Timing
SAT
structured such that the test taker is allowed at least one minute per question, on generally shorter sections (25 or fewer questions).
3 hours, 45 minutes total
ACT
45 minutes for a 75-question English section
60 minutes for a 60-question Math section
35 minutes for a 40-question Reading Comprehension section
35 minutes for a 40-question Science section
3 hours, 25 minutes total
SAT/ACT Format 10 Sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing (including Essay), 1 Experimental (not scored)
4 Sections (plus optional Writing Test): English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing
SAT/ACT Reading Reading passages with questions pertaining to comprehension and sentence completion
Passages are included from the arts, science, and social science
4 passages, 10 questions per passage
Reading Comprehension and Reading Social Studies scores are reported.
SAT/ACT Science There is no science section however, students should plan to analyze a reading passage from the sciences and answer questions that test comprehension and science vocabulary on the Critical Reading sections.
Science Test that measures analysis, knowledge, problem solving
SAT/ACT Math Arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and algebra II
Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry (about 7%)
SAT/ACT Writing SAT – Required writing sample ACT Writing includes a multiple
choice English section which includes grammar. The essay is optional
SAT/ACT Score Composition
SAT
1/3 Math
1/3 Reading
1/3 Writing
Aggregate score 600 - 2400 based on total of 3 scores 200- 800 (Reading, Math, Writing)
Score of 0-12 for Essay
ACT
¼ English
¼ Math
¼ Reading
¼ Science
Composite score 1-36 based on average of 4 sections (English Math, Reading Science)
Score 0-12 for Optional Essay.
SAT/ACT Strategy Correction for Guessing
Many questions are designed to slow the test taker down. Students may want to skip time consuming questions for later
No Correction for Guessing
The ACT is much more “speeded” . Students do not get anything like 1 min. per question
SAT/ACT Possibly Irrational Generalizations
You might do better on the SAT if you……….
Enjoy brain teasers and riddles
Don’t have to study to pass tests
Are street smart
Are good at reading ‘between the lines”
Have a good eye for detail
Do better on ability tests than achievement tests
You might do better on the ACT if you ……….
Have a good long term memory for facts.
Work hard in school to earn good grades
Are “book smart”
Are better at reading for large concepts and themes
Do better on achievement tests
Resources http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice
SHS SAT Prep Course
GACOLLEGE411.org
Commercially available resources
PSAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How to prepare for the ACT
GACollege411.org
Commercially available resources
www.ACT.org
The Redesigned SAT
Jerry W. Cox, Ed.S. Licensed Professional Counselor
Cherokee Center for Change
(678) 619-5147
Cherokee County School District
(770) 479-1871