What You Need to Know What You Need to Know (or not) (or not)

About SATs and ACTsAbout SATs and ACTs

December 2010December 2010

College Admissions TestingCollege Admissions Testing

SAT was traditionally and East Coast test SAT was traditionally and East Coast test and ACT a West Coast Testand ACT a West Coast Test

SAT more common in the area, but ACT SAT more common in the area, but ACT participation has increased dramaticallyparticipation has increased dramatically

Most colleges accept both scoresMost colleges accept both scores Some colleges do not require admissions Some colleges do not require admissions

testing or may use it for course placementtesting or may use it for course placement Two-year programs do not require testingTwo-year programs do not require testing

What is the SATWhat is the SAT

First administered in 1926First administered in 1926 Originally an acronym for Scholastic Originally an acronym for Scholastic

Aptitude TestAptitude Test Now just a “brand” – College Board Now just a “brand” – College Board

refers to it as a test of critical refers to it as a test of critical thinking skillsthinking skills

What is the ACT?What is the ACT?

First administered in 1959 in First administered in 1959 in response to t the SATresponse to t the SAT

ACT Inc claims that it measures ACT Inc claims that it measures aptitude and achievementaptitude and achievement

More closely tracks HS curriculumMore closely tracks HS curriculum

Notes on BothNotes on Both

The correlation between SAT and ACT The correlation between SAT and ACT scores is between .89 and .92scores is between .89 and .92

This means that most students will This means that most students will perform similarly on both testsperform similarly on both tests

There can be huge differences for There can be huge differences for some studentssome students

ACT has “score choice”. SAT has ACT has “score choice”. SAT has “score choice” at colleges who permit “score choice” at colleges who permit it.it.

SAT ACT

Length 3 hours and 45 minutes in 10 sections (one experimental)

3 hours and 25 minutes in four sections (plus 30 minutes if taking essay)

English/Writing

Three sections 25 min Essay25 min multiple choice (35 Questions)10 min multiple choice (14 Questions)

One Section45 min multiple choice (75 questions)

Reading Three sectionsTwo 25 minute sections One 20 minute sectionSentence completion and passage comprehension

One section35 minutesFour passages with 10 questions each

Math Three sectionsTwo 25 minute sectionsOne 20 minute sectionMultiple choice and grid in No Trig

One section60 minutes for 60 questionsSmall amount of trig

Science Not standard – can be assessed through SAT Subject Test, which assesses course knowledge

One section35 minutes40 questionsRead experiment summaries and data sets to interpret data and

draw conclusions

Essay First Section Part of Writing Score and Composite

Last SectionOptional Test – reported separately from composite

Given Seven times per year Six times per year

English/WritingEnglish/Writing

Take SAT if:Take SAT if: You have time You have time

management issuesmanagement issues Want a more Want a more

“macro” essay “macro” essay questionquestion

Are a good writer Are a good writer since it is factored since it is factored into composite scoreinto composite score

Take ACT if:Take ACT if: Writing essay first Writing essay first

will drain energywill drain energy Want essay Want essay

optional and not optional and not factored into factored into compositecomposite

Want a more direct Want a more direct essay questionessay question

ReadingReading

Take SAT if:Take SAT if: Good at strategyGood at strategy Strong vocabularyStrong vocabulary

Take ACT if:Take ACT if: Fast readerFast reader Good at skimming Good at skimming

texttext Weaker vocabularyWeaker vocabulary Need more Need more

predictabilitypredictability

MathMath

Take SAT if:Take SAT if: Can solve problems Can solve problems

multiple waysmultiple ways Like “mental sprints”Like “mental sprints” Can combine math Can combine math

from different levelsfrom different levels Good reasoning and Good reasoning and

critical thinkingcritical thinking

Take ACT if:Take ACT if: Good familiarity of Good familiarity of

classroom mathclassroom math Benefit from Benefit from

straightforward straightforward questionsquestions

ScienceScience

Take SAT Subject Take SAT Subject if:if:

School requires itSchool requires it Very strong in a Very strong in a

specific sciencespecific science Strong content Strong content

knowledgeknowledge

Take ACT if:Take ACT if: Good at Good at

interpreting info interpreting info and making and making conclusionsconclusions

Good score here Good score here can pull up can pull up compositecomposite

SAT vs. ACTSAT vs. ACT SAT is:SAT is: More vocab heavyMore vocab heavy Math requires reasoning and Math requires reasoning and

combined conceptscombined concepts Essay required and part of Essay required and part of

total scoretotal score More sections that are shorter More sections that are shorter

in lengthin length Switch between tested areasSwitch between tested areas Schools will look at section Schools will look at section

scores AND total scorescores AND total score Fewer charts and data setsFewer charts and data sets Requires careful reading on Requires careful reading on

all sections all sections Good for good test takers with Good for good test takers with

good strategiesgood strategies

ACT is:ACT is: More straightforwardMore straightforward Assess reasoning through Assess reasoning through

sciencescience More advanced math, but More advanced math, but

only a few questionsonly a few questions Essay optionalEssay optional Fewer sections that are longer Fewer sections that are longer All questions in an area All questions in an area

presented at one timepresented at one time More “big picture” – total More “big picture” – total

score most importantscore most important Good for students who work Good for students who work

hard and benefit from review hard and benefit from review of conceptsof concepts

Good for students who need Good for students who need predictabilitypredictability

AccommodationsAccommodations

Accommodations available on both testsAccommodations available on both tests Not flagged on score reports Not flagged on score reports Most common is 50% Extended Time Most common is 50% Extended Time

(Time and a Half)(Time and a Half) All other accommodations are much All other accommodations are much

harder to obtainharder to obtain Having accommodation in school does Having accommodation in school does

not mean you will receive it on SAT or not mean you will receive it on SAT or ACTACT

Sample AccommodationsSample Accommodations

Extended TimeExtended Time Use of a computer Use of a computer

(no spell or (no spell or grammar check)grammar check)

ScribeScribe Enlarged printEnlarged print Enlarged scantronEnlarged scantron

Longer breaksLonger breaks Individual testingIndividual testing Testing over Testing over

multiple daysmultiple days BrailleBraille Small group testingSmall group testing ReaderReader

How to Apply for How to Apply for AccommodationsAccommodations

SATSAT Complete consent form with case manager Complete consent form with case manager

(by Spring of 10(by Spring of 10thth grade) grade) Case Manager will apply onlineCase Manager will apply online Takes 6+ weeks for approval depending Takes 6+ weeks for approval depending

on documentation neededon documentation needed Will be notified by mail and email to Case Will be notified by mail and email to Case

ManagerManager Will be assigned SSD Number that can be Will be assigned SSD Number that can be

used when registering for all PSAT, SAT used when registering for all PSAT, SAT and AP tests through graduationand AP tests through graduation

How to Apply for How to Apply for AccommodationsAccommodations

ACTACT Decide on testing dateDecide on testing date Go to ACT.ORG and search for students Go to ACT.ORG and search for students

with disabilitieswith disabilities Complete application for Extended Time Complete application for Extended Time

National Testing or Special TestingNational Testing or Special Testing Both forms have sections to be completed Both forms have sections to be completed

at school by case manager and may need at school by case manager and may need documentationdocumentation

Both forms have different submission Both forms have different submission directions and addressesdirections and addresses

Must be done EARLY!Must be done EARLY!

How to Increase the Odds of How to Increase the Odds of Being ApprovedBeing Approved

Apply early to allow time to submit Apply early to allow time to submit additional documentation or to appealadditional documentation or to appeal

Have updated assessments and/or Have updated assessments and/or documentation (within three years for documentation (within three years for testing and within one for medical and testing and within one for medical and psychiatric diagnoses)psychiatric diagnoses)

The accommodations need to be used The accommodations need to be used regularly in schoolregularly in school

Other Options to SAT/ACTOther Options to SAT/ACT

Score Optional Colleges (fairtest.org): These Score Optional Colleges (fairtest.org): These schools do not require SAT or ACT for schools do not require SAT or ACT for admission. Some may request it for course admission. Some may request it for course placement only (in lieu of placement testing)placement only (in lieu of placement testing)

Two-Year Colleges: Most have transfer Two-Year Colleges: Most have transfer agreements with several to many prestigious agreements with several to many prestigious four year programs as long as the student four year programs as long as the student achieves certain criteria (like GPA).achieves certain criteria (like GPA).

Thanks for ComingThanks for Coming