Some facts about SAT, ACT tests
It used to be most college admission decisions were based almost exclusively on quantitative measures: grade point average and performance on the SAT or the ACT.
Today however, most colleges are pleased to share that their admissions process is "holistic," i.e., they evaluate each candidate on a variety of factors. As colleges have moved to the holistic method, what once was the "be all and end all" — the test score — has lost some of its star power.
Most colleges still require some form of standardized tests, but there is an active movement afoot to abolish standardized testing as an admissions criterion. The organization Fair Test (www.fairtest.org) counts 815 colleges that have chosen to go "test optional," allowing students to choose whether or not to submit their test scores.
Of course that doesn't mean standardized test scores no longer matter. It's a rare case that a student will find themselves only applying to test-optional colleges.
Every college accepts both tests. Here are some basic differences between them:
• Tests aptitude, reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking. 160 questions: Math (54 questions), Critical Reading (67 questions) and Writing (49 questions). Lasts 3.75 hours.• Scores in each section range from 200 to 800 for a total of 2,400 points.• Required 25-minute essay scored from 2 to 12 and factored into Writing score.• 1 point for every right answer, Z\v-point penalty per wrong response.• No science section. Vocabulary is emphasized but not grammar. Math covers geometry and algebra II but not trigonometry. Uses tricky and sometimes intentionally confusing questions.
• Curriculum or content-based, assesses knowledge you've acquired. 215 questions: English (75 questions), Reading (40), Math (60), Science (40) and optional essay. Lasts 3.25 hours with the optional essay.• Scores in each section range from 1 to 36. Section scores are averaged for a composite score and a score of 2 to 12 for the optional essay.• No wrong answer penalty. Grammar emphasized. Math includes algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
