The SAT and
ACT are both college admission tests. Most colleges
accept the results of both the SAT and
the ACT.
The
ACT is an achievement test that
measures what a student has learned in school, while the SAT is an aptitude test
that predicts how well a student will do in college. The ACT
covers English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an optional Writing
test, while the SAT includes Reading Comprehension, Mathematics, and a
mandatory Writing section.
Most students feel that the ACT questions are
clearer and more straightforward. Although most high school students take
the
SAT test, the ACT is being taken by more students every year as an alternative to the
SAT.
Some school counselors may
suggest that students take both tests, but we believe that if you are better at curriculum-based tests than
at critical thinking skills tests, then the ACT may be better for you. Of
course, you
need to make sure that the schools you intend to apply to do not have a test preference or requirement.
To
decide
which test is better for you, you can go to your school's student
counselor office to obtain free sample tests for the ACT and
SAT, which are in packets published by the test makers. From your understanding
of
the format, content, and structure of the
tests, as well as your
sample test results, you can determine
which test you should take. |