Originally Published in The Hindustan Times Education Supplement
On Saturday the new SAT test will be
administered in the US for the first time. This change is generating a lot
of anxiety for students. In past years the SAT and ACT each had their own
distinctive qualities that catered to different test taking styles and
types of students. However, the College Board’s redesigned somewhat
mimics the ACT in style and emphasis. However, there are a number of comparison
points still worth noting. Below is a more detailed description of each
test.
New SAT:
The New SAT is 3 hours long with an
optional, 50 minute, essay question section. The three main sections are
evidence based reading (65 min, 52 questions), writing and language (35 min, 44
questions) and math (80 min, 58 questions). Both reading/writing and math
sections are scored on a scale of 200-800, equaling to a total score of
400-1600. The essay is scored from 2-8 and reportedly separately. Tests are offered
seven times a year and registration deadlines are four weeks before the
date.
As far as overall subject knowledge, a
majority of the content is similar to the ACT, however the emphasis and
style of questions differ somewhat. The reading section has a total of
five passages spanning literature, history and sciences. Questions emphasize
analysis and understanding the arguments presented. The writing and language
section presents 4 passages and puts more focus on the meaning of words and
their use in different contexts than in the ACT. This can be a great asset if
you are confident your reading and language skills. The math section is
broken up into two parts, one with a calculator and one without. Content
emphasizes algebra and data analysis as opposed to geometry and
trigonometry. For the essay question on the SAT, students are given a
small text and asked to analyze the author’s argument in an academic
manner.
ACT:
The ACT is 2 hours and 55 minutes with an
optional essay question for 30 minutes. The test has four other sections
that always appear in the same order: English (45 min, 75
questions), Math (60 min, 60 questions), Reading (35 min, 40 questions), and
Science (35 min, 40 questions. Each section is individually scored on a scale
of 1-36 and then averaged for a composite score (the writing score is not
part of the average). The test is offered six times a year and the
registration deadline is five to six weeks prior to the test date.
The English section presents four passages
always in the same style and order. One prose fiction, one social
sciences, one humanities, and one natural sciences. While the SAT is more
about analysis, the ACT is more about reading comprehension. The math
section has a wider range of material and students are allowed to use calculators throughout. There is far more
geometry and trigonometry on the test (average one fourth of the section). ACT
writing has a lot more questions than the SAT and is slightly more focused on
grammar and conventions. The obvious difference in the ACT is that it has a
science section, which tests reasoning skills more than actual science knowledge. The
writing section on the ACT requires students to argue their own opinion on an
issue. It gives three perspectives and asks students to evaluate one using
specific examples.
For many students, timing
can be a challenge when taking the ACT. Most say their biggest difficulty
is in finishing the section. The ACT questions generally are more
straightforward and content based with no “trick questions.” If you are a student
who is confident in your content knowledge and can work at a faster pace, the
ACT may be a better option for you.
The best way to decide which test to take
is to sit down for yourself and assess the different parts of each test. See the
format, see what the test taking rules are, see how it is graded, and more importantly
sample multiple questions in each section. After which, you should be able to gauge,
on your own, which test feels more comfortable. If you still feel confused,
take the time one weekend and do the full tests. You can then compare your score on
the concordance table and see where your strengths are. These few steps are
generally enough for you to feel confident about which test you should focus
on.
Test-Optional Colleges
According to Fairtest, a non-profit
organization that works to make sure standardized testing is not misused and
biased, 850 universities have announced a test-optional policy. Top-tier colleges
such as Bowdoin College, Wesleyan University and George Washington
University are among the many. Within this group, some colleges don’t
require any student to submit scores, other colleges exempt only those
with a specific GPA, and others require test scores but for non-admissions procedures.
If you feel standardized testing is a challenge for you and that the
other parts of your application are better telling of who you are as a
student, you have the option to not submit scores. However, one thing to
note is that one less factor presented to the admissions board means the
other parts of your application are given more weight. Many college
counselors would generally advise you to still try and take the test and
then decide after whether to submit it. More likely than not, some of the
colleges on your list will still require test scores, so you will have to
take the test regardless.
For more information:
1. www.collegeboard.com
2. www.act.org
3. www.fairtest.org
4. www.sativyglobal.com (for sample SAT
tests)
5. www.blog.prepscholar.com (great
detailed comparison of both tests)
