Take another ACT or SAT.. or both?

Curi0sity · 05-07-2008, 05:11 PM

I'm currently a junior and i took a SAT without any preparations in December and got:
Math- 700
CR- 600
Writing- 580 (8 on essay)
I was really disappointed with my score because i wanted around 700 for each subject.. but hey, that was that.

Last month I took the act and got:
Eng- 34
Math- 33
Reading- 31
Science- 25 (yeah.. ahem >.>")
Which was a composite 31
(essay score didn't come out yet)

I signed up for the June SAT Reasoning a while ago because i really want to bring up my score and I'm sure with more preparation I'd do a lot better..
But right now I'm starting to wonder if I should take ACT again instead..
Or should I re-take both?

HELP!!!
Deadline to register for June ACT is this friday so i would REALLY love to hear you guys' advices! Thanks! =)

darnfancylettuce · 05-07-2008, 05:30 PM

It seems to me that you should give the ACT another shot, because a 31 is a good score. I think that your science would go up with some practice. I think it'd be easier to bring that up than the SAT. A 31 is a good ACT score anyway.

Curi0sity · 05-07-2008, 06:01 PM

But for some colleges they say they require SAT Subject Tests.. but don't they see EVERYTHING, like every single score i have ever gotten on any of my SATs, along with the Subject Tests scores? Wouldn't they be thrown off if I scored well on the ACT but really crappy on the SAT?
So do you think I should only retake the ACT or ACT and SAT both? =/

Thank you so much for your advice btw!

CDN_dancer · 05-07-2008, 06:36 PM

I'd say go with the ACT; because the ACT and SAT are set up differently, often students will perform better on one exam over the other, so a discrepency in score is to be expected.

Erin's Dad · 05-07-2008, 09:13 PM

Many colleges will also accept ACTs in lieu of SAT IIs. Check on the schools you are interested in.

Quicksandslowly · 05-07-2008, 09:51 PM

What colleges are you going to apply for? Usually top rated schools weight SAT over ACT.

sherpa · 05-07-2008, 11:34 PM

Based on your ACT reading, english, and math scores I predict that with a little preparation you can get your ACT science score up pretty easily.

chauncyyin · 05-08-2008, 12:48 AM

ACT is not as important as SAT.. focus on ur SAT .

Curi0sity · 05-08-2008, 07:35 AM

wait, so colleges all prefer SAT over ACT?
uh-oh.. >.<""

SJTH · 05-08-2008, 02:20 PM

No, most colleges do not weigh the SAT over the ACT. You should check online and see what your colleges say. My 2 boys have only taken the ACT, based on their comfort with the test. Though they're not IVY boys, a friend whose daughters are at Yale and Brown also only took the ACT. I agree that you can probably bring up your ACT science score--and a 31 is a very good place to start!