Paul Christoff

...but, do schools really give greater preference to a perfect score on the SAT than one on the ACT?

Do they view the 2400 as much more powerful as the 36?

I was reading somewhere online that they do. If so, why?

monstor344

Much more powerful? No way. A perfect score in the ACT and a perfect score in the SAT are both remarkable. Perhaps the SAT perfect score is slightly more recognized, but anyone considering a 36 ACT to represent anything below a high 2300s on the SAT is being absurd. And considering that there is essentially no difference between a 2370 and a 2400, any sort of difference between a 36 on the ACT and a 2400 on the SAT is negligible.

mowmow721

Well, a 36 is more common than a 2400. More "valuable"? Not really, unless the University wants to brag about how many 2400s they have rejected... But that's a given, considering a 1-36 is a smaller scale than 600-2400. I think a 36 is anywhere between a 2350-2400 on the SAT.

KansasGirl

In 2008, of the approximately 1.5 million that took the the SAT ...
about 25,000 got between a 750-800 on CR
About 40,500 got between 750-800 on math
About 22,000 got between 750-800 on Writing.


a 780 in math puts you in the 99%
A 760 in CR puts you in the 99%
A 750 in CW puts in the 99%

On the ACt, in 2008, 1.4 M took the test:

428 scored a 36
2872 scored a 35
6358 scored a 34
10,583 scored a 33
15, 555 scored a 32

A 32 or better puts one in the top 99%

About 90,000 students scored a 750 or better on each SAT section.

If you scored a 32 or better, you are one of about 37,000 who scored in the 99% or better on the ACT. A 34 or better puts you in the top 10,000 students.

It's hard to compare apples to apples - because they do not report the data in the same way. SAT does not give the number of perfect 800's that I can find. Although, keep in mind more students took the SAT.

Not sure if that answers the question - but I've seen so much talk on these boards about the difference, thought this data might actually be helpful.

SAT Data Reports


ACT National and State Scores for 2008

STMoore

I'm sure there's a table that does this somewhere, but rough calc based on Kansasgirl's ACT numbers shows equivalent percentile comparisons are as follows: 36 on ACT equates to 2390 on SAT (thus an ACT score of 36 = either an SAT 2390 or 2400); 35 on ACT is about 2320 on SAT (so ACT 35 = somewhere in the range of 2320--> 2380); and 34 on ACT is about 2260 on SAT (so 2260--> 2310).

Paul Christoff

I guess the only follow up question I would have is:

On my ACT, I received a 36.

On the SAT, I did not receive a 2400. (2250 was my total composite, I sorta really screwed up the writing section.)

I know I can improve my SAT writing score (it was a really bad day, family stuff, and I did not focus during the writing section...essay received a very low score)

Which does it make the most sense to do?
1. Just send the ACT score.
2. Send both, as is.
3. Retake the SAT and then send scores.

IntangibleGator

^
Just send the ACT score IMO.

2400clubmember

Sending both honestly does not hurt.

KansasGirl

The only reason to send both is - if the school asks for ALL scores to be reported. It's not dishonest to play by the rules set by the schools. Send only the ACT score. If they were closer, I would suggest sending both - as is, only the 36.

mowmow721

Send the ACT. It's OK to look like a one-shot wonder... haha. There will be nothing further to prove to colleges just sending a 36 ACT...