Honestly, though, is the ACT weighed the same as the SAT?

Unoriginal · 07-04-2009, 12:00 AM

I took the SAT once in my sophomore year (stupid, I know, I know.) and received an 1100/1600. I took it once this year (Junior year) and received a 1210/1600. If I take it again and only go up a few points, I'd feel very displeased, and that would be the third time I'd be taking it. I like my ACT score right now; it's a 29. Would my 29 really be viewed as equal in weight to what is considered an equivalent SAT score? Would being from NY, a predominantly SAT-based area, look bad if I only submitted my ACT score? I'm getting worried, especially when I see on Collegeboard that some school don't report ACT scores to CB (Villanova, etc). Any insight?

Ray192 · 07-04-2009, 12:56 AM

If you're that worried, then don't send your ACT score. It's that simple.

"Wait, but my SAT score is way worse!" Well, then send your ACT score.

"But, the colleges will look down on me for sending my ACT!" Well, then improve your SAT score.

"But I can't!" Then send your ACT score.

Since getting an answer to this question probably won't change your decision, does it really matter?

Seriously, can we tack on a permanent ACT vs SAT topic on that? This question gets asked literally every 2 hours.

mchammer1100 · 07-04-2009, 01:01 AM

Yes. They are viewed equally.

kiterunner18 · 07-04-2009, 01:02 AM

Honestly, though, is this the 9 millionth thread about SAT vs. ACT?

Sorry, had to say it. :P

I've read that some schools question an applicant if he/she took the test that wasn't "typical" for the region. So, a school MIGHT find it weird that a student from NY took the ACT - a test that most students on the East Coast don't take. Though, schools like HYPS state on their websites that they have no preference for either. Since there is no way to prove the first theory I heard of, I would just go with whatever test better shows your ability (in this case, the ACT). I don't think it's a huge deal.

"I'm getting worried, especially when I see on CB that some school don't report ACT to CB (Villanova, etc.)"

I'm not sure what you mean. Can you explain further, please?

dreamsofivy · 07-04-2009, 02:12 AM

Okay, HONESTY TIME:

I do believe the SAT is viewed more highly than the ACTs. I know a few 2250-2300 kids that got into Ivies every which way and they had similar stats to some kids who had 34-35s and they got rejected by all ivies. Here's my opinion:

36 is very good.
35 does not equal 2300, more like 2200

kiterunner18 · 07-04-2009, 02:22 AM

^ BS. Do you have any stats to prove this? I think not. . .

Charlie Brown · 07-04-2009, 10:20 AM

dreamsofivy, a 35 is certainly better than a 2200. That's just ridiculous to say.

Rtgrove123 · 07-04-2009, 10:33 AM

Look, I think that the SAT is harder/superior to the ACT. Additionally, it is clear that most colleges see that because they superscore the SAT and not the SAT. Yes, a your superscored SAT score is probably viewed equally to your ACT. However, an SAT score that is taken in one sitting probably viewed more highly than its corresponding ACT score. I have not stats to prove it, but I mean it just makes sense. For example, I got a 2340 on my only SAT and I think that will look better than a superscored 2360 or a 35 on the ACT....but thats just my opinion.

yellowismellow · 07-04-2009, 10:39 AM

no. but there have been exceptions.

kiterunner18 · 07-04-2009, 12:14 PM

Why the hell would they say they don't prefer one over the other, rtgrove123? Unless you have evidence to prove otherwise, your argument fails... miserably.

BTW- Some colleges superscore the ACT, too. . .

Rtgrove123 · 07-04-2009, 01:15 PM

Lol kiterunner your ignorance is slightly amusing. Why the hell would almost all decent private schools ONLY superscore the SAT while the ACT is almost never treated that way. Lol the only two moderately ok schools that superscore the ACT are Rice and Washu...where are the ivys that do that?

Additionally, it really isnt a secret that a single sitting SAT score is looked upon more highly by most college admission boards than a superscored SAT. Do you dispute this?

Lastly, I am by no means biased. I am from the midwest (NE) where the ACT is prefered and have received a 35 and a 2340 on the ACT and SAT respectively in single sittings.

Ray192 · 07-04-2009, 01:33 PM

For one thing, to superscore the ACT you have to ask the applicant to send every single ACT score, and each score is sent individually, with a $9 charge.

Say you take the ACT 3 times. If every college asked for all ACT scores, that amounts to $27. Then consider you send scores to about 8 schools. $216. As opposed to $76 compared to the SAT.

It's practical to superscore SAT because all the scores are sent in one report. It's not practical to superscore ACT because you have to sort multiple score reports, and you have to tell people to spend more money on just sending scores. It's stupid.

kiterunner18 · 07-04-2009, 01:50 PM

I wasn't saying that one sitting of an SAT looks worse than a superscored SAT, rtgrove. I was simply saying that your argument is flawed. You can't say that the SAT is viewed as superior because the top colleges superscore it. Unless you've spoken with someone at admissions who says that the SAT is viewed as superior, you cannot make the argument that it is. End of story.

BTW- I'm someone from the Midwest (MO), and I scored exceptionally well on both the SAT and ACT.

Unoriginal · 07-04-2009, 02:16 PM

Quite a debate going on. I'm not looking for Ivies or anything, so I don't think their policies will impact me too much.

I'm going to retake both the ACT and SAT. I'm hoping that from when I took the SAT back in March, I picked up a few more math concepts and can analyze passages better.

Still, though, I'm curious to see what others say.

redsox2002 · 07-04-2009, 02:26 PM

Some people have said that east and west coast colleges do look a little higher on the SAT compared to the ACT. While in the midwest and south, colleges have a little bit of a preference to the ACT. Maybe that's because high schools in the east and west practice the PSAT while southern and midwestern high schools practice the EXPLORE and PLAN tests.

I don't know the truth, but Unoriginal, whatever test you take, submit the score that is higher. If you score higher on the SAT, submit that or vice versa for the ACT. Any decent school will not look just at standardized tests, they want to see the entire package. So, in my opinion, they are weighed about the same. If you submit a 2400 SAT to Harvard, that certainly does not guarantee you admissions. Someone with a 33 on the ACT might get accepted instead of that 2400 because they had better ECs, leadership positions, etc.