<p>Today I took the ACT for the second time, and I studied A LOT. I don’t think I did good on that ridiculous science section though. So, needless to say, I’m now an SAT kid. Since I’m new to the SAT, I was wondering what MIT’s requirements for it is? It says on their site that I need to take the writing component as well. Is this already in the test?</p>
<p>Thanks :-)</p>
<p>P.S. - Any other general info about scoring well on this test is helpful too! Just so you know where I am with respect to the ACT:</p>
<p>English: AMAZING
Math: strong - AMAZING
Reading: all right - strong
Science: <em>&($!#($!)@</em>(&($#!@</p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>The SAT has a required essay section.</p>
<p>Here is a decent comparison:
[FastWeb:</a> Resources: Compare the SAT and ACT](<a href=“http://www.fastweb.com/fastweb/resources/articles/index/110320]FastWeb:”>http://www.fastweb.com/fastweb/resources/articles/index/110320)</p>
<p>I got my lowest ACT score in science, too, which irritated me a lot. I know I’m preaching to the choir, but I don’t think it says anything about an applicant’s actual scientific ability.</p>
<p>Actually, now that I think about it, I got a higher science section score on the ACT when I took it through CTD in 8th grade than when I took it for real in 11th grade, which is sort of absurd.</p>
<p>^ Mollie is always wise. The same is certainly for SAT’s – I fear the SAT I math 1000x more than the hardest graduate math courses offered at Berkeley. Was my lowest out of critical reading, writing and math. Don’t worry, it doesn’t mean anything, but try to keep the scores OK for the sake of colleges 
but don’t sweat it too much, as I think they generally know how much it’s worth.</p>
<p>Son just took the ACT today. He thought it was the easiest test he had ever taken in his life (we’ll see what he scores eventually) and he has taken the SATs twice. </p>
<p>That said, I think he felt he will NOT have aced the science section - though it is a strength of his. So sounds like maybe science <em>is</em> the most difficult portion of the ACT.</p>
<p>He is convinced he only missed 2 math questions, one because during the only problem for which he needed a calculator, his calculator crapped out (not enough light - solar powered) and he spent too long on it which made him have to finish with one question (plus the one he spent too long on) unanswered. He feels he will have gotten all the others correct (he had an 800 in the Math SAT and knew he had aced that as well)</p>
<p>Although his strong suits are math and science, he thinks he will get a very high score on the English and Reading sections as well, but weird, since his WEAK suit is in writing</p>
<p>I took the ACT only, for fear of getting a lower score on my SAT. The ACT tends to be more popular around the midwest (which is where I am) and people on either coasts tend to gravitate more heavily toward the SAT. I took a practice (administered in testroom setting and all) SAT and only got a 2190, which isn’t a bad grade I suppose, but not one that I think was as shiny as my ACT grade. I also got a 36 in science on my first ACT without studying. (;</p>
<p>That being said, the ACT science section is a load of schnitzel. It’s basically a measure of how fast you can read graphs in formats that you’re likely to never see again. If you do decide to take the ACT again (hey, no harm in trying, right? at most you lose 30 bucks and a few hours of sleep on a Saturday morning), I’d recommend going through the section first and picking out the easier sets (i.e. graphs or single graphs) and completing those first rather than go through the ones with two differing opinions. Read nothing, skim everything, don’t spend any time actually thinking about the questions. I’m usually one of those test takers who finish hour long tests with half an hour to spare, and I barely finished the science section every time I took it.</p>
<p>Also, to answer your question, writing should be built into the SAT. In the case that you choose to retake the ACT and forgo the SAT, you should also choose the ACT with Writing exam.</p>
<p>I stick with that the ACT Science section is more a test of reading then science. It’s about finding the right information and not getting distracted by any actual interest in science.</p>