Most of the CDS list SAT/ACT data (like below, this example from Michigan latest cds)
Does listing only ACT Math and English imply these are considered equivalent to SAT Math and EBRW? Does this also mean ACT Science and Reading scores are ignored and not important?
I’m not sure I understand the purpose of the question. Both tests are considered equal by all colleges. Sub scores are more important at some colleges than others. Sub scores may also be viewed more closely, depending on the major.
Generally, most colleges are overall interested in the composite score of either test. If you submit a 1200 SAT, no school will look on that more favorably than a 34 ACT. If the student got 800 on the math sub score, and 400 on the verbal sub score, I don’t think many selective colleges would be willing to overlook the 400 and admit based on the 800.
As far as the way the data is actually listed on CDS, it’s probably just an issue of space and manpower. I mean, someone in an office is compiling the data, and it’s not an admissions officer. Out of interest, I just checked the listings on CDS for Williams, Binghamton, and U of Utah. Only U of Utah broke down the scores for each of the four sub scores.
ACT Reading and Science are important. They are probably just combined with English and Math at some colleges to save room on the CDs. Or maybe they just put English and Math as being most equivalent in appearance on the CDS to SAT verbal and math. I guarantee you that the admissions officers see the score though. in short, I think what you are asking about is most likely just an issue of data input on a form.
People may be interested to know that typically, Reading is the lowest sub score. It’s certainly the section that my students struggle with the most, because it is very short on time. Maybe some colleges don’t want to include it in their CDS. At U of Utah, for example, the average ACT sub scores read thus:
The SAT includes Science in the verbal sections of the test. So there is no practical way to break it down for the CDS, but the score report from College Board does that.
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This is really interesting and surprising (to me) insight. My kid is taking the ACT this weekend, and despite being a math kid, he has found Reading to be the easiest section of the four in his prep. And he likes the fewer, longer ACT passages much more than the SAT’s more numerous, shorter passages, which I think he finds fatiguing.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your expertise!
I’m guessing your child is a fast reader. I also prefer the longer passages, but luckily for me, I don’t need to take any tests, haha.
Kids also fare poorly on English, but not because they run out of time. If a student is not a fast reader, it is VERY tough to get through all the reading. So many kids run out of time and just start bubbling in at the end of Reading.
That’s not the case for the last five years, where Reading has been the highest average subscore each of those years:
Source: p8 of the 2023 ACT National Graduating Class Profile Report
Weirdly, he’s not! I am a fast reader, as is my older kid, but my spouse and my younger kid are much more deliberate. I think that’s why I was so surprised by the fact that he got a 35 on the first practice reading test he took without any prep. He said the passages were interesting, particularly compared with the SAT passages, which include poems and things that he does not enjoy.
He scored much lower on his first English ACT practice test, in large part because he really hasn’t gotten a ton of formal grammar and punctuation instruction. The test prep tutor he’s working with has given him a very practical crash course, and his scores have shot up.
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Interesting! So my last two crops of students are definitely “pandemic kids” and I have noticed a significant drop in reading speed. Speed being the key word here. Maybe because my area had quite long covid restrictions in school? Who knows. I was pretty surprised by the U of U data from 23-24. Maybe it’s inaccurate?
It’s also worth noting that some states still require in school ACT testing. Is it possible that the data you provide is influenced by states that had more in person class time during that time, combined with large numbers of students taking those tests in those states?
Not sure, but definitely could reflect pandemic impacts in total and by subsection…most are on a downward trend.
Here are the data from the 2020 ACT report and 2015 reports, where Reading had consistently been the highest average subscore.
Definitely think that’s a mistake.
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The new SAT only has short paragraphs and got rid of poems and such.
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This is an interesting question. I looked up Ohio’s numbers because they require the ACT for graduation and went back to in person instruction quicker than other states. Ohio dropped .6 points in composite score between pre and post pandemic.
There was a big drop when the state moved to requiring the ACT for graduation (nearly 3 points) but that makes sense since even non college bound students were forced to sit for the exam to graduate.
Interesting. My kid has taken only new SAT practice tests (and one official sitting), and he definitely referenced poems….
Maybe poems are still there. I had read that they had gotten rid of the less straight forward passages (like old texts) and probably assumed poems too. No long passages though. Very straight forward for a slower reader.
(IMO they are no longer bothering with reading comprehension.)
You’d think! I guess my kid is a special snowflake. 
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The test does have poetry. In fact, there are several questions asking which answer best completes the remainder of the poem.
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The University of Georgia states that while they report all ACT scores, they only look at English and Math for admissions purposes. When I look at CDS and see schools only listing English and Math, I assume it’s the same thing but I have no real knowledge.
Hi Linda,
I think they swapped the Reading and Writing scores in the breakdown. Thus, at U-Utah the ACT Reading score would be 22 - 32 for the middle 50%.
That makes much more sense.
Still, interesting data overall because I am guessing the only students doing writing these days do it on school day tests. That makes me think that much of the data is gathered from students doing school day testing. Only 3 colleges require the ACT with writing. No one in my area takes it anymore. It’s been years now since I tutored anyone on that section.
Agreed. D25 did the writing portion when she took the ACT (she was the only one in the room at that point), but it was not a school day test. She mistakenly signed up for that as she did not realize that none of the schools she was interested in really even accept it.
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