Switch from SAT to ACT

Test Preparation
1

D in Senior year interested in CS and is an International student has given SAT thrice as below -
Dec 17 - 800M 320R 360W - 1480 20E (shows 99th Percentile on the report)
Mar 18 - 730M 360R 320W - 1410 19E
May 18 - 770M 330R 340W - 1440 16E

In an extremely sticky situation as score hasn’t improved, no Super Score as well. And interested in UC where there is no Score Choice.
Even if the new SAT ACT Concordant tables come out and do adjust a point a 1480 would be considered as a 34.

Should she try the ACT in September and hope for a 35.
If she does go down that route how much additional prep she would require to switch to the ACT.

2

You could try ACT. ImE, the kids who see the biggest score change by going from sat to act are the ones who are weak in math, though. Try a practice test for ACT first.

Is English a first language?

3

Thanks @gardenstategal
English very much is first language. She writes very well. Unfortunately not a reader…

4

The problem is that they will look at subscores. My advice, fwiw, would be to get a tutor. There may be a consistent error that can be addressed relatively simply. I also am not sure you are reading the percentiles right. On the 1600 scale (which is the one referred to by most schools ), she has an 1120, which is definitely not 99th percentile.

5

The first score looks fine. I assume that you’re breaking out the CRW scores (usually they’re bundled together so the Dec. 17 score would be 800 math, 680 CRW). Since Spring 2016, SAT is based on 1600 total points, not 2400. The December 17 score is excellent, including the essay.

For what it’s worth, my D was scoring in the low 1400s in the SAT and got a 35 on the ACT. Have her take a practice test under timed conditions and see if it shows promise. The science section usually presents the most challenge - and it’s not specific science content but reading comprehension of scientific texts like technical reports, tables, and graphs.

6

My D had a 800 V 740 M and decided to try the ACT. She prepared rigorously for 5 weeks before the September test and made a 36 so I guess it’s worth a shot to try it once. It seems though that fast reading comprehension is the key to getting a high score on the ACT.

7

@gardenstategal Sorry for giving the break up of RW scores. The scores are on 1600. She has done prep and improved her SAT score during that. Just not shown improvement during repeated tries. Tho she did additional prep during various tries. Also touched 1520 on her practise tests more than once.

8

@mamaedefamilia 35 is excellent. If you don’t mind sharing how many times did she give the SAT. What was the break up of 1400.
How much additional prep did she need to switch from SAT to ACT.

9

@bobby72. She took four official SAT practice tests and took the test once. All five fell in a very narrow range (less than 100 points) and she was evenly divided across Math and CR. She prepped using Khan Academy and the black book.

For ACT, she did the same, four timed official tests at home and the ACT on line prep (available for a modest fee). All tests ranged between 33-35 composite, fairly evenly divided across categories but slightly lower in science/math. She did this over the summer, so maybe a two-month period?

10

Thanks a lot for the info @mamaedefamilia

11

My daughter took PSAT twice (10&11grades). Her highest of the two was 1420, although that was without much prep. Her ACT was 35, also with minimal prep. The two tests are quite different, so maybe ACT is better for your daughter.