SAT/ACT Why So Confusing?

How We Got Here…

Carl Brigham

The SAT

1926 First Administered to College Applicants1938 All members of the College Board were persuaded to use the SAT in Admissions1952 The test started to look like it does now.1957 Over a half million students took the SAT1959 A competing college admissions testing organization is formed-

American College Testing1960 The California Board of Regents begins requiring the SAT for

member schools thus becoming their biggest customer.

How we got here… the SAT

1960 The California Board of Regents begins requiring the SAT for member schools thus becoming their biggest customer.

1994 The math “grid” and calculators were allowed

1990 Name Change to Scholastic Assessment Test

1993 SAT 1 and it does not stand for anything

1995 428 V and 478 math was reentered to 500

2004 Name Change to SAT Reasoning Test

2005 Based on University of California systems threats to stop using the test the SAT is overhauled- Analogies and quantitative comparison sections are deleted, a writing test is added and the difficulty of the test is increased slightly to decrease the incidents of perfect scores.

How we got here….. The ACT

It would test broad competencies, rather than rote memorization.

It would encourage students both to acquire knowledge and to learn how to use it in productive ways.

Results from the new test would ultimately serve many purposes—providing information for◦ educational planning, ◦ course planning◦ placement◦ career counseling◦ Instructional planning

E. F. Lindquist

How we got here ACT First administered in 1959

1989 ACT better integrated the career development aspects of the assessment changing the name to the Enhanced ACT

The ACT re-centered scores in the mid-90s in response to SAT

2005 Optional Writing Assessment is added.

SAT/ACT ComparisonSAT Total Score ACT Composite Score SAT Total Score ACT Composite Score

2400 36 1620–1670 23

2340–2390 35 1560–1610 22

2280–2330 34 1500–1550 21

2220–2270 33 1440–1490 20

2160–2210 32 1380–1430 19

2100–2150 31 1320–1370 18

2040–2090 30 1260–1310 17

1980–2030 29 1200–1250 16

1920–1970 28 1140–1190 15

1860–1910 27 1080–1130 14

1800–1850 26 1020–1070 13

1740–1790 25 960–1010 12

1680–1730 24 900–950 11

Which is Harder SAT/ACT?

SAT/ACT ComparisonSAT

assesses how well the test takers analyze and solve problems—skills they learned in school that they will need in college

ACT

incorporates the objectives for instruction for middle and high schools throughout the United States, reviews approved textbooks for subjects taught in Grades 7–12, and surveys educators on which knowledge skills are relevant to success in postsecondary education

SAT/ACT Timing

SAT

structured such that the test taker is allowed at least one minute per question, on generally shorter sections (25 or fewer questions).

3 hours, 45 minutes total

ACT

45 minutes for a 75-question English section

60 minutes for a 60-question Math section

35 minutes for a 40-question Reading Comprehension section

35 minutes for a 40-question Science section

3 hours, 25 minutes total

SAT/ACT Format 10 Sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing (including Essay), 1 Experimental (not scored)

4 Sections (plus optional Writing Test): English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing

SAT/ACT Reading Reading passages with questions pertaining to comprehension and sentence completion

Passages are included from the arts, science, and social science

4 passages, 10 questions per passage

Reading Comprehension and Reading Social Studies scores are reported.

SAT/ACT Science There is no science section however, students should plan to analyze a reading passage from the sciences and answer questions that test comprehension and science vocabulary on the Critical Reading sections.

Science Test that measures analysis, knowledge, problem solving

SAT/ACT Math Arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and algebra II

Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry (about 7%)

SAT/ACT Writing SAT – Required writing sample ACT Writing includes a multiple

choice English section which includes grammar. The essay is optional

SAT/ACT Score Composition

SAT

1/3 Math

1/3 Reading

1/3 Writing

Aggregate score 600 - 2400 based on total of 3 scores 200- 800 (Reading, Math, Writing)

Score of 0-12 for Essay

ACT

¼ English

¼ Math

¼ Reading

¼ Science

Composite score 1-36 based on average of 4 sections (English Math, Reading Science)

Score 0-12 for Optional Essay.

SAT/ACT Strategy Correction for Guessing

Many questions are designed to slow the test taker down. Students may want to skip time consuming questions for later

No Correction for Guessing

The ACT is much more “speeded” . Students do not get anything like 1 min. per question

SAT/ACT Possibly Irrational Generalizations

You might do better on the SAT if you……….

Enjoy brain teasers and riddles

Don’t have to study to pass tests

Are street smart

Are good at reading ‘between the lines”

Have a good eye for detail

Do better on ability tests than achievement tests

You might do better on the ACT if you ……….

Have a good long term memory for facts.

Work hard in school to earn good grades

Are “book smart”

Are better at reading for large concepts and themes

Do better on achievement tests

Resources http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice

SHS SAT Prep Course

GACOLLEGE411.org

Commercially available resources

PSAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How to prepare for the ACT

GACollege411.org

Commercially available resources

www.ACT.org

The Redesigned SAT

Jerry W. Cox, Ed.S. Licensed Professional Counselor

Cherokee Center for Change

(678) 619-5147

Cherokee County School District

(770) 479-1871