What is the difference between the ACT and SAT?
Which test is better suited for you?  The ACT and SAT are both College Entrance Exams that are offered.  Find out which test may be the better for fit!

In general the ACT is a content-based test, whereas the SAT is more of a critical thinking skills and problem solving test.
• The ACT includes a science test; the SAT does not.
• The ACT math section includes trigonometry.
• The SAT tests vocabulary much more than the ACT.
• The SAT is not entirely a multiple-choice test. There are student produced math questions.
• The SAT has a guessing penalty, you lose ¼ point for incorrect responses; the ACT does not.
• The SAT requires the essay at every testing, while the essay is optional for the ACT. We recommend that at least one ACT be taken with optional writing test.

What is a “good score” on the ACT or SAT?
The ACT has a scale of 1-36; the national average for the Class of 2008 was 21.1. The SAT has 3 subscores on a 200-800 scale.  The national average SAT score for the Critical Reading test was 502, the Math national average was 515, and the Writing Skills national average was 494. Different colleges have different standards: what is acceptable for one may not be acceptable for another. College literature, guidebooks, and college web sites give average ACT and SAT scores for colleges. Some colleges still use the critical reading and the math scores, and more colleges each year are using all three scores.

Why do colleges require an entrance exam, and how do they use its results?
Standardized test scores provide an “equalizer” for colleges as they make decisions. High schools offer differing levels of academic preparation. A “B” in one course at one high school might be much harder to earn than an “A” in a neighboring high school. In addition to determining admissibility, colleges use ACT and SAT for placement, to award course credit, for academic advising, in talent search programs, and for awarding scholarships.

Do colleges prefer the SAT over the ACT scores?
No, both tests are accepted by all colleges and universities throughout the United States.

How do colleges receive a student’s test scores?
• ACT and SAT scores can be sent to four colleges when registering for the tests.
• Additional score reports to colleges can be sent by submitting a request online or by phone for an extra charge.

Should Students Take Multiple ACT and SAT tests?
Students and parents question the advisability of taking the ACT and SAT a second or third time. It is the impression of students that a second test will result in a higher score. The result of our surveys of recent classes agrees with the research conducted by the ACT and SAT testing companies. Re-testing results in higher scores about 50% of the time. If you decide to take a test multiple times, it is beneficial to do some practice on your own before the exam. Colleges utilize the best score that they receive from a student regardless of the number of tests taken. For the SAT, colleges will usually take the highest score from each of the sections: CR-M-W. For the ACT, colleges use the composite score only.

SAT Subject Tests
Subject Tests are a product of the College Board (the same company that produces the SAT tests). They are required or recommended by many selective colleges. Consult college bulletins or their websites if you are unsure if a certain school requires the tests. These tests are very specific to subject content taken by students in school courses. Since the SAT and the Subject Test are administered on the same day, students need to plan their testing schedule carefully. The SAT and Subject Tests cannot be taken on the same day.