SAT vs ACT

[EmperorNero]

Which is more important...and which is harder? If this helps, I'm probably going to the University of Cincinnati, majoring in engineering and/or computers (although I would love to go to MIT but I'm sure I won't get accepted).

 

[Regine]

I took the ACT only, did really good, but got hardly any scholarships or anything. I think the SAT may be more important, although it wouldn't hurt taking both.

 

[vi edit]

Really depends. Here in the Midwest, ACT is king, but that could have something to do with the fact that the ACT headquarters is about 25 minutes from my house

Anywhoo, none of the colleges here in the midwest required an SAT, just the ACT.

The ACT is a little more "forgiving" because it gives you a score on 4 differnt areas - Math, Science, Reading, and English. I believe the SAT breaks it down to just Math and Grammar.

If you are like me, and suck at grammar, then you'll probably score lower on an SAT than you would comparatively on the ACT.

Personally, I'd go for the ACT if that's all you need to get into school. Also, I've heard that the ACT is more forgiving for students who's native language isn't english.

 

[Napalm381]

SAT is more widely accepted. If you only take one, probably take the SAT, but it certainly cannot hurt to take both. Check the admissions information for the schools you are thinking about if you're not sure about which tests they accept.

 

[Imported]

Heard ACT was more east coast, while SAT was more west coast from someone. I'm taking both though, it can't hurt.

 

[Napalm381]

Illkid- ACT is more midwest, while SAT is more everything else. Some more "prestigious" schools only take the SAT results, but most places that prefer ACT also accept SAT. Again, check the specific requirements of any schools you are considering attending.

 

[EmperorNero]

I'm definitely taking both..but I don't know what to focus more on. I heard a rumor that colleges around here (ohio-kentucky-indiana region) look more closely on ACT scores...but the rumor could be totally wrong.

And I don't get why the SAT is so much more..."popular" since there are more SAT books and whenenver people talk about college admission tests, they refer to the SATs.

And can someone give me a nutshell type info on SATs II?

 

[Imported]

I think SATII's are on a more specific topic. They have them in History, Sciences, etc.

 

[shopbruin]

SAT II's are one hour tests in a specific subject area.

most schools ask, if they require it, for you to take three. most of the time you'll take writing, one of the two math tests, and a third subject of your choice. They have subjects such as physics, chem, history, another math, literature, languagues listening and writing, and so on.

sat ii's are easier since you only have an hour to do each one. you can only do up to three in one test day.

 

[Usul]

SAT II sucks.
it's about what you learned in your classes.
SAT I is about how goor you are in reasoning.
And the grammar part isn't too bad.

I'm taking both.

 

[Sephy]

illikid: Its the opposite. West coast is all ACT, and east coast is all SATs. East coast schools generally don't even ask for ACT

 

[Imported]

Most of the West Coast schools here don't even ask for the ACT. Many of the UC schools just want the SAT and SATII scores, having the ACT optional. I think it's the same for most of the CSUs, but not having the SATII required. Of course, they could have changed, but I doubt it.

 

[MrBond]

I took both, my parents paid for it, so I wasn't worried about wasting my money. The SAT seemed a little easier to me, at least the math did. The questions did start out easier, and get harder throughout the test, where the ACT is more evenly spaced. I didn't find myself rushing nearly as much towards the end of the SAT, just because I felt more comfortable taking it (the last two parts of the ACT were like "Man, I want outta here!&quot. If you've ever taken latin, the verbal part will be a little easier, or so I've heard from friends of mine who did that. I'm almost positive, with Cinci being a school similar to mine, they'll take both, but they prefer the ACT. I know the scholarship stuff at my school was all based on certain ACT scores, although they would take comparable SAT scores.

I looked at University of Cincinatti, liked the engineering program, but decided in the end, that it wouldn't be much different then going to Univ. of Toledo, where the engineering program is excellent, and its closer to home, so if money became an issue, I could commute. And the people at UT are awesome. I haven't been to a college campus where its as fun to be around everyone. Ok, thats it, enough plugging my school Wait, I just tought of one more. If you go to UT, and major in Electrical Engineering, you can take a few more classes ( I think its 3-4) and get a major in Computer Science as well. Lotsa computer geeks (like us) are doing that, I guess. Not me though, I decided I wanted to be challenged, so I took Chem Engineering, which I later find out is one of the hardest majors offered there :Q.

 

[EmperorNero]

<< If you've ever taken latin, the verbal part will be a little easier >>



*sigh* only if you knew the horrible truth. I was in my third year of latin but did so horrible I had to drop it...got an F on the exam (it was b/c I didnt' study..I invested all my time into studying for anatomy) and in the end, my grade is a d+ my lowest ever since 2nd grade.

I don't think I'm going to pick any other schools over UC (unless I get accepted into MIT) since it's much closer to home so I won't have to live in a dorm (too bad I'll miss out on all the fun...see the college pranks thread for more info ) and UC has a good co-op program.

 

[Demosthenes]

<< d+, my lowest ever since 2nd grade. >>



LOL, how'd you manage to score that low in 2nd grade??

 

[EmperorNero]

d or f in spelling

then I became 2nd place in spelling bee in 6th grade...and the rest of my grades went up too.

I got awful grades in elementary school, much better in junior high, then in my sophmore year, grades started dropping like flies. also, at the same time, I was introduced to anandtech. coincidence? I don't think so

 

[jcmorris2]

ACT was easer than the SAT to take and there appears to be no difference with which one that you take. Every school that I 've been to, or applied to (Citadel, SC. Old Dominion Uni, VA. South Carolina Uni, SC. and the local Thomas Nelson Community College) had the numbers for either one. Take them both and let the school decide which one is better