SAT vs' ACT

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SAT vs. ACT

• Helpful hints pointers! (because your counselor
  is SO NICE)
• October 20, 2009

2
Perspective!

• SAT 50 of high school students take the SAT at
  least twice.

• ACT Getting 50 of the questions correct results
  in an above-average score for juniors.

3
From the College Counselors

• Loyola Academy recommends that students take
  their primary tests (SAT Reasoning Test and ACT
  with Writing) at least once in the second
  semester of their junior year and again in the
  fall of senior year, if necessary. For most
  students, taking standardized tests before the
  spring of junior year is not advised. A student
  will be prepared to take the math portion of the
  ACT once they have completed or are at the end of
  their coursework in Algebra II.
• We recommend students take both the SAT Reasoning
  Test and the ACT with Writing. You may find that
  you score better on one test than the other.
  While the PLAN and PSAT can offer some insight
  into future performance on the ACT and SAT, it
  makes sense for most students to take the ACT and
  SAT at least once each for comparative purposes.

• Some highly selective colleges require applicants
  to take two to three SAT Subject Tests. Students
  need to check with each college for specific
  requirements.
• You own your test scores. Loyola Academy does not
  report scores on transcripts, in counselor
  letters or in any other format. Students, with
  guidance from their counselors, will determine
  which set of scores to send to colleges.

4
Remember

• There are lots of schools that dont require
  standardized tests!
• www.fairtest.org

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The SAT
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SAT Writing

• Number of minutes (total) 60
• Number of sections 3
• Two 25 minute sections, one 10 minute section
• Types of questions
• 18 of identifying sentence errors
• 25 of improving sentences
• 6 of improving paragraphs

7
SAT Mathematics

• Number of minutes (total) 70
• Number of sections 3
• Two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section
• Types of questions
• 44 of multiple choice
• 10 of student-produced responses

8
SAT Critical Reading

• Number of minutes (total) 70
• Number of sections 3
• Two 25 minute sections, one 20 minute section
• Types of questions
• 19 of sentence completions
• 48 of passage-based reading

9
SAT Essay

• Number of minutes 25
• Essay is always FIRST
• REQUIRED

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SAT Subject Tests

• Shorter test about your knowledge of a particular
  subject (literature, languages, history, math,
  science)
• Required by some colleges
• Best to take the test just after youve finished
  the course
• 29-40 for registration
• Not offered on all the same dates as SAT (check
  collegeboard.com)

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The ACT
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ACT English

• Number of minutes 45
• Types of questions
• 40 of usage and mechanics
• 35 of rhetorical skills

13
ACT Mathematics

• Number of minutes 60
• Types of questions
• 60 of multiple choice

14
ACT Reading

• Number of minutes 35
• Types of questions
• 40 of multiple choice
• Reading passages topics Fiction, Social
  Sciences, Humanities, Natural Science (in this
  order)

15
ACT Science

• Number of minutes 35
• Types of questions
• 40 of multiple choice
• Strategies
• Based on graphs, tables, and descriptions of
  experiments
• Rely on what the passage is giving you, even if
  you know that there is more current research

16
ACT Writing

• Number of minutes 30
• Essay is always LAST
• OPTIONAL, must register for it

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Comparison SAT vs. ACT
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Order of Sections

• SAT Order of sections is always different, but
  the essay is always FIRST.

• ACT Order of sections is always the same
  English, Mathematics, Reading, Science. The
  essay section (called Writing) is always last
  if the student chooses to sign up for it.

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The Essay

• SAT
• Section called Essay
• REQUIRED

• ACT
• Section called Writing
• OPTIONAL
• Costs extra, must choose to take it during
  registration process

20
Experimental Sections

• SAT
• One section of the SAT is experimental (used to
  develop new SAT questions)
• Not part of the final score.
• Student will never know which section was
  experimental.

• ACT No experimental sections.

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Mathematical Formulas

• SAT Mathematical formulas that appear on the
  practice test will appear in each section of
  mathematics.

• ACT Mathematical formulas are not provided, but
  programming them into your calculator is allowed.

22
Guessing

• SAT
• ¼ of point is subtracted for incorrect answers, 1
  point is added for correct answers, 0 points are
  added or subtracted for blanks
• Only make educated guesses

• ACT
• Points are not deducted for guessing
• DO NOT leave any questions blank fill in a
  bubble even if you never read the question

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Testing Time

• SAT
• Total testing time 3 hours, 45 minutes
• Bring food!
• Extended time different for each student

• ACT
• Total time (including directions) 4 hours, 15
  minutes
• Bring food!
• Extended time different for each student, up to
  5 hours or 5 hours and 45 minutes with Writing

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Easy to Difficult?

• SAT
• Questions are arranged from easy to difficult in
  a section
• EXCEPT Critical Reading section and Improving
  Paragraphs questions that are part of the Writing
  section

• ACT Questions are not arranged from easy to
  difficult

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Mathematics Section

• SAT
• 20-25 Number and Operations
• 35-40 Algebra and Functions
• 25-30 Geometry and Measurement
• 10-15 Data Analysis, Statistics, Probability

• ACT
• 75 Algebra I and Geometry
• 25 Algebra II and Trigonometry

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Sending Scores to Colleges

• SAT
• Student CAN now choose which scores to send to a
  college
• Some colleges still want to see ALL scores

• ACT
• Student can choose which score to send to a
  college
• Student must pick entire test (cannot send
  Writing section of one test and Science section
  of another test)

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Cost

• SAT
• Registration 45
• Change fee 22
• Late fee 23
• 4 score reports are included in registration,
  9.50 for each additional report

• ACT
• Registration 32
• Registration with writing 47
• Change fee 20
• Late fee 19
• Standby fee 41
• 4 score reports included in registration, 9 for
  each additional report

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Websites

• SAT
• www.collegeboard.com

• ACT
• www.act.org

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Extended Time Fee Waivers

• Extended Time
• See Ms. Keller for a hand out on how to apply for
  extended time on the ACT.
• Need to register on paper
• Ms. Hayman (jhayman_at_loy.org)

• Fee Waivers
• Some students are eligible to take the ACT/SAT
  without paying the registration cost. Ms. Keller
  will contact you if this is you.
• Fee waivers dont cover late testing or standby
  testing fees.

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Testing Dates Registration

• SAT
• Registration online (see website for registration
  deadlines)
• Dates
• November 7
• December 5 (sign up by 10/31)
• January 23 (12/15)
• March 13 (2/4)
• May 1 (3/25)
• June 5 (4/29)

• ACT
• Registration online (see website for registration
  deadlines)
• Dates
• December 12
• February 6
• April 10
• June 12

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LA College Counseling Website

• http//www.goramblers.org/Guidance/collegecounseli
  ng.asp