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OK, I'm having a hard time trying to decide which exam I should retake in the fall, or if I should retake both the SAT and ACT, and I'd appreciate some advice. I got a 1360 on my first try SAT (630M, 730V), and a 31 composite on my first try ACT. From what I understand, these scores are about equal. I know I could definitely improve on both tests (I did absolutely no studying for the ACT, and I am positive I can get a higher math score on the SAT) Which should I retake, since colleges only accept one? (btw, my sat2 scores are 730, 700, & 680, i think the act replaces those too)

By Smiley13 (Smiley13) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 10:14 am: Edit

bump

By Crnchycereal (Crnchycereal) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 11:34 am: Edit

The ACT does not replace your SAT II scores. Regardless of whether you take the SAT I or the ACT, three SAT II scores are mandatory.

By Mike (Mike) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:44 pm: Edit

Some schools do accept the the ACT as a sub for the SAT IIs. Check college admission requirements before deciding


Mike's Dad

By Drusba (Drusba) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 01:06 pm: Edit

Schools will take both the ACT and SAT; they will then rely on the one they believe is higher (and many if you look at the school's admission stats consider that 31 ACT to be significantly higher than your 1360 SAT). Thus, if you want to retake, consider both. But first you need to ask which schools you intend to apply to because those scores are already good enough for almost all colleges in the US. If you are looking at the elite ivies (like HYP), Stanford, or some others you may want to try for a little higher (although a 31 ACT puts you well within the range even for those).

Also, the ACT can be used in lieu of both the SAT and SAT II's at some schools that usually require SAT II's including Yale, Duke, Brown, Penn, and Johns Hopkins.

By Emma (Emma) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 01:58 pm: Edit

I'm only doing the ACT which is okay for all my choices, but then again a few of them do say that you need SAT IIs for US people but not for internationals, but can't remember which now...

takes a sec to check on their websites!

By Smiley13 (Smiley13) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 08:43 pm: Edit

ok thanks for the advice!

By Chaoticsheath (Chaoticsheath) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 07:36 pm: Edit

At yale, the average schoor of accepted freshmen on SAT is 1400 to 1500 approx. and the ACT average is 28-34. It is SIGNIFICANTLY easier to score within the ACT range than it is to do so in the SAT range. In addition, Yale and most other Ivy league school require you to take your ACT OR your SAT 1 and 2s. The is no need to take Sat2s if u have submitted you ACT scores. Check the school sites but i assure you im correct

By Collegechik17 (Collegechik17) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 07:47 pm: Edit

Hello. I was wondering what the difference is between the SAT and the ACT? No one has ever really explained it to me before...

By Smiley13 (Smiley13) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 11:55 am: Edit

Most of the schools I'm going to apply to accept the ACTs in lieu of either SAT 1s and SAt 2s (Yale is one example), or only SAT 1s (like Cornell). I was wondering, though, do the ivies and other elite schools favor one test over the other? It seems like the majority of applicants submit SATs, so would submitting ACTs put me at a disadvantage?

Collegechik17: The SATs test math and verbal, and the score you recieve on each section is out of 800. On the ACTs, there are English, math, reading, and science reasoning sections, all of which are out of 36 points. Your composite score is also out of 36 points. Another major difference between the tests is that there is no guess penalty on the ACTs.

By Cooljay687 (Cooljay687) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 07:35 pm: Edit

anyone can answer smiley13's question? i have the same dilemma. would submitting the ACTs only put me at a disadvantage when the majority of student take the SATs? Do colleges look at the ACT as an easier test than the sat?