SAT ACT
Quick Intro to the Assessments
Aptitude
Achievement
SAT Origins (IQ tests) Carl Brigham 1920s worked on Army Alpha Tests 1923 wrote A Study of American Intelligence 1926 converted Army Alpha into Standard Aptitude Test, under the auspices of the College Board, administered test to 8,040 high school students 1934 Harvard uses SAT to select scholarship recipients
Henry Chauncey 1930 Assistant Dean at Harvard 1934 uses SAT to select scholarship recipients 1943 contracts to administer SAT (Army-Navy Qualification Test) to 316,000 high school seniors 1945 Becomes first President of Education Testing Service, ETS 1970 Retires, SAT given to 1.4 million students annually
SAT had its foundations in : abstract intelligence and aptitude testing
ACT Origins (Iowa tests) Everett Franklin Lindquist (1901– 1978) Psychology professor, educational researcher at the University of Iowa 1929 Created tests which became the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills 1959 Created the ACT (American College Testing) in Iowa City, Iowa
ACT had its foundations in: Iowa standardized public school achievement testing
SAT/ACT Geographic Origins
Berkeley, CA. First ETS branch 1948
The SAT was first on the scene
Princeton, NJ. ETS H.Q. 1947
And took over the coasts
1948 Berkeley, CA. First ETS branch
1947 Princeton, NJ. ETS H.Q.
The ACT took the heartland
1948 Berkeley, CA. First ETS branch
1959 Iowa City, IA ACT HQ
1947 Princeton, NJ. ETS H.Q.
Today the SAT and ACT are universally accepted
Any college will take either the SAT or ACT without prejudice
A Quick anatomy of 2 tests
SAT
• Abstract • Foreign • Easier to coach • Learn the language of, solve the mysteries of the test
ACT
• Concrete • Familiar • Comparatively less coachable • Practice, get more familiar with the test
SAT vs ACT basics SAT
ACT
Duration
3:45
2:55
Structure
10 sections
4 sections
Content
Critical Reading Math Writing (grammar + essay)
Reading Math English (grammar) Science Reasoning
The SAT looks more like the ACT than ever before with the 2005 changes
Deeper comparison SAT
ACT
Vocabulary
Greater Emphasis
Abstraction
Greater Emphasis
Math Content Covered
Geometry Algebra I Algebra II (advanced functions & graphs)
Geometry Algebra I Trigonometry
Math Style
More tricks- unique language
Simple, straight forward, more academic
SAT SAT
ACT ACT
Reading Comprehension
Abstract Analogous thinking Interpretation Vocabulary questions How might the author respond?
Straightforward More content based What did I read? What happened to the character?
Grammar
Will count for most students. The essay is lumped in with the grammar for your writing score
Grammar counts for all students. The essay is optional
Science
No
Graph and Table analysis
Speed Mental Endurance
Greater Emphasis Greater Emphasis
Which test should I try first • Both, ideally, to establish dual baselines • If PSAT is strong- stick with the SAT • If PSAT is weak- take an ACT (mock) to compare baselines • If baselines are similar- go with the SATthe more coachable test • If SAT prep is not yielding results- switch to the ACT (good to find this out early) • If you switch, 80% of content transfers
1600 scale
ACT
SAT
ACT
SAT
36
1600
27
1220
35
1580
26
1180
34
1520
25
1140
33
1470
24
1110
32
1420
23
1070
31
1380
22
1030
30
1340
21
990
29
1300
20
950
Section 1600 scale 2400 scale
SAT SAT 400 SAT 600 ACT 10
600 900 13
SAT-ACT concordance table
800 1200 16
1000 1500 21
1200 1800 26
1400 2100 32
1600 2400 36
Allow enough time to Prep • This is a process!!!! Not a one-shot deal. • Cram jobs almost never work. • Plan on taking the test 3 times. Ideally twice junior year
Using Naviance
Looking for the trend lines, you can begin to se whether school privilege GPA o SAT
Using Naviance
Looking for the trend lines, you can begin to see whether schools privilege GPA or SAT
Getting more info online
Use the College Board.com site to see what the average applicant’s scores are and how you measure up.
GA and Regional Schools 25-75% Ranges
CR Range
Math Range Writing Range
ACT Range
GA Southern
510
590
510
600
21 24
GSU
490
590
490
590
21 25
UGA
560
660
570
660
560
660
24 29
GA tech
590
690
650
730
580
670
27 31
Emory
640
740
670
760
650
740
30 33
Charleston
570
650
570
650
Furman
590
690
590
680
Clemson
550
640
590
680
25 30
Wake Forest
610
690
630
710
27 31
Duke
660
750
680
790
23 26 590
680
680
780
The middle 50% will give you a range of scores
26 30
29 34
The ideal time to prep • Junior Year is the absolute best time to start this process. The earlier the better J U
N I O R
Oct
Nov
Dec
Y E A R Jan
Mar
May
Jun
Oct
Nov
AP
PSAT Good first/ 2nd test
Good 2nd /3rd test SAT Subject Tests
Final Test ED/EA apps
Dec
Prep for the SAT Subject Tests 20% of schools assign considerable to moderate importance to SAT 2s
• • • •
3,000 + US colleges, roughly 100 use Subject Tests for admissions How many to take: 2. Harvard, Georgetown, Princeton: 3 Timing: May and June are ideal, aligned with APs Some schools accept the ACT as a replacement for the SAT+ SAT subject tests: Yale, Brown, Penn, and Duke • Math 1: easier questions, harder curve. Math 2: harder questions, easier curve, ideal post Pre-Cal. • UC Systems dropped Subject Tests for class of 2012 and beyond. • Starting in 2010, NYU will accept 3 SAT Subject Test scores in non-language tests INSTEAD of the SAT or ACT
Does the PSAT matter? • Only if you are on the cusp of the National Merit Scholarship. • If you are not in the realm of the National Merit Scholarship, your PSAT score has no bearing on anything. • It’s only use is to give students a taste of the SAT and give them a potential SAT score range.
National Merit Scholarship Selection Index:
CR + M + W For GA, The Selection Index for National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalists for 2012 e.g 72 CR 74 M 72 W
218
This is a very competitive score! Roughly top 2% of students in the state
National Merit Scholarship Number of Students Participating (October 2007) More than 1.5 million from 21,000 high schools
50,000
High Scorers (April 2008)
34,000
Commended Students (September 2008)
16,000
Semifinalists (September 2008)
15,000
Finalists (February 2009)
9,700
Scholarship Winners (March 2009)
Students can leverage the scholarship ($2500) to attain much larger merit-based awards
Aptitude
Achievement
SAT Origins (IQ tests) Carl Brigham 1920s worked on Army Alpha Tests 1923 wrote A Study of American Intelligence 1926 converted Army Alpha into Standard Aptitude Test, under the auspices of the College Board, administered test to 8,040 high school students 1934 Harvard uses SAT to select scholarship recipients
Henry Chauncey 1930 Assistant Dean at Harvard 1934 uses SAT to select scholarship recipients 1943 contracts to administer SAT (Army-Navy Qualification Test) to 316,000 high school seniors 1945 Becomes first President of Education Testing Service, ETS 1970 Retires, SAT given to 1.4 million students annually
SAT had its foundations in : abstract intelligence and aptitude testing
ACT Origins (Iowa tests) Everett Franklin Lindquist (1901– 1978) Psychology professor, educational researcher at the University of Iowa 1929 Created tests which became the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills 1959 Created the ACT (American College Testing) in Iowa City, Iowa
ACT had its foundations in: Iowa standardized public school achievement testing
SAT/ACT Geographic Origins
Berkeley, CA. First ETS branch 1948
The SAT was first on the scene
Princeton, NJ. ETS H.Q. 1947
And took over the coasts
1948 Berkeley, CA. First ETS branch
1947 Princeton, NJ. ETS H.Q.
The ACT took the heartland
1948 Berkeley, CA. First ETS branch
1959 Iowa City, IA ACT HQ
1947 Princeton, NJ. ETS H.Q.
Today the SAT and ACT are universally accepted
Any college will take either the SAT or ACT without prejudice
A Quick anatomy of 2 tests
SAT
• Abstract • Foreign • Easier to coach • Learn the language of, solve the mysteries of the test
ACT
• Concrete • Familiar • Comparatively less coachable • Practice, get more familiar with the test
SAT vs ACT basics SAT
ACT
Duration
3:45
2:55
Structure
10 sections
4 sections
Content
Critical Reading Math Writing (grammar + essay)
Reading Math English (grammar) Science Reasoning
The SAT looks more like the ACT than ever before with the 2005 changes
Deeper comparison SAT
ACT
Vocabulary
Greater Emphasis
Abstraction
Greater Emphasis
Math Content Covered
Geometry Algebra I Algebra II (advanced functions & graphs)
Geometry Algebra I Trigonometry
Math Style
More tricks- unique language
Simple, straight forward, more academic
SAT SAT
ACT ACT
Reading Comprehension
Abstract Analogous thinking Interpretation Vocabulary questions How might the author respond?
Straightforward More content based What did I read? What happened to the character?
Grammar
Will count for most students. The essay is lumped in with the grammar for your writing score
Grammar counts for all students. The essay is optional
Science
No
Graph and Table analysis
Speed Mental Endurance
Greater Emphasis Greater Emphasis
Which test should I try first • Both, ideally, to establish dual baselines • If PSAT is strong- stick with the SAT • If PSAT is weak- take an ACT (mock) to compare baselines • If baselines are similar- go with the SATthe more coachable test • If SAT prep is not yielding results- switch to the ACT (good to find this out early) • If you switch, 80% of content transfers
1600 scale
ACT
SAT
ACT
SAT
36
1600
27
1220
35
1580
26
1180
34
1520
25
1140
33
1470
24
1110
32
1420
23
1070
31
1380
22
1030
30
1340
21
990
29
1300
20
950
Section 1600 scale 2400 scale
SAT SAT 400 SAT 600 ACT 10
600 900 13
SAT-ACT concordance table
800 1200 16
1000 1500 21
1200 1800 26
1400 2100 32
1600 2400 36
Allow enough time to Prep • This is a process!!!! Not a one-shot deal. • Cram jobs almost never work. • Plan on taking the test 3 times. Ideally twice junior year
Using Naviance
Looking for the trend lines, you can begin to se whether school privilege GPA o SAT
Using Naviance
Looking for the trend lines, you can begin to see whether schools privilege GPA or SAT
Getting more info online
Use the College Board.com site to see what the average applicant’s scores are and how you measure up.
GA and Regional Schools 25-75% Ranges
CR Range
Math Range Writing Range
ACT Range
GA Southern
510
590
510
600
21 24
GSU
490
590
490
590
21 25
UGA
560
660
570
660
560
660
24 29
GA tech
590
690
650
730
580
670
27 31
Emory
640
740
670
760
650
740
30 33
Charleston
570
650
570
650
Furman
590
690
590
680
Clemson
550
640
590
680
25 30
Wake Forest
610
690
630
710
27 31
Duke
660
750
680
790
23 26 590
680
680
780
The middle 50% will give you a range of scores
26 30
29 34
The ideal time to prep • Junior Year is the absolute best time to start this process. The earlier the better J U
N I O R
Oct
Nov
Dec
Y E A R Jan
Mar
May
Jun
Oct
Nov
AP
PSAT Good first/ 2nd test
Good 2nd /3rd test SAT Subject Tests
Final Test ED/EA apps
Dec
Prep for the SAT Subject Tests 20% of schools assign considerable to moderate importance to SAT 2s
• • • •
3,000 + US colleges, roughly 100 use Subject Tests for admissions How many to take: 2. Harvard, Georgetown, Princeton: 3 Timing: May and June are ideal, aligned with APs Some schools accept the ACT as a replacement for the SAT+ SAT subject tests: Yale, Brown, Penn, and Duke • Math 1: easier questions, harder curve. Math 2: harder questions, easier curve, ideal post Pre-Cal. • UC Systems dropped Subject Tests for class of 2012 and beyond. • Starting in 2010, NYU will accept 3 SAT Subject Test scores in non-language tests INSTEAD of the SAT or ACT
Does the PSAT matter? • Only if you are on the cusp of the National Merit Scholarship. • If you are not in the realm of the National Merit Scholarship, your PSAT score has no bearing on anything. • It’s only use is to give students a taste of the SAT and give them a potential SAT score range.
National Merit Scholarship Selection Index:
CR + M + W For GA, The Selection Index for National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalists for 2012 e.g 72 CR 74 M 72 W
218
This is a very competitive score! Roughly top 2% of students in the state
National Merit Scholarship Number of Students Participating (October 2007) More than 1.5 million from 21,000 high schools
50,000
High Scorers (April 2008)
34,000
Commended Students (September 2008)
16,000
Semifinalists (September 2008)
15,000
Finalists (February 2009)
9,700
Scholarship Winners (March 2009)
Students can leverage the scholarship ($2500) to attain much larger merit-based awards
