QUESTION: The ACT v. SAT – Should I take both college entrance exams?

ANSWER: I am constantly surprised that more California students don’t take the ACT test, and I wish more would. For some reason, in our neck of the woods, the SAT is always talked about and the ACT takes a back seat. Colleges do not have a preference for one test over the other. All four-year colleges accept the ACT in lieu of the SAT and vice versa. The perception that colleges don’t take the ACT seriously is simply not true! So, why not take both tests?

Here are some notable differences between the SAT and ACT:

• The SAT is 20 minutes longer than the ACT.
• There are 5 sections on the ACT (including the optional writing portion) and 10 sections on the SAT.
• The ACT includes a science section and an optional writing section. The SAT does not include science, and the writing section is required.
• One-third of the overall SAT score is based on the math section.
• One-fourth of the overall ACT composite score is based on the math section.
• The optional ACT Written Essay is not included in the composite score.
• The required essay on the SAT is included in the overall score.
• On the ACT, there is no penalty for marking an incorrect answer. Therefore, guessing is not penalized.
• On the SAT, there is a 1/4 point penalty for marking an incorrect answer. Therefore, guessing is penalized.
• When sending ACT scores, the student decides which test administration to send. The entire ACT test taking history is not sent.
• When sending SAT scores, the entire SAT and Subject Test taking history is sent to the colleges in one report.

For more information about the SAT, visit actstudent.org.

The Princeton Review now offers a diagnostic exam called the Princeton Review Assessment and it evaluates a student's ability to determine which test he or she might score higher on. Contact Princeton Review at 949-553-9411 for more information. And, I will add that there are more than 700 colleges who are "test optional" for some students. 

Lisa McLaughlin, M.Ed., is founder and executive director of EDvantage Consulting Inc. E-mail your question to: lisa@EDvantageConsulting.com.