Benefits of the SAT

Standardized test scores are one third of what I like to call the unholy trinity of the college application. Your college application is going to consist of predominantly your GPA, standardized test scores and extracurricular activities. There are two standardized test options for college applicants: the SAT and the ACT. But which one is a better fit for you?I chose to take the SAT over the ACT. I took practice tests on both and achieved equivalent scores. After considering both, I decided to take the SAT. It was the right decision to focus on the SAT. I took it twice, and the second time netted me a 1550 on the 1600 scale. The reasons I chose the SAT lie mostly in who I am as a student, and your decision should center around that same thought.The key differences between the SAT and ACT are as follows:The SAT gives significantly more time per question when compared to the ACT. In the SAT’s reading section, you get approximately 75 seconds per question, while in the ACT’s reading section, you get approximately 53 seconds per question. In addition, every section in the SAT (minus the reading section) scales up in difficulty, with the most difficult questions coming at the end of the section. In contrast, the ACT has questions of varying levels of difficulty placed throughout each of the respective sections. The ACT also has a section considered the “science” section that does not test knowledge of sciences like biology or chemistry. It instead tests the test taker’s ability to read and interpret information in graphs and charts. The SAT does not have a science section, or any equivalent.The SAT and ACT also differ in the styles of math questions. The ACT asks questions on a wider variety of mathematical concepts compared to the SAT. The ACT also does not give formulas and equations at the beginning of the chapter, like the SAT does. While this adds up to sound like the ACT’s math section is simply more difficult, that is not the case. The SAT focuses on more fundamental mathematics, but in no way does that make it easier. Many of the questions in the SAT’s math section are designed to trick the test taker into making a careless error. While the basic math behind the problem may not be particularly difficult, the style and wording of the question often makes some of the questions very difficult. It is also important to note that the entirety of the ACT’s math section allows the use of calculators, while one of the two sections of the SAT’s math sections prohibits the use of a calculator.Because of these differences, one general piece of advice I would give is to take the SAT if you are more comfortable working methodically. As stated before, many of the students taking the SAT make most of their mistakes due to a careless error, as opposed to a lack of knowledge of the base content. Because of this, on top of the fact that you get more time per question, those who work slowly and carefully have an inherent advantage. The SAT or ACT decision is all about the stylistic preferences of the student. After some preparation, everyone will score better on one or the other. This is an important decision to make in your college application process, so make absolutely sure that the test you take is the test for you.