Instead of looking at students’ SAT scores, colleges begin accepting ACT scores
by BETHANY CHAN
Staff Writer/ Layout
Certain colleges do not look at students’ SAT scores because they believe they do not reveal the true intellect of individuals. Instead, college admissions are beginning to weigh ACTs more than the SATs.
The SAT test, also known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test or the Scholastic Achievement Test, is required by most colleges.
The test covers math, critical reading, and writing, the three important areas in school.
However, according to FairTest, about 830 four-year colleges in the United States do not require their students to take the SATs.
FairTest is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to ending the flaws and misuses in standardized tests.
Colleges that do require the SATs say that the test is a fair way to compare how the students do academically.
However, some colleges are beginning to look more closely at ACT scores.
The ACT (American College Testing) is very similar to the SAT and covers all the parts of the SAT. However, it includes a science section, an English grammar section, and an optional writing section. However, the SATs consist of more vocabulary than the ACTs.
Instead of being scored out of 2400 points like the SATs, the ACTs are scored out of 36 points.
Most four-year colleges and universities began to accept the ACT scores in lieu of SAT scores as of 2008.
Colleges, such as community colleges that do not consider at SAT scores, will most likely focus more on ACT scores because of the need to test a student’s academic capability.
Since the ACT contains more sections than the SAT, students have more of an opportunity to exhibit the wide range of their knowledge.
For example, a student might do better on the science section than the critical reading.
The fact that all the parts of the ACT are completely multiple choice may suit some people’s testing preferences.
Although colleges accept both the SATs and ACTs, some colleges, such as the University of Arizona and the University of Texas, think that the ACTs are fairer because they are content-based tests, while the SATs are more problem-solving and critical-thinking.
Micah Chan, a junior at Rutgers University, says, “It is fair that colleges accept both the SATs and the ACTs because that way, students have the choice to take the test they prefer.”