SAT Vs Act Research Paper

Standardized testing has played an important role in the college admission decisions. The role of admission exams is always changing and evolving with time. The most prominent exams used are the SAT and the ACT. Their purpose is for gauging student knowledge for placement and possible success rate. Each test is comprised of numerous educational factors to gauge knowledge. The SAT and the ACT derived from other test forms to become what they are today. In addition to being an entrance exam, the grades obtained from these exams are used to formulate statistical information. Knowing that these tests are a requirement for college entry, one wants to do well on the exam(s). With testing tips and early preparation acceptable scores can

The truth concerning the predictive abilities of the SAT and ACT is clear; there are simply superior methods to evaluate potential college success. College admissions need to rely more heavily on factors such as High School GPA and SAT Subject and AP Tests, as these pieces of data contain a higher level of predictive power than SAT and ACT scores. Through the comparison of subject-specific tests and GPA to broad standardized tests, it is evident that the principles of our education system must be reinvented.

Many know the stressful feeling of having to take the ACT. The exam room fills slowly with worried faces and remains quiet until the test stars. Students grasp their pencils tightly, their palms sweating with the thought of their future at stake with this single test. In order to get into any college, an ACT or SAT score is required. These required scores for admission vary from school to school which can make it difficult for every student to attend their dream school. A single test will determine who can and cannot attend a certain college. With this system, it can deny students with potential in certain fields a place in a college because they might not test well. College admission should not be based on

The College Board and ACT nonprofit organizations, known for developing and administering the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and American College Testing (ACT) assessment respectively, represents higher education’s widely accepted college readiness determinant for prospective students. These examinations empirically measure a student’s grasp of reading, writing, and mathematics – subjects taught every day in high school classrooms. As a result, they typically constitute a significant proportion of the total entrance requirements for prospective students to relevant institutions of higher learning and denote a serious endeavor unto itself. Students commonly take one or both of these examinations during their junior or senior year of high school as dictated by an institution’s administrative guidelines, although most colleges now allow either test as part of their proprietary admission formulas. And since it turns out there exists subtle differences in the tests themselves, students should review research concluding certain individuals may be better candidates for maximizing performance on one examination versus another.

A decreased emphasis on standardized testing, including SAT and ACT exams: Arguably the most stressful aspect of the admissions process for students and their parents alike, the report recommends that admissions offices “should work to relieve undue pressure associated with admission tests,” including making standardized testing optional and “discouraging students from taking an admissions test more than twice.”

Have you ever wondered why, throughout the course of your educational career, you have to take so many standardized tests and why they determine how smart you are or if you will make it in life? For most people the SATs and the ACTs are the most important and stressful tests that they will ever take. For most colleges these scores determine whether or not you get into their college or whether you are even considered for a spot at a college or university. Here are some facts regarding the SATs and the ACTs.

Asian-Americans must score 140 points higher on their SATs than white students, 270 points higher than a Hispanic student, and 450 points higher than a black student. One study measured the considerable difference in SAT and ACT scores within highly-selective universities and examined what factors allow certain low-scoring people to get into these colleges. Findings reveal that it is equally likely that a black student who scored 27 on the ACT and a white student who scored 30.8 would get accepted. By contrast, they found that an Asian scoring 27 on the ACT would have as much chance of acceptance as a black student who scored 23.6.

According to The ACT, the purpose of the test is to give colleges additional information about the student’s academic ability other than the student’s grades. The ACT score also shows how prepared the student is for college and helps colleges place the student in the right class. This test has four multiple-choice parts: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science; however, optional writing part is available for those who are applying to colleges that require writing scores. The national testing days are from September to June, and the ACT advises students to take the test in their junior year because of the retesting opportunities and other advantages. Furthermore, the college prep courses that the ACT suggests are four years of English, three years of Mathematics, Natural Science, and Social Studies, and two or more years of additional

High schools require their students to take college entrance exams such as the ACT or the SAT, and “one goal of these policies [is] to increase college enrollment based on the belief that requiring students to take these exams would make students more likely to consider college as a viable option” (Klasik). Based on their ACT or SAT score students can be offered scholarships from colleges around the nation, which could hopefully be a way to motivate students to do well on these standardized test. However, “college entrance exams such as the ACT or SAT are required or recommended for admission to nearly all of the nations 4-year colleges and universities and are likewise used in the admissions process at many 2-year colleges” (Klasik). So, high schools that require their students to take the ACT or SAT are doing their students a huge favor by helping the gain more college options and opportunities for scholarships. There are several questions college think about before accepting students into their school. One of those questions being “how can we identify the students most likely to succeed” (Moore 106)? Colleges look at incoming students current GPA, class rank, and testing scores, which both provide insight as to how the student may perform academically. According to a study on “…how students’ ACT Aptitude Ratings [AAR] are associated with their subsequent

Beginning in Imperial China, state-administered testing used to be utilized as a part of a simple frame to decide one's qualification for positions in the administration of the decision class (Background of the Issue - Standardized Tests - ProCon.org.). As time progressed, other tests, such as military tests, skills assessments, etc. have been used to evaluate a potential candidate for a position in an establishment. In more recent times, high school students are encouraged to take the SAT and ACT. The SAT that we know today was initially presented in 1926 by the College Board. The assessment covers objectives like vocabulary, reading comprehension, and math capability to determine how fit you are for college . The ACT is similar to the SAT, but it adds science and tests one's ability to process and understand data (Fletcher, Dan). Colleges and universities use the scores to determine if you are smart enough to attend and keep up with the rigor of the

Although the ACT tests for college readiness, it mainly shows a student’s knowledge. When a college receives the ACT score they only see what the student knows, not what they have participated in or accomplished in high school. It is an important trait to be smart in school, but it is equally important to be involved as well. The standardized test is effective because it

Juniors, seniors, or any college applicants are required to take either the ACT or the SAT, and submit their score before getting accepted into some colleges or universities. Both the ACT and the SAT is standardized test that is designed to test student’s readiness for college. These test are taken before applying to college. Students or adults will go to other schools where either of these test are administered. They must apply on line to be able to take these tests. The ACT and SAT are not a good source for college admissions because of the scoring, students may not be prepared enough, and how accurate the test is.

Colleges should rely on ACT and SAT scores to determine a student’s future. Studying for these test will teach a student to become more responsible and self-dependable, just as they are going to be college. Taking these test will help students prepare for the future and will also bring colleges recognize the accomplishment of a student. If a college or university sees that the student has a high score, then they are more likely to give out college acceptances and scholarships. These test are administered to high school students so they can put their good sense of knowledge from high school to good

Many colleges and universities require tests such as the SAT, the SAT and SAT Subject Tests are administered by the Colleges

Colleges use SAT and ACT scores for admissions and merit-based scholarships. Although they are similar, they do have some differences.