The ABC's about the ACT & SAT College Entrance Exam
by Joann Green
March 30, 2007
In most cases, scores from either the ACT or SAT college entrance exam are a requirement for admission to a college or university. You can find which test the institution requires either on their website or in their catalog. Most institutions will accept either score. In order to be eligible for the Ohio Academic Scholarship, you must take your ACT by December of your senior year. It is recommended that you take either the SAT, ACT, or both in the spring of your junior year. That gives you the option of retaking either test in the fall of your senior year if you would like to improve your score.
Remember, a significant change has taken place for both the SAT and ACT. All SAT test takers are required to take a writing component on the exam. For the ACT, the writing component is contingent on whether or not the school will require the student to take it. Check with the Admissions Office at the institution, or online to see if the writing component is required.
ACT vs. SAT
Differences at a glance:
SAT
- No science section
- Vocabulary emphasized
- No trigonometry
- Non multiple-choice questions
- No English grammar
- Math accounts for 50% of score
- Guessing penalty
- Questions become more difficult
ACT
- Section on science reasoning
- Vocabulary less important
- Trigonometry included
- Entirely multiple choice
- English grammar included
- Math accounts for 25% of score
- No guessing penalty
- Easy and hard questions mixed
