CHICAGO, IL (May 1, 2008) – As college admissions become increasingly competitive, high SAT and ACT scores become even more important for high school students. Academic Approach, a test preparation and academic tutoring company headquartered in Chicago, outlines the differences in SAT’s and ACT’s before the national testing dates this June.
"Realizing which test is most advantageous based on a student’s test taking skills can make all the difference in the college admissions process,” said Matthew Pietrafetta, Founder and CEO of Academic Approach.
Although the SAT and ACT generally test the same skills, Pietrafetta says the reasoning required by each is slightly different. Diagnostic tests are the best way to figure out which test to take and students can learn more at http://www.academicapproach.com/ . The following is a snapshot of a few key differences between the two tests.
SAT
The SAT is 2/3 verbal (writing and critical reading), and both verbal sections require a fairly nuanced sense of language and rhetoric.
The timing on the SAT is leisurely compared to that on the ACT. For slow readers or those who take time to do math problems, the SAT might be a better option.
The SAT only has a few advanced math problems per test that go beyond the curriculum taught in Algebra II.
About 1/4 of the questions in the Critical Reading section on the SAT are vocabulary questions.
ACT
The ACT reading section relies much less on inference and implication and more on the factual information presented in the passage. ACT math is also more concretely based on the math learned in school, whereas the SAT relies less on knowledge and more on reasoning.
Although the ACT does rely heavily on Algebra and Geometry, it also includes a significant number of advanced math questions like Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus.
The ACT includes a science section that does not actually require much knowledge of science. This section does, however, require a strong grasp of such basic scientific principles as the scientific method.
The ACT English section requires you to make grammatical and rhetorical edits to essays.
It’s also important to note that the ACT can be taken multiple times, with the highest scores available to be sent to colleges whereas the SAT system records every previous test score and there is a limit to the number of re-takes. Finally, colleges and universities vary to which test they prefer for admissions, so students are encouraged to visit their potential university’s website for more information and check out www.academicapproach.com to be fully prepared.
About Academic Approach - Teaching Beyond the Test™
Academic Approach is dedicated to enriching the academic skills of students as they prepare for the rigors of standardized test taking and academic life beyond. With offices in Chicago, Boston, and New York City, their experienced educators assess the learning needs of students and devise a customized, flexible plan for helping students reach their potential. They educate through one-on-one instruction, online courses or a combination of both. They’re best known for “Teaching Beyond the Test™”. Visit www.academicapproach.com to learn more.