The SAT is a multiple-choice test that measures critical reading, mathematical reasoning and writing skills. The ACT measures skills in English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. Both tests are approximately three hours in length with optional writing portions. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale from 200-800 while the ACT section are scored on a 1-36 scale. Colleges accept both tests equally and do not prefer one over the other. They just want students to submit the score that best supports their application.
Traditionally, the ACT has been designed to measure academic content knowledge rather than reasoning skills. In 2016, the SAT was redesigned to align more with academic content knowledge so the differences between the test are not as drastic as they used to be.
SSFS Juniors will have the opportunity to take the PSAT (Preliminary SAT) in October, and the College Counseling Office will offer guidance on which test might best support a student’s application in the future. There are many colleges, however, that have test-optional policies and do not require students to submit SAT or ACT scores for admission. In these instances, the college counselors will advise students on how to develop strong applications that do not include standardized testing.