Читать книгу SAT For Dummies - Woods Geraldine, Geraldine Woods, Ron Woldoff - Страница 11

Most 11th and 12th graders take one of two giant exams on their way to college. One is the SAT, and the other is the ACT. Most colleges accept both, but you should check with your target schools just to be sure. When you call or email the college admissions office, among your other questions, ask these things:

 Do you require an exam score with my application?

 If so, do you accept both the SAT and the ACT?

 Do you need me to write the exam essay?

The SAT and the ACT are similar in overall difficulty. The math is about 90 percent the same, but SAT math goes more in depth than ACT math, while ACT math covers more topics. (ACT math has logarithms, for example, which SAT math does not.) Some students may find ACT math easier.

The ACT’s writing and language questions are about the same as the SAT’s, while ACT reading questions are almost the same but don’t include evidence-based questions (more on those in Chapter 3). The ACT also has its Science Test, which the SAT does not. To compensate, the SAT has some science-based questions mixed into the Reading Test, but not nearly to the extent of the ACT Science Test. Students who struggle with scientific studies may prefer the SAT.

Each exam has an optional essay question at the end, but the ACT essay assignment is very different. The SAT essay is covered here in Chapter 7, but for more on the ACT essay, and the ACT overall, pick up the latest edition of ACT For Dummies by Lisa Zimmer Hatch and Scott A. Hatch (published by Wiley).

There are also the SAT Subject Tests, which specialize in about 20 topics including biology, history, math, and languages. Depending on the school or academic program that you apply to, you may have to take one or more Subject Tests.

Besides contacting your target schools and checking their websites, you can find more on the application requirements by checking a college guide. A college guide is a compendium (thorough collection) of school listings and admission requirements. Many libraries and bookstores carry college guides, and you can also talk with your college counselor, who may also have one.

If college isn’t in your immediate future, you may want to take the SAT just to get it out of the way, while the test topics are still fresh in your head. If your plans include a stint in the armed forces or the Peace Corps before hitting higher education, you can keep your options open by taking the SAT before you go. Then when you’re ready to get back into the classroom, you’ll have some scores to send to the college of your choice. Note that SAT scores are officially valid for five years (as of this writing), but the college you apply to may require newer scores. Just keep that in mind.