Just say the words “standardized tests” to a family with a high school junior and you can see everyone’s blood pressure jump.

Parents are concerned because they are hearing conflicting messages regarding the importance of these tests. It used to be that most college admissions decisions were based almost exclusively on quantitative measures: grade point average and performance on the SAT or the ACT. Today however, most colleges are pleased to share that their admissions process is “holistic”, i.e., that they evaluate each candidate on a variety of factors. As colleges have segued to the holistic method, what once was a “be all, end all” test score has lost some of its star power.

Most colleges still require some form of standardized tests but there is an active movement afoot to abolish standardized testing as a college admissions criterion.  The organization Fair Test (www.fairtest.org) currently counts 815 colleges that have voluntarily chosen to go test optional; that means that students get to choose whether or not they want to submit their test scores.

Of course that doesn’t mean that standardized test scores no longer matter since it is a rare case that a student will find themselves only applying to test-optional colleges. The tests used to be regional with students on the east and west coast partial to the SAT and the middle of the US picking the ACT. Currently every college accepts both tests. So now that you know that your child will likely need to take the SAT or the ACT, here are some basic differences between them:

SAT
• Tests aptitude, reasoning, problem-solving and critical thinking
• 3 sections with 160 questions: Math (54 questions), Critical Reading (67 questions) and Writing (49 questions).
• Lasts 3.75 hours
• Scores in each section range from 200-800 for a total of 2400 points.
• Required 25 minute essay that is scored from 2-12 and factored into the Writing score component
• Receive 1 point for every right answer
• Penalized ¼ point for every incorrect response
• No Science section
• Vocabulary is emphasized but not grammar
• Math covers geometry and algebra II but not trigonometry
• Uses tricky and sometimes intentionally confusing questions and responses
• Cost: $47

ACT
• Curriculum or content-based, assesses knowledge you’ve acquired
• 4 or 5 Sections with 215 questions: English (75 questions), Reading (40 questions), Math (60 questions), Science (40 questions) and an optional essay
• Lasts 3.25 hours with the optional essay
• Scores in each section range from 1-36. Section scores are averaged for a composite score and a score of 2-12 for the optional essay
• No wrong answer penalty.
• Grammar is emphasized
• Math includes algebra, geometry and trigonometry
• Cost: $32

Next week:  which types of students should take which test.
MORE INFORMATION
Upcoming test dates:
SAT (www.collegeboard.com): May 1, Register by: March 25
                                                 June 5, Register by: April 29
ACT(www.acstudent.org):        June 12, Register by: May 7

ON MY BOOKSHELF:
“ACT or SAT? Choosing the Right Exam for You”, Josh Bornstein with Rebecca Lessem, The Princeton Review, $15.99