Well, I wasted my first post of the day. This is the second, I hope more fruitful.
After my attention was caught by the comment that the ACT is more widely accepted than the SAT I have found the following anecdotal evidence from a dozen or so websites, most of which promote (costly) prep programs for both tests, and then I end with a question: The ACT is accepted at more schools, but more schools that take just one test take only the SAT. Thus, I have to deduce (as a good SAT type of test taker) that there are many schools that take either score, but of those that only take one type of test score, the SAT is more commonly required, and apparently, especially on the east coast. The SAT was fairly consistently described as "tricky" but after reading at least a dozen websites I could not find any information on what is generally meant by the consensus that the test is "tricky" and measures general test taking and deductive skills rather than just content. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I would think a good thing for college admissions. The ACT includes, but the SAT does not include, trig in the math section. Important? Is this score reported as a separate subscale? If not, what is the value of including Trig as one would never know which items were missed, or not. I, personally, don't like the narrow score range of the ACT. I find the SAT much more able to discriminate between students but that may just be a misconception on my part. I know that we take both. So I looked at several websites that compare the two tests and here is something I never knew: the ACT has a science reasoning test. I have never seen this score reported. I have only seen our school's reports that I get as a freshman advisor, and I have only seen the ACT verbal and math scores--which our admissions folks promptly convert to SAT equivalents, and then we operate from that base. I wonder if the scientific reasoning score would be a good predictor of anything, such as success in intro psych? Has anyone ever looked at that? Hmmm, I see a potential research topic. Is this subscale ever used for admission decisions to traditional science programs? If not, what is its purpose? Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
