 Over 700 colleges do NOT require a standardized test for admission (11 in NC) (See for more information)  But the majority of colleges require either the SAT or ACT – Since admission to all colleges has become so competitive, you need to decide – which test is best for you?

SAT  Created and administered by College Board   Accepted by all colleges ACT  Created and administered by ACT.org   Accepted by all colleges Colleges say they don’t prefer one test over the other...

SAT  Reasoning and problem-solving skills  4 sections  3 hours, 45 minutes ACT  Curriculum-based  Questions more knowledge-based and some think even more “straightforward”  10 sections  2 hours 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes with optional writing test) In the last 5 years, the number of ACT test-takers on the East Coast has risen over 66 percent, and on the West Coast, 44 percent – largely as a result of the new, longer SAT

SAT 4 sections  English (language/rhetoric)  Math  Science  Reading  Writing (optional – but colleges require it for admission) ACT 10 sections  Essay + 2 multiple choice writing sections  3 critical reading sections  3 math sections  1 experimental section

SAT - READING  35 minutes  4 reading comprehension passages  40 questions (10 questions per passage) ACT - READING  70 minutes  19 sentence completion  4 short passages, 4 long passages, 2 comparison passages  48 questions passage- based reading

SAT – MATH ACT - MATH  70 minutes, 54 questions (45 m.c student-produced reponses)  Math accounts for ½ (1600) or 1/3 (2400) of total score  Topics covered Arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and Algebra II  60 minutes, 60 questions (all multiple choice)  Math accounts for ¼ of your total score  Topics covered: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry

SAT – SCIENCE ACT - SCIENCE  Science not included  Science (analysis, interpretation, evaluation, basic content, and problem- solving)

SAT - ESSAY ACT - ESSAY  First thing you do  25 minutes  Factored into overall writing score  Abstract, philosophical topic – pick a side  Last thing you do  30 minutes  Not included in composite score  Topic is about something of importance to high school students  Take position, explain different sides

SATACT  Total score = 2400  Critical Reading  Math  Writing  Total composite score of 1-36 (based on average of 4 tests)  Score of 0-12 for optional essay

SATACT  ¼ point subtracted for wrong answers  Your ENTIRE score history will be sent automatically to colleges – you may not choose scores  No penalty for wrong answers  You decide which scores to send to colleges and may send just your highest scores

ACT SAT MATH/READING SAT MATH, READING, WRITING

ACTSAT (math, reading)SAT (math, reading, writing)

SATACT  Reasoning Test - $45  Late Fee - $23  4 score reports free  Additional score reports - $9.50  ACT - $31  ACT + writing - $46  4 score reports free  Additional score reports $9.00

SAT ACT Test DateRegister by November 1September 26 December 5November 5 January 24December 26 March 14February 10 May 2March 31 June 5May 5 Test DateRegister by October 25September 19 December 13November 7 February 7January 6 April 4February 27 June 13May Cedar Ridge: October 25 and February 7

 Check out their Freshman Profile llegetoolkit.com /Colleges/State /North_Carolin a/37.aspx