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There are two major college entrance examinations administered in the United States today: the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and the American College Testing Assessment (ACT). These tests are designed to allow college admissions officers to judge all students by a common measurement. Scores can compensate for differences in high school curriculum, grade inflation, and quality of teaching. In addition, they serve as a reliable predictor of how you will perform academically in your freshman year of college.

SAT 
The SAT is the most widely taken college entrance examination. It is designed to test your skill level in math, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The test is divided into seven sections: 3 math, 3 verbal, and 1 experimental section. The math and verbal sections each have their own distinct question types, including quantitative comparisons, sentence completions, grid-ins, and more. The experimental section, used by the test developer to try out new questions, is not scored and can be either math or verbal. You will not know which section is experimental.

The SAT is scored on scale of 200-800 for both the math and verbal sections. The College Board sets the average for all test takers at 500 for each. A perfect score on the SAT is 1600. However, in recent years, fewer than 20% of all test takers achieve a math score of 600 or better. Fewer than 10% score higher than 600 on the verbal section. 

ACT
The American College Testing Assessment (ACT) is designed to test your skill levels in English, math, reading, and science reasoning. On the test, you will have 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete a variety of multiple choice questions divided into four sections——one for each tested subject area. The English, reading, and science sections each include several reading passages with anywhere from 5 to 15 questions per passage. The math section includes 60 questions——each with 5 possible answer choices. 
You will actually receive 12 separate scores on the ACT: 1 composite, 4 subject scores, and 7 sub-scores. The composite, or scaled, score is the most important. It ranges from 1-36. Nearly half of all test takers fall in the 17-23 range.

SAT vs. ACT
Until recently, colleges in the Midwest required the ACT, while the SAT was the test of choice for schools in the Northeast and on both coasts. Now, however, most schools accept both. This increased acceptance of both exams gives students a strategic advantage. The ACT is a content-based test, whereas the SAT tests critical thinking and problem solving skills. Depending on your particular strengths and weaknesses, you may perform significantly better on one test than the other. Regardless, you should check with each of your target schools before taking either exam.

SAT Registration
To register for the SAT, fill out the registration form in the College Board's Bulletin for the SAT Program. You can get a free copy of this publication through your school or guidance counselor. If this isn't possible, contact the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at 609-771-7600 or click on the online registration site above. Registration deadlines tend to fall approximately five weeks prior to each test date.

ACT Registration
Consult your high school or guidance counselor for the necessary registration materials. If this isn't possible, call ACT at 319-337-1270. They will send you the materials free of charge or click on the online registration site above

Test Day Tips

Here they are - some of the most important test day tips for the SAT and ACT. They might seem simplistic; but each can significantly affect your performance on the exam.

• Be Equipped
  On the night before the test, you should gather everything you'll need: Admission ticket, valid form of photo identification, several No. 2 pencils, calculator with fresh batteries, watch, and a high-energy snack.
• Don't Cram
  The best thing you can do the evening before the test is to get a good night's sleep. Get into test mode: calm, rested, confident, and ready.
• Dress in Layers
  The climate in test centers can vary from sauna-like to frigid. Be prepared for both extremes and everything in-between. You need to be comfortable to perform your best.
• Don't Spend Too Much Time on One Question
  Each question is worth the same number of points. If a question is confusing or too time-consuming, don't lose your cool. Instead, move on to the next question. You can always come back to harder questions if you have time left at the end of a section.
• Guess Aggressively
  If you don't know an answer, don't leave the question blank or guess randomly. Eliminate the choices you know are wrong, then make an educated guess from the remaining options. Remember, if you can eliminate even one answer choice, it pays to guess.

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Revised: 06/01/2007