What Is the Highest SAT Score You Can Get?

Over the years, the SAT has changed both significantly and repeatedly. The CollegeBoard, who oversees the test, has continually updated it in an effort to reflect changing educational standards. The one constant since its inception is its intent—to assess the career and college-readiness of high school students.

In March of 2016, a new iteration of the test was introduced, signaling a significant change in its scoring formula. This change is important to note because a score that would have been considered below average on the previous scale may now qualify as highly impressive. Without an in-depth understanding of the changes, some students may be confused. It’s no wonder that we often hear the question, “What is the highest SAT score I can get?”

To learn more about the highest SAT score possible and how to maximize your chances of earning one, don’t miss this important post.

What Is the Scoring Scale for the SAT?

As of 2016, the SAT consists of two required sections and one optional section. The required sections are Writing and Language, and Math. The optional section is the Essay.

The required sections are divided into two overall section scores. Students receive a section score in Writing and Language ranging from 200-800, and students receive another section score in Math ranging from 200-800. These two scores are added together to create a student’s composite score. This means that for the required sections of the SAT, the maximum score you can receive is a 1600, which would indicate perfect scores of 800 on each of the required sections.

The optional Essay section is scored separately. For students who choose to take this part of the test, another score will be provided ranging from 6-24. Each essay is scored by two scorers on three dimensions. Each scorer grades the essay on a scale of 1-4 in each dimension, meaning that each scorer can award up to 12 points total. For a student who receives the top score of 4 on each dimension from both scorers, the perfect score of 24 can be achieved

Do I Have to Get Every Question Right to Get the Highest SAT Score Possible?

Many students assume that they need to get every single question on the SAT correct if they want to receive a perfect score, but the reality is a little different. In fact, a raw score, meaning the number of questions answered correctly, is something a little different from the final converted score.

Raw scores are converted onto a scale from 400-1600 during a process called equating. Equating takes into account the specific difficulty of each version of the test. Because several different test forms are given at each test administration, the specific equating process for your test will depend on the specific version of the test that you took, and it may be different than the equating process applied to the tests of people sitting next to you.

While some SAT tests are definitely more difficult than others, in general the variation is fairly small and the equating process does not differ hugely from one test to another. You can get a better idea of the exact process by reviewing the scoring procedure for official SAT practice tests prepared by the College Board. 

How Can I Maximize My SAT Score?

Most students want to receive the highest SAT score that they’re capable of achieving. This means that if you’re like most students, you’ll need to put some work into planning an SAT study schedule and sourcing study materials that are both challenging and useful.

While some students might believe that they don’t need to start studying until a few months before the test, we recommend that you lay the foundation for SAT success much earlier. Though many students who start later ultimately perform well, there is no harm in getting a head start.

We recommend building general SAT-relevant skills like writing, vocabulary, and basic algebra beginning during your freshman or sophomore year of high school. Then, when you reach junior year, you can focus more earnestly on SAT-specific content and strategies. 

Still need SAT advice? Check out our  SAT prep sub blog 

Are PSAT Scores Related to SAT Scores?

If you are in high school preparing to take the SAT, looking at PSAT scores may be a source of encouragement or of concern. You may be wondering: Does getting a good score on the PSAT mean I will get a good score on the SAT? The answer is it depends on a few different factors. Keep reading to find out why your PSAT score does not necessarily mean you will receive a similar score on the SAT, and why studying is the only way to guarantee a strong performance.

What Is the PSAT? Is It the Same as the SAT?

The PSAT and the SAT are two standardized tests taken by high school students and administered by the College Board. The PSAT is two hours and 45 minutes long. The SAT takes three hours, along with an optional additional fifty minute essay section. PSAT stands for Preliminary SAT, so it can be viewed as a practice SAT.

In terms of content, the PSAT and SAT cover basically the same subject areas. The PSAT has three sections: reading, writing and language, and math. The SAT has these same three sections, but also offers the optional essay to demonstrate your writing abilities. 

Essentially the PSAT is a little bit shorter, has no essay, and will not be sent to colleges as a part of your application, while your SAT scores are.

How Does It Relate to the SAT?

For most students, the PSAT is a good projection of how you will generally do on the SAT. While it is certainly not exact, it can give you a ballpark range of where you would be if you were taking the SAT.  However, it is a less accurate predictor of SAT performance the earlier you take it, so there is a higher likelihood of your performance changing, since you will have learned more material in the meantime.

How Might Your Scores Change?

Your PSAT score might be lower than your SAT score because you are younger when you take the PSAT than the SAT, although certain material may be easier to recall because you may be taking classes that cover the material around that time. Then again, that could also happen on the SAT. Be sure to compare your knowledge base (what you know, what classes you are taking, what classes and materials you have yet to take and learn, and so on) with the subject matter covered by both tests so that you still know what you already knew well already, along with what you need to review and study.

On the flip side, the PSAT is generally considered to be slightly easier than the SAT, so your score may be a little bit higher than it is on the SAT. This may be because you feel less stressed about the PSAT, or you may find the content easier or more familiar. Additionally, unlike the SAT, there is no essay on the PSAT, which can reduce stress for some students.

But in the end, what really matters is that you prepare well for the tests. Just because you score well on the PSAT does not mean you will on the SAT, just as a low PSAT score does not necessarily mean a low SAT score. 

The Take-Away

The PSAT is not necessarily the best indicator of what your final score will be because there is always room for improvement or regression, depending on whether you study to maintain a high score or improve a low one. Still, the PSAT can be useful as a benchmark to find out where you are. If you know what you are good at and what you can improve (which will be included in the score reports), you can design a study schedule that will finesse your strengths and lead to great performance on the SAT.

Ultimately, your score can change drastically from the PSAT to the SAT. If you did not originally get the score you hoped for, don’t worry. Study up! And, if you already did, study some more! The PSAT can be a useful guide and test-run, but it is not the SAT that you will be sending to colleges. For that, you must also prepare.

Still need help with test standardized tests? Check out out SAT Prep section or come have a chat with us!

6 Things You Can Do Today To Improve Your SAT/ACT Score

As you start studying for and taking the SAT or ACT, you may find yourself in one of two situations: Either you’ve taken the SAT or ACT before and didn’t get as high of a score as you were aiming for or you’re taking practice tests before your SAT and you aren’t seeing any score improvement from those.

In both cases, you may be feeling frustrated and hopeless, thinking that you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to be working. Rest assured, however, that not all hope is lost. We at Edbrand have made a detailed list of some study strategies you can try today to improve your SAT or ACT score. Read through it and see if there’s a strategy you haven’t tried yet!

1. Identify Your Deficiencies

Reviewing all the concepts and doing all the practice problems you can find may be an inefficient use of your study time, especially after you’ve been doing that for a while. A better way to help your SAT score is to target your review of concepts and practice questions towards those that you struggle with the most.

You can identify these deficiencies by going back through your completed practice exams/questions and analyzing the questions that you got wrong. More often than not, you’ll find that one or two specific subjects, concepts, or type of questions accounted for most of your missed points.

2. Create A Study Plan

Once you’ve identified your deficiencies and know what topics to focus on, bring out a calendar and plan out what day and time in the next few weeks/months you are going to review and what concepts you are going to review. To be thorough, you can also decide what materials you are going to use to review each concept.

While you’re making your test prep plan, make sure you work in some time to do some practice problems. It’s important to not just review the material for the SAT/ACT on a conceptual level but to also apply it in the way that you will be expected to on the exam. If you can master the practice questions, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to master the concepts on the exam.

3. Widen Your Breadth of Study Materials

Until this point, you may have been relying on a test prep book, an online app, or your old class notes to study for this exam. While this method may be working for you and you may be understanding the material that is right in front of you, you may be missing some of the key material that will be covered on the exam. One test prep resource may not cover every concept, vocab, or type of question that’ll be on the real SAT/ACT.

Thus, in order to increase your score, you may want to seek out some new study materials. Here are some of the materials that are available to you:

• SAT/ACT Prep Apps: These apps can be accessed wherever you are, making it easy to study for the SAT/ACT no matter where you are. If you don’t know which apps to download, try consulting The Best Apps to Organize Your College Planning.
• Test Prep Books: Even if you’ve already bought one, it might be worth trying a different brand to see different test strategies and ways of approaching each testable concept. You may even want to consider purchasing or borrowing a book of just practice questions to get some more practice in.
• Flash Cards: There are various flashcards you can purchase at your local bookstore to help you with concepts like vocabulary words or important mathematical formulas that won’t be given to you on the formula sheet. You can even make the flashcards yourself. Making the flashcards could even serve as an extra review of the concepts! 

4. Know The Test

It may be worth spending a few hours to go over the structure of the test, the types of questions that are going to be asked, what the graders are looking for in the essay, and overall figuring out how you can use the test to your advantage. By knowing how CollegeBoard and the ACT organization structure and approach their exam, you can start to see the test from their perspective and come up with some test-taking strategies that will increase your score.

For example, the SAT questions (with the exception of Critical Reading) are arranged in ascending order of difficulty. Thus, you shouldn’t spend a lot of time on the questions at the beginning and to save your time for the trickier questions at the end. This strategy will help you finish the exam and answer every question with the highest possible accuracy.

As another example, the ACT will reward you with one point for a right answer on their multiple choice section, but they will not deduct any points for a wrong answer. Thus, it is beneficial, on the ACT, to answer every single question, regardless of whether you are confident in that answer or not. After all, you have a 25% chance of getting it right.

5. Be Disciplined

Even if you’ve set aside enough study time during the past few weeks/months, you haven’t been as efficient with your studying as you may have led yourself to believe. If you’ve found yourself on your phone or laptop, checking social media, talking with friends or family, or do anything other than studying for your exam during your allotted study time, you probably haven’t done as much studying as you think you have.

Remember that, while you’re studying, all distractions should be far away from you. That means that the phone should be off, the laptop should be put away, and you should be studying in a quiet space away from others. As long as you focus on studying during your study time, you’ll be able to retain and recall the material better on the actual exam.

For more information on testing check out pages from the SAT and ACT Test prep Sub-blogs!

8 Things Parents Need to Know About SAT and ACT Studying Prep

For many teens, the ACT or SAT tests are the first task they undertake that has the real potential to shape their future. While test scores are just one of many parts of the college admissions game, they are often an integral piece of the college applications that will shape your child’s path in higher education. For students who perform well on them, doors will open. And for others, sometimes doors will close.

We at Edbrand know how stressful this sounds, and while these tests are indeed important, don’t worry. Your teen doesn’t have to go through this stressful experience all by him or herself. There are many ways that you can help, and there are lots of opportunities to build a team of other supporters too. With some basic knowledge of the SAT and ACT studying preparation process, you can help to support and guide your child through this process too.

Here are nine things every parent should know about SAT and ACT prep work.

1. Your child needs to choose one test and focus on it.

It’s easy to assume that because there are two tests accepted by colleges and universities, your child should prepare for both and then submit whichever scores are best. We hear this a lot, but it’s not the best strategy.

Remember, preparing for the SAT or ACT is hard work and it exacts a toll in energy, time, and stress. Prepping for two separate tests when you intend to submit scores from only one of them is a waste. Instead, your child should choose which test to take early on, and focus his or her energy on preparing for that test alone.

2. There is no ‘better’ test, so choosing between the SAT and ACT is a personal choice with no one-size-fits-all answer.    

True, the SAT and ACT are very different tests. For starters, the ACT includes a science section, its essay portion is structured differently, and overall it requires students to move from one question to the next at a quicker pace. Meanwhile, the SAT has undergone recent changes, study materials are still being adapted for the latest version, and many commercially produced study guides are now out of date.

While the SAT has by many counts built a bigger name simply by being associated with a host of other standardized tests from the College Board (PSAT, PSAT 8/9, etc.) and by having a century-old history, in 2011 the number of students taking the ACT exceeded the number taking the SAT for the first time, and it continues to gather a bit more momentum each year.

This is all to say, there is no one test that is better than the other. To choose which test is the best choice for him or her, your student will need to research the tests and should ideally take a practice test from each one to decide which feels more comfortable while also considering which yielded a higher score.

3. Encourage your child to set a realistic goal score.

It can be difficult to gauge an appropriate goal without any data, so your child should enlist all the help he or she can get when setting this goal. First, use the diagnostic test as a starting point. Consider what your child scored on this test, and encourage him or her to set a goal that represents significant improvement without overextension.

To get a better idea of an appropriate goal, consider talking to a guidance counselor, SAT tutor, or private college adviser such as us. Obviously, the lower the score, the more room there is for improvement, so a goal of improving up to 200 SAT or 5 ACT points can be feasible if the starting score is under about 1100 (SAT) or 22 (ACT). If the starting score is higher, the margin of improvement may be smaller, but it can still be significant.

When setting the goal score, also consider the range of scores accepted at target colleges. For safety schools, your teen’s goal score should fall above 75% of the range of acceptable scores. For target schools, it should fall at least around 50%, and for reach schools your teen should aim to fall above 25% of the admitted score range.

4. Even students who are ‘bad test-takers’ can do very well on the SAT or ACT with the right preparation.

Although your child may not excel on tests in school, or even on previously taken standardized tests, the SAT and ACT are a bit different. These tests don’t measure knowledge gained and don’t require the rote memorization that many other tests do. Instead, they focus on measuring critical thinking skills and how a student is able to apply their knowledge in unique or complex ways.

Because these tests are so different from the other tests that students typically take, there is really no such thing as a “bad test-taker” when it comes to the SAT or ACT. Instead, there are prepared test-takers and unprepared test-takers.

Learning how to perform well on the SAT or ACT is a skill in and of itself, and preparing specifically for these tests is important. Many smart, high-performing high school students will find that they do not perform as well as they expected simply because they took their performance for granted and did not prepare specifically for the test.

With the appropriate preparation and attention paid to SAT- or ACT-specific skills, all students can improve their test scores and be successful on these important assessments.

5. There is no one-size-fits-all preparation method.

Most of your child’s test preparation should focus on test-taking strategies. Of course, there will also be some content and core curriculum that needs brushing up on, but the majority of the work to prepare for the SAT or ACT is focused specifically on how to take these tests in a smart and focused way.

Different students will benefit from different test-taking strategies. Your child’s formative or diagnostic assessment will help to highlight areas in need of improvement. Rather than viewing these as academic areas of weakness, though, they should be thought of as unfamiliar question types or strategies.

It is possible for your child to tackle SAT or ACT prep on his or her own. To do this, start with a highly rated commercial study guide or use the free resources endorsed by the College Board and available through Khan Academy. By creating a thoughtful study timeline based on the materials available, your child will be able to learn strategies and content in a focused and timely manner.

Another option for test prep is a tutor or test prep service. Although these services generally cost more than simply buying a commercial study guide, they also provide more insider knowledge than can be provided in a book. Tutors and test prep services are intimately familiar with the test, and have tried and true strategies that they’ve developed with many students over an extended period of time.

Before committing to any paid service, be sure to ask about the specific costs associated with the service, the time commitment that will be required of your child, and the average test score increase that most clients experience.

6. Expect for your child to take the test more than once.    

Even if you begin test preparations well in advance of your child’s first test date, the vast majority of all students will take the ACT or SAT more than once. This is because the test-taking environment can be stressful and, despite thorough preparations, nothing can exactly recreate the actual test-day experience.

The first time your child takes the test, it should be thought of as a dry run. If your child happens to get the score he or she was looking for on the first try, that’s great! If not, remember that this first test helps to get your child more comfortable with the testing experience and gets first-test jitters out of the way. The next test will be a less stressful experience, and most students experience the greatest score improvements between their first and second test administration.

7. You know your child. Think about how you can support him or her best.

Different students need different kinds of support and thrive in different learning environments. For example, if you know that your child typically needs one-on-one support to focus and excel, a group test prep class is obviously not a good idea.

You should also keep in mind your child’s individual temperament. Is your child typically self-motivated and puts a lot of pressure on him or herself, or does your child often need external motivation to get started? Does your child get stressed out easily?

You are the parent, and you know your child best. Think about how to support him or her without adding any unnecessary stress, and be careful not to let your own anxiety or worry rub off on your teen.

8. How You Can Help

Developing study routines is something that you can certainly get involved with to help set your child on the path to success. This could take many forms, but here are some ideas to get you started:

• Create a quiet study space for your child. Stock the area with writing utensils, scrap paper, an appropriate calculator, and a dictionary or study guide.
• Institute a “Question of the Day” in your house. You can find practice SAT or ACT questions online or in study guides. Take care not to make this a competitive or anxiety-producing experience; instead, try to keep it fun and lighthearted. 
• Help with time management. High school students are busy. They often have an extensive schedule of extracurriculars following their full day at school. It can be hard to find consistent time to prepare for anything else. Help your child to review a calendar, come up with a weekly study time goal, and commit to specific study times during the week to ensure that he or she finds the time necessary.
• Help with stress management. Not only are high school students busy, they are also stretched thin, often to the point of stress. You can help by creating a calm and supportive environment at home. Try to be involved without meddling by letting your child know that you’re available for advice or simply to listen anytime.
• Help with logistics. Your child will need to register for the test, arrange transportation, and make sure that he or she has all the required tools packed and ready to go on test day. These are all things that you can help with. Review the SAT or ACT calendar to become familiar with registration deadlines and put them on your household calendar. Offer to drive your student to the exam, and make sure you know where it is and how you’ll get there. Help your child to review a test day checklist and make sure that everything is packed and ready to go the night before the test.    
• Finally, make sure your child knows that a test doesn’t define his or her worth. Yes, the SAT or ACT is probably the most important test he or she has taken, but ultimately it won’t change who your child is or what he or she’s capable of doing. Remind your child that although it’s a big one, the test is still just a test. There may be an eye roll in response, but don’t worry, we’re used to that.

If you still have questions about the SAT or ACT, come meet us!

What are SAT Subject Tests?

Most likely, you are accustomed to hearing about the SAT as a singular test that is used by college admissions committees to gauge your college and career-readiness. In actuality though, the SAT isn’t just a standalone test. In fact, there is, as the College Board refers to it, an entire SAT Suite of Assessments, beginning with the PSAT 8/9 and progressing to the singular SAT test that you’ve undoubtedly heard so much about.

SAT assessments don’t end there, either.

Beginning in 1937, the College Board began to offer a series of subject-specific standardized tests. First known as Achievement Tests, then as SAT II: Subject Tests, they are now simply called SAT Subject Tests. Each SAT Subject Test is a multiple-choice test administered over the course of one hour, of which there are 20 to choose from. When taken strategically, these tests serve to improve your chance at admission to colleges by highlighting unique subject-specific knowledge that might otherwise not be apparent.

What SAT Subject Tests are available?

Currently, SAT Subject Tests are available for the following subjects:

MATH

• Math Level 1

• Math Level 2

LANGUAGES

• Korean with Listening

• Chinese with Listening

• Spanish with Listening

• French with Listening

• German with Listening

• Japanese with Listening

• Italian

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Modern Hebrew

• Latin

SCIENCE

• Physics

• Chemistry

• Biology – Ecological

• Biology – Molecula

ENGLISH

• Literature

HISTORY

• U.S. History

• World History

These tests aim to highlight your strengths in areas that might be less obvious to college admissions committees. They are a great chance to draw attention to skills you’ve developed independently or to areas of your academic focus to which you’ve devoted extra time or dedication. SAT Subject Tests can also help to indicate your interests or intended path of study in higher education, and at some colleges can even help you to place out of introductory classes. 

Do I have to take SAT Subject Tests?

Short answer: no. SAT Subject Tests are not a graduation requirement and are not universally required for college admissions, so you do not technically have to take any of them. That being said, many colleges and universities will require SAT Subject Tests of some variety. There are several ways in which colleges use SAT Subject Tests as a part of their admissions procedures.

Some colleges might ask you to submit a specific number of SAT Subject Test scores, but they allow you to choose which tests you take. These colleges most likely want to see how well you perform in your strongest areas of interest.

Other colleges might specify exactly which SAT Subject Tests are required for admissions. These colleges place weight in certain subject areas and want to make sure that they have a standardized measurement of your performance within that content area. 

Finally, some colleges that don’t normally require subject tests for general admissions may still require specific SAT Subject Tests if you’re applying to a specific program at the school. For example, if you’re applying to a dedicated engineering program, you may be asked to submit a score from the Physics SAT Subject Test, or if you’re applying as a premed student you might need to submit a score from the Chemistry SAT Subject Test.

In any case, you’ll need to research the specific schools and programs to which you’re applying to make sure that you know the exact requirements of each.

Should I take SAT Subject Tests even if they’re not required?

If the colleges or universities that you’re applying to don’t require SAT Subject Tests, you may be tempted to skip them altogether. After all, standardized tests can be a stressful experience even if they’re not required for admission. Remember, though, that the SAT Subject Tests bring benefits besides just filling a requirement.

College admissions can be a competitive game, and SAT Subject Tests can help to set you apart from the field. Just because the college you hope to attend does not require you to submit them for consideration, it does not mean that they are not considered at all if you choose to submit them anyway. In fact, admissions committees will still review your scores and use them to create a more complete picture of you as a candidate.

And remember, with Score Choice, you can choose which scores you submit. Unlike with SAT exams, you do not have to submit all your scores from a single test day. Instead, you can pick and choose exactly which SAT Subject Test scores you send, thereby maximizing your opportunity to highlight areas of strength. If you perform poorly on an SAT Subject Test, you don’t have to send the score to anyone. On the other hand, if you perform exceptionally well, it would be silly not to include that score on your college applications, whether it’s required or not.

Further, SAT Subject Tests can draw attention to areas of strength that might not be readily apparent on the rest of your application. Do you speak a foreign language at home, attend summer programs for advanced sciences, or have a passion for U.S. History that you pursue outside of the classroom? Taking an SAT Subject Test is one way to show off the unique skills and understanding you have gained, in or out of the classroom. 

Last but not least, some colleges use SAT Subject Tests to place students into the appropriate courses when they matriculate. If this is the case at any of the schools you’re considering, make sure that you take the appropriate subject tests to get an appropriate class placement. You might even be able to place out of certain introductory requirements like foreign languages or mathematics.

For a list of colleges and universities that use SAT Subject Tests in some regard, check the College Board List of Institutions Using SAT Subject Test.

What is the format of SAT Subject Tests?

SAT Subject Tests are similar in format to individual sections of the SAT Test. They are all multiple-choice tests and they each take one hour to complete. Some tests, such as foreign language tests, contain a listening portion as well. SAT Subject Tests are scored on a scale from 200-800, just like the individual sections of the SAT.

When do SAT Subject Tests take place?

SAT Subject Tests are generally administered six times during each school year, on the same days and in the same test centers as the regular SAT. Keep in mind, though, that not all 20 Subject Tests are offered on every SAT date. At this time, Language with Listening Tests are only offered on the November test date, and several other tests also have limited availability.

Check the SAT Subject Test Calendar for specific dates and tests. Due to the limited dates on which some tests are available, it’s important to plan well ahead of time to make sure that you can schedule every test you want to take within the appropriate time frame.

How much do SAT Subject Tests cost?

There is a $26 flat registration fee for any administration of SAT Subject Tests. On top of the registration fee, you will pay $21 for each Subject Test you take on that day, or $26 for any Language Test with Listening. There may be other fees as well, such as late registration fees, registration by phone charges, or registration change fees. 

SAT subject tests are an extra burden. Take them only if the colleges you are applying require it. Otherwise, you can take that time to study something else!  

SAT vs. ACT: Which one is right for you?

The SAT and ACT  are two of the most popular standadized testing programs. While the SAT has had the larger presence in India, both are equally an instution of testing when it comes to undergraduate education in the United States. At Edbrand, we have seen scores differ widely with the same student as they take both the tests. The difference lies in the questions. To understand this better we’ll take you through both the tests and then dive into a comparative analysis. 

SAT 

The newly designed SAT was introduced in 2016 with four sections and an optional essay. 

Section 1: Reading (52 questions spread over 5 passages. Time allotted: 65 minutes) 

Section 2: Wrting (44 multiple choice questions on grammar, spread over 4 passages. Time allotted: 35 minutes) 

Sections 3 & 4: Math ( In all 58 Q to be solved in 80 min. Calculator not permitted for Section 3 whereas section 4 permits the use of Graphing display calculator) 

Optional essay, a commentary to be written in 800 words long argumentative prompt. 

ACT

Leaving minor changes aside, the pr esent structure of ACT has been around since 1989. It has four sections: 

English (75 Q – 45 Min) 

Math (60Q – 60 min) - Graphing calculator permitted 

Reading (40 Q – 35 min) 

Science (40 Q – 35 Min ) - Calculator not permitted 

The ACT essay is easier to write than the one on SAT as you are permitted to use your own examples here. 

So what’s the difference

1. The SAT is more a test of reasoning and logic and always attempts to size up your ability to improvise and act in a situation. The SAT syllabus is limited and an effective SAT prep can be put in place in as little as 30 hours, although that is not recommended. ACT , on the other hand , is a pure speed test and the questions here are generally on the easier side. The average time allowed per question on ACT (4 9 seconds), however, is 30% lower than that allowed on SAT (70 seconds). 
2. The Grammar sections on the two tests are pretty much identical. Although there are more rhetorical questions on SAT, you get more time to answer t hem as compared to the ACT. Students from any background can answer these , given appropriate inputs and adequate practice. 
3. The math sections on the two tests differ vastly in their scope and required approach and prep. SAT has a tiny syllabus and students irrespective of their math options in junior and senior years will be comfortable here given some additional inputs in areas like parabola and statistics. The questions can tend to be tricky though. Also, most of the SAT math questions are lengthy in wordi ng and inadvertently end up testing your reading speed as well. Time will not be a challenge on any of these tests for the math sections unless the student has a weak math foundation from the middle years of schooling. ACT math is highly curriculum based a nd students who do not hav e math as a subject in their high school will struggle here. High school math students will find ACT math simple as the questions are usually direct and superficial, merely testing one for the concept involved and not its applicat ion. That said, these students will take more time as the syllabus is large and loosely defined. Having prepared for ACT math with usually give the students an edge in their SAT math level 2 prep as there is almost a 50% overlap in the syllabus . 
4. The reading sections of the two tests are poles apart. My favorite line here is “SAT tests you for reading between the lines. On the ACT, you just have to read the lines; there are too many of them though ” . SAT reading is highly inferential requiring the student to u nderstand the passage in great depth and align herself with the thoughts of the author. ACT reading is direct and answers to all the questions can be found directly i n the passage. The only challenge here is attempting four long passages and 40 questions in a minuscule 35 minutes. 
5. ACT has a science section, which is not there on SAT. This section, in my opinion, should have been called Data Comprehension as it does not really test you on scien tific principles. Having all three sciences in freshman and sopho more years of high schools should suffice. Even if you do not have sciences in junior and senior high school years, you will usually do well here provided you know the technique. Students who have not studied Biology and Chemistry in Grade 9 or 10 ( Year 10 or 11 for some curriculums ) will struggle here. 

Recent Trends

ACT has been more or less a stable test over the last ten years and the actual tests have shown a gradual increase in difficulty level in the math and English sections and a gradual decrease in difficulty in reading and science sections. The October and December administrations, however, had a substantially lengthier reading. 

The redesigned SAT was introduced in March 2016 and till the January 2017 administration, it was more or less in line wit h the mock tests. From the May 2017 administration, the reading section has witnessed an increased level of difficulty. Another issue with SAT is the fact that only 8 official tests are available for practice. The ones published by private publishers like Kaplan and Barron’s are nowhere near the real test in terms of the level of difficulty or scope. For ACT, as many as 35 real tests are easily available for practice.

How do you choose? 

If you find the above description to be too much of a jargon to comprehend, I can recommend three basic questions that you should ask to make this decision. 

1. Have you opted for math at a standard of higher level in junior and senior years (this applies for IB students. ISC and CBSE students are doing this already)? 
2. Have you studied Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in class 9 & 10 
3. Were you able to attempt at least 34 questions on an ACT reading diagnostic and got at least 28 of these correct? 

If the answers to all three questions are yes, go for the ACT. If the answer to even one of these is no, opt for the SAT. Please refrain from conducting a full length diagnostic for both tests to decide. Students rarely have the stamina to last through a three - hour standardized test and this will rarely provide an accurate picture. 

How Good is the SAT/ACT at Predicting College Success?

As you probably know by now, standardized test scores are a basic part of the college application process. Most schools will require you to submit your scores from the SAT or ACT in order to apply, and a high score is a necessity for admission to the best colleges.

For years, however, educators, admissions professionals, and students like yourself have been asking what SAT and ACT scores really mean. What does a standardized test actually measure, especially when it’s so different from the experience of learning in a classroom setting? What does a student’s test score as far as their chances of succeeding in college later on?

The ACT and SAT won’t ask you to demonstrate knowledge of specific highly advanced content, and they don’t measure how “smart” you are. However, studies show that these tests have some predictive ability when it comes to anticipating how well you’ll do in college, albeit within limits. In this post, we’ll go over the data that’s available, explain what this data may mean, and suggest how you can use this interpretation to better manage your college prospects.

Defining the Parameters: What Does “College Success” Mean?

In order to answer the question of whether your SAT and ACT scores can predict whether you’ll succeed in college, we first need to ask the question of what it means to succeed in college, and what quantitative factors we can use to measure that success.

The quality of your college experience is something that everyone defines a little differently. For you, college success might mean getting good grades and academic awards, preparing well for your future career, or making networking connections that will help you to achieve your goals, among many other options. Many of these definitions are subjective, personal, or unquantifiable, which makes it difficult to use them to determine the predictive ability of standardized tests.

When schools and other institutions attempt to define college success, they tend to stick with factors that can be quantified and compared more easily. Commonly used measures of success include college GPA, graduation rate, or how long the average student takes to graduate. Success in college might also be measured by how many students find high-quality employment after graduation, or the average income of students a certain number of years after graduation.

Researchers have attempted to study the relationships between SAT and ACT scores and each of these measures of success, as well as others. Some of these studies haven’t produced much useful data, but some have found potentially interesting correlations between a student’s standardized test scores and their eventual college performance.

The Data: What Have Researchers Discovered, and What Does It Mean?

There isn’t space in this post to go over the entire body of research on test scores and college success in great detail. We can say this much: overall, studies have shown that students who score higher on the SAT and/or ACT are slightly more likely to achieve higher grades in college and higher incomes after college.

In this sense, we can say that in general, higher standardized test scores do show a correlation with college success as it’s usually defined. This effect is heightened because top-tier colleges, which tend to have very successful students, use test scores as a selection factor, so students with high test scores are more likely to get admitted to colleges that will give them the best chance to succeed. However, it’s not quite that simple; several other factors complicate this interpretation.

First of all, these studies only show correlation, not causation, a distinction you may have learned about in science or statistics courses. Basically, we can see that students who score highly on the SAT and ACT do tend to also show higher levels of college success, but this information doesn’t tell us why this happens, or necessarily mean that the former causes the latter.

Whether a student does well on the SAT or ACT can be affected by a variety of factors aside from the student’s inherent aptitude. For instance, it’s pretty clear that targeted test preparation can raise your scores, but high-quality resources for preparing for the SAT and ACT aren’t available or accessible to everyone. It’s hard to tell how these factors interact to produce a successful college student; other factors might have more of an impact than high test scores.

Another factor to take into account is that even when studies do show a relationship between test scores and college success, the correlation is not very strong. In other words, a student who gets a higher score on the ACT or SAT is slightly more likely to be more successful in college, but only slightly. Your standardized test scores don’t always predict your future.

Some studies have found that in practice, your high school grades and GPA tend to be better predictors of your eventual college success than your SAT and/or ACT scores. It’s thought that course grades, which are made up of many different assignments and exams over a long period of time, are more comparable to the challenges you’ll encounter in college than your test scores.

To maintain a high GPA, you need to put consistent and dedicated effort into your coursework over a long period of time, and skill in this area will be invaluable as you move on to college. Standardized test scores are based on a smaller amount of data, collected at only a few test sittings, so they may not reflect as accurately your ability to keep up a high level of performance throughout your college experience and in your future career.

What Can I Do With This Information?

There are a lot of opinions out there about the value of standardized tests and how much they do or should matter. In recent years, a handful of colleges, including some that are very well-regarded, have decided to go “test-optional,” meaning that they don’t require students to submit SAT or ACT scores as part of their applications. (You can learn more about test-optional colleges in our blog post The Reality of the Testing-Optional Trend.)

Still, it’s clear that your SAT and ACT scores measure something that’s important to the majority of colleges when they’re considering applicants for admission. Most competitive colleges require you to submit these test scores, so it’s important that you put time and effort into preparing for your tests in order to get the best scores that you can.

The data we have right now does suggest that your SAT and/or ACT scores may have some value in predicting how well you’ll do in college.  High test scores may indicate that you’re well-prepared for the challenges that college will present. At the same time, however, it’s wise not to get too caught up in trying to predict the future, especially while you’re still in high school.

Getting high scores on your standardized tests doesn’t guarantee that college will be a breeze for you, especially if you attend a college that’s known for its academic rigor. Your own choices will also affect how well you do in college, from which courses or majors you pursue to how well you study and organize your time.

By the same token, if your test scores are lower than you’d like them to be, this doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to fail in college. Some students just perform much better in a classroom than they do on standardized tests. Besides, you still have time to improve your study habits, get help with particular problem areas, and otherwise work on doing better in school.

If you’re preparing to apply to competitive colleges, you definitely need to take the SAT and/or ACT, and also take some time to study and prepare beforehand to maximize your chance of a good score. These tests are still required by the large majority of colleges, and a good score is a necessity for admission into the most prestigious and popular schools.

However, it’s equally clear that your standardized test scores are not the be-all and end-all of academic success, and you shouldn’t place too much value on these tests as a measure of your ability and worth. A correlation exists between high test scores and college success, but many other factors are also important in determining your educational path.

Get informed and prepare responsibly for your SAT and/or ACT, but don’t let yourself get too caught up in the outcome of these tests. Making the most of your time in high school, finding a college that’s a great fit for you, and setting yourself up to achieve your goals are much more complicated than your score on any standardized test.

Want to learn more? Come have a chat with us

What is a good SAT score in 2018?

One question that we at Edbrand hear a lot is “What is a good SAT score?” Many students are anxious to know how their scores stack up or really want to have a concrete target score in mind when they go into test day. It’s only natural that you’d want to know what a qualifies as a “good” score. 

While we would like to be able to offer a more concrete answer, the question isn’t actually so cut and dry. Instead, what qualifies as a good SAT score depends on a number of different factors. Some students are interested to know what scores will place them in certain national percentiles. Other students are focused on getting into a specific college or even a particular program. In all of these instances, a good SAT score will have a different meaning. 

In this post, we’ll break down this seemingly simple question into a number of different angles so that we have an answer for nearly every student. If you’re interested to find out what a good SAT score might look like for you, keep reading.

What is the Distribution of SAT Scores Like Most Recently?

One way to think about a “good” SAT score is by considering where it places you amongst other students who took the SAT this year. By looking at percentiles, we’re able to get a pretty good idea of how your SAT score stacks up to the national average. 

Have a peek at the table below. In it, you’ll notice that scores are listed alongside percentiles. Percentiles represent the actual national average percentile of 2017 graduating students who scored below that particular score on the new SAT.

SAT Score Percentiles for 2017

National SAT Percentile Scores

As you can see, if you scored a 1320, that score places you close to the 90th percentile. This means that nearly 90% of students who graduated in 2017 scored below you. Not bad! 

There are a few other things worth noting as you review this table too. First, in order to place in the top 50% of national test takers in 2017, you would have needed to score a 1060. This means that if you scored 1060 or above, you scored better than half the students who took the SAT that year. This places you above average and by some standards could qualify as a good SAT score. 

If your standards are different and you are shooting for the top 30%, you can check the 70th percentile score and find that those scores are in the 1170 range. For students who want to place in the top 30% of test-takers, a score of 1170 might be the magic number to qualify as a “good” score.

What SAT Score Do I Need to Get Into a Good College?

For some students, though, simply knowing the percentile isn’t enough. Many students want to know if their score is “good enough” to get into a specific college. 

Again, this question is especially difficult to answer for a few different reasons. For one, there is no minimum SAT score required at any of the most selective colleges, so simply scoring highly on the SAT is not enough to ensure admission. Similarly, you could perform quite poorly on the SAT and still be offered a seat in the freshman class if you are able to impress the admissions committee in a number of different ways. 

Next, what qualifies as a good college to one student may not meet another student’s standards. For this reason, it’s better to ask about specific colleges than to focus on a bigger generalization. 

How Can I Find Out If My Score Is Good Enough For a Particular School?

There is a lot of SAT score data available online. Most colleges publish information about the SAT scores of admitted students, so it is easily available to potential applicants like yourself. One simple way to access it is through the CollegeBoard Big Future website which allows you to search by school and see various data points about each school. 

In order to find out how your score stacks up at a specific school, you’ll need to find where your score places you amongst admitted students. While there won’t be a list of SAT scores from every single student, there will be a list of percentiles particular to that specific school, usually rounded off to 25%, 50%, and 75%. 

In general, we recommend that for safety schools, your SAT score should fall within the 75% percentile, meaning that it is above 75% of scores from admitted students. For target schools, your score should fall between 50-75% and for reach schools, your score should fall at least within the 25% to give you at least a decent shot at getting in. 

Sometimes, though, average SAT scores can be a little confusing or even deceiving. For some schools, and especially for specific programs within a school, SAT scores might be skewed so that average composite scores only show part of the picture. 

For example, when applying to a selective engineering program like the one at MIT, a student might have a perfect 800 on the Math section of the SAT but only a 550 on the Reading and Writing sections. The cumulative score of 1350 in this case might lead someone to believe that a 680 is roughly a strong contender on the Math section, when in reality the average score on this section accounts for more than half the composite average.

Keep a lookout on our blog for more info on test prep; both SATs and ACTs all this month! 

Recording of the Webinar on the redesigned SAT by Lisa Jain and Arjun Seth

Here is the link to the recording of the Webinar hosted by Lisa Jain, CollegeBoard. https://goo.gl/dJe1Y0

SAT Vs ACT - Infographic

On the long road towards the right-fit college, test prep seems daunting and the first step of choosing which test to focus can be challenging. Keep an eye out for our upcoming posts on how to decide between the SAT and the ACT.