Current juniors have started taking the American College Testing exam. The ACT is accepted by colleges in the United States as a form of entrance testing and can be taken in place of the Scholastic Aptitude Test.
ACT is a non-profit company, which has spent more than 60 years preparing students for college and careers. In 2023, roughly 1.4 million people, 37% of high school students chose to take the ACT. The national average score was 19.5, according to their website.
Junior Cooper Rabin took the ACT in October 2023 and says he preferred its format over the SAT.
“I was more comfortable with the ACT because the questions were a bit more straightforward, and I like the science section a lot, which the SAT does not have,” Rabin said. “There are more questions [on the ACT] but it cancels out, and I would rather have one with more straightforward questions, than fewer questions.”
The SAT only includes math and English sections and is evaluated on a scale of 400-1600. On the other hand, the ACT includes English, math, reading and science sections and is evaluated on a 1-36 scale. Both tests offer an optional essay portion.
Junior Taylor Chon originally took the ACT in December 2023, and then took it again in February. Like Rabin, he also preferred the ACT over the SAT, saying that the ACT takes less time.
“ACT and SAT feel different depending on the person. ACT is going to have easier questions but more time constraints,” Chon said. “The ACT is faster paced.”
Additionally, a considerable number of students participate in independent practice and tutoring for these college standardized tests. Due to the increase in coursework junior year, students often have to develop new ways to manage their time, while still maintaining a healthy balance of work.
“I did [test preparations] on the weekends too, since that is when I have my free time,” Rabin said. “I found that was most helpful for me was sitting down and doing some practice tests.”
Chon had a similar experience studying.
“I used workbooks, took several practice tests, and had a tutor. Greenhill helped lay the foundation for the math section, but less for reading comprehension,” Chon said. “I’ve had to carve out a little of my day on the weekends and not go out with friends as much.”
