By ERIC GALVAN, Staff Writer
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Printed courtesy of Imperial Valley Press, El Centro, CA
The SAT has traditionally been the primary standardized test utilized by high school students looking to gain entrance into a college.
But the ACT carries as much weight and may provide more flexibility for a student.
“We want students to know that they may perform better on the ACT,” Javier Ramos, coordinator for the College-Going Initiative, said. “I think there’s more marketing behind the SAT, so more students know about that. But they carry equal weight.”
During higher education week, which ends today, counselors, recruits and representatives from schools provided pivotal information to high school students about taking that next step to college. One focus was the importance of the SAT and ACT.
The SAT focuses on logic and reasoning skills in math and verbal tests, while the ACT tests in English, math, reading and science closer to the high school curriculum, according to information provided by Ramos.
The ACT also allows for results to not be shared with colleges, an option not available with the SAT.
Joanne Leslie, admissions officer for the University of California, San Diego, said she recommends students take both tests.
“Either can be used in admissions,” Leslie said. “And some students will perform better on one than the other. So they might as well take each one.”
The SAT costs about $38, while the ACT costs about $32, Ramos said. But students can talk to their schools’ counselors about applying for fee waivers.
Students can take the tests as many times as they want, but seniors only have until December to complete them.
With both of them, colleges only take the best scores, so Leslie recommends taking the tests multiple times.
Most schools in Imperial County have outreach programs to help students prepare for the SAT or ACT.
Ramos said programs like Talent Search or Upward Bound will provide help to students preparing for the tests.
Thomas Rodriguez, a representative from California State University, San Marcos, said it is imperative for students to take either of the tests.
“One of the main requirements is to take either of these tests,” Rodriguez said. “If they don’t have either done, students will not be admissible.”