by Thomas Pan ’14, Feature Editor

The SAT or the ACT? That is the question. This question plagues students all over the country and the juniors at the Academy are no different. Standardized testing, in its traditional usage, is meant to supplement high school grades. But today, it seems that standardized testing is the thing that stresses students out the most.

Both the SAT and the ACT are the two principal standardized tests for college admittance. Most colleges require scores from one of these tests when students apply. The SAT, sponsored by College Board, a nonprofit US organization, is a three hour, forty-five minute exam. Scores range from 600 -2400, a sum of three maximum 800 point sections: Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. Most colleges and universities require at least two SAT subject tests, a maximum 800 point one-hour tests that focuses on one particular subject. Meanwhile, the ACT is a two hour fifty-five minute test and scores range from 1-36. Sections include English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning, and an optional Writing Section.

In years past, choosing between the SAT or the ACT was simple. If you lived on the East or West coast, you took the SAT. If you lived in the Central, Midwest, or Southern areas of the country, you took the ACT. As a whole, the SAT had dominated the ACT, especially in coastal areas like New Jersey.  Today, this stereotype is not so accurate. Interestingly, the ACT has seen a massive leap in popularity. It is no longer uncommon for East or West Coasters to be taking the ACT. According to statistics, in 2010, for the first time, the number of students taking the ACT (1.57 million) surpassed the number taking the SAT (1.55 million).  Also, last year in 2012, for the first time, the percentage of high school seniors having taken the ACT (52%) exceeded 50%.

There seem to be several reasons for this phenomenon. More and more accusations have arisen that accuse the SAT of being unfair and ineffective. Some students are shunning the SAT, believing that the ACT will give them an edge in college admissions.

At Newark Academy, the number of students taking either test is close, especially for an East Coast school. Notably in the past few years, the ACT has been taking Newark Academy students by storm. According to Ms. Amy Shapiro, Head of the College Counseling Office, “The ACT has been around for quite some time now but only in recent years have we seen a rise in the number of students who take the ACT.”

Both tests have their pros and cons and students choose their test based on many factors. For some, a factor is logistics. The SAT is one test, but most colleges also require two subject tests along with the SAT. On the other hand, most colleges do not require additional subjects tests if the ACT is taken because it contains a science reasoning section. Another factor is the length of the test. The SAT is a full 50 minutes longer than the ACT. Both are considered reasoning tests, but have different connotations. The SAT has a connotation of being a “tricky” test, assessing students’ abilities to think critically in tough situations. The ACT is considered better for students who are good at “school tests.”

Students at Newark Academy often use these kinds of justifications for their decisions. For Junior Ethan Savel ‘14, the decision was simple. He plans to take the ACT because “the ACT is more straight-forward while the SAT tries to trick you. Also, I’m a strong science student.” On the other hand, Andie Wei ’14 plans on taking the SAT because she’s “not very good in science courses” and has just “always been practicing the SAT because of its popularity.” But smack-in the middle we have students who are impartial between the two. Jake Cohen ’14, is a junior who is planning on taking both. Cohen said, “I already took the SAT and got my score back and was pretty satisfied. But I am still planning on taking the ACT in the spring to see which I will eventually use for colleges.” This is the mindset Ms. Shapiro advises for students. She says, “Colleges will gladly accept either the SAT or the ACT to satisfy some or all of their testing requirements – so students can really choose whichever test best suits them. It is a good idea for students to try practice versions of both tests and then determine the test on which they should focus their studies and ultimately take.” Students are encouraged to experiment with both tests to see which one showcases their strengths and garners higher scores.

In the end, the decision between the SAT and the ACT is a difficult one. Obviously, both have their advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing to remember is that, for most students, one of the tests just fits better than the other. Popularity of the test should not be an issue, because it’s about you, not everyone else. It is important to make your own decision.