In regard to math content, both the ACT and SAT have a big emphasis on algebra. The ACT Has Less Algebra and More Geometry So if graphs, charts, and data are your thing- use the ACT as an opportunity to show off those skills! Despite its name, ACT Science focuses on graph and data interpretation rather than scientific facts like what photosynthesis is or the parts of a cell. The ACT's science section contains 40 questions and accounts for a quarter of your final ACT score. The SAT incorporates some scientific passages in its test, but there's no all-out science section. We have an entire article devoted to helping you decide between the ACT and SAT, but here's a summary of four key differences: The ACT's rival is the SAT, and, despite what you might think, there are actually some significant differences between the two tests. Now, if you decide to take a standardized test, you have options. #5: The ACT Might Suit You Better Than the SAT How much better, then, to get it taken care of now, rather than scrambling to take the test when an employer asks for scores unexpectedly? (Answer: A lot better.) And, according to the Wall Street Journal, it's getting more common. This doesn't just apply to test prep jobs, either this requirement pops up in consulting and finance-related jobs, too. Still, some potential bosses want to see data from the SAT or ACT before they hire you. This may seem odd, and it's certainly a newer trend.
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You can send scores from these in-school tests to colleges the same way you would with any other ACT scores, but you also aren't required to send them if you aren't happy with how you did on the test. In these cases, you'll take the ACT at school, during the school day.
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Surprise! Even if the colleges you're applying to don't require the ACT, you still might end up taking it if your high school requires it or if you live in one of the states that requires the ACT. #3: Your State or High School Might Require It Hopefully your scholarship money won't be meted out in single-dollar bills, either. Because financial aid packages are often worth tens of thousands of dollars, it'd be well worth your time to take the ACT, even if it's not technically required. Even if the schools you're applying to are test optional, they may still require test scores for financial aid. Many schools award merit-based financial aid to students, and test scores are often one of the most important factors in determining which students get scholarships and which don't. #2: There Are Scholarships for High Scorers If you decide not to take the ACT, it can limit the colleges you're able to apply to and cause you to lose out on a chance to make your application even more impressive. Even if a school is test optional, having a strong test score will boost your application and help you stand out from the crowd. In that case, why should you take the ACT? Well, most colleges still want to see how you scored on the SAT or ACT.
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Most schools became test optional only temporarily, but some have decided to make it a permanent change. Test-optional policies became much more popular as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, when many students couldn't take the ACT or SAT. There are, indeed, some colleges that don't require scores- schools that are test-optional or even completely test-blind.
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Standardized test scores are an important part of college admissions, but they also have value beyond that: taking the ACT can earn you tens of thousands of dollars in financial aid or help you get a job! Below are the five key reasons why to take the ACT. Read this article to help you decide if taking the ACT is the right choice for you. Why take the ACT, then? And is it a better choice than the SAT? You may have heard that many colleges have become test optional (either temporarily or permanently) because of the coronavirus pandemic and are wondering if it's still worth it to take the ACT. Standardized testing isn't most people's idea of fun-quite the opposite actually.