ACT / SAT

C/B Lattanzio

C/B Lattanzio

5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2012
Messages
99
Hey guys,
I was just wondering if the acadameys prefer the SAT over the ACT or vice versa.
 
I'm not sure about a preference, however, the Class portrait that Navy publishes for the previous class is done in the SAT format. Mostly SAT is East Coast and ACT is MID-West/West Coast. I know USMA also posts class profiles in SAT. Keep in mind that USNA only looks at the Math and English Score (maybe the writing) from the ACT to convert to a SAT for comparison. USMA looks at the reading and Science as well. The minimum threshold not requiring Dean approval for a candidate is 25 in any category at USMA. I don't know about USNA but suspect it is similar.

My recommendation is to take both. You may find the format better for you personally in one vs. the other. All of the Academies superscore between the tests, so there is nothing to lose. Use the following link to convert.

http://collegeapps.about.com/od/standardizedtests/a/convertSAT2ACT.htm
 
There was a time when the ACT (based in Iowa City) was "preferred" by Midwest, Western institutions and SAT (Princeton, NJ based) was "preferred" by Eastern schools. That has long gone by the board, and including USNA, the "preferred" test is the one(s) on which a candidate can score her best.

At USNA, a 570 is the cut-off at which a key official must intervene for requesting special consideration for a candidate.

The ACT is a bit shorter in exam time period, and is considered an "achievement" test. The SAT is considered an "aptitude" test, and unlike the ACT, penalizes incorrect answers. The conceptual difference is that the ACT measures achievement to date, projecting that future performance is best predicted by past performance. Aptitude purports to measure one's capacity for succeeding in the future. Who knows which is more valid in terms of its alleged objective, and who cares. The only thing that really matters is which, if either, does a candidate do better on.

Again, the USNA has no preference for which tests are submitted as long as they are submitted within the designated time period.
 
Do these score cutoffs include writing or do the academies still disregard the writing score for the most part?
 
That is not a safe assumption; check it with your liaison officers or with the academy itself in each instance. You will find that while the SA's are similar, they are not identical.
 
At USNA, a 570 is the cut-off at which a key official must intervene for requesting special consideration for a candidate.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen this requirements ever mentioned. 530 (v)/570 (m) many years back use to be the cutoff to become an official candidate, however, I don't think it is the same today. So I don't think that the information above is accurate. I would think any applicant who became an official candidate below the 500's would require special approval from the Dean/Director. However, instead of worrying about the minimums, shoot for at least the 600's and you will be in the ballpark!
 
This was reported by an Admissions Committee member, noting a 570 cut-off for either or both V and M which then requires a USNA or USN higher-up champion to receive consideration. So if it's incorrect, he's fibbing, not me.

Still, as noted, worrying about this one seems rather fruitless.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top