One Quick Question

cdb3

5-Year Member
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Jan 27, 2012
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I was just wondering if admissions has any preference between the SATs and ACTs? Is doing well in one better than the other?

Thanks
 
No preference. Both are accepted and super-scored. But cannot take one score from SAT and the other from ACT.

THE BEST TEST is the one on which you can score the highest. Take them as often as time, money, perceived "best" results will allow. Be sensitive to timing of your application, its review, and the test and USNA deadlines. Plan waaaay ahead.

There are numerous conversion scales on the internet.

These tests are often perceived as "the same." They are not. SAT is an aptitude exam and ACT is an achievement test. In theory they measure different characteristics, the first potential, the 2nd achievement to date.

Just my opinion, but my anecdotal observation is that high performing, over-achieving students tend to do better on ACT. And also, you might well get as many opinions about this as there are posters. That's why it's important to try both if necessary, desirable to improve scores. Also, while dated, a few seasons back, it was acknowledged that the math standardized score was the most heavily weighted component of the scholastic review. ACT requires less testing time, about 30 minutes last I knew.

There is no value nor assessment made on subject matter SAT tests.
 
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But cannot take one score from SAT and the other from ACT.

Unless things have changed, they mix and match scores and from various test dates. For example, Jan SAT-E 650, SAT-M 500; Feb ACT-E 22, SAT-M 30....your best scores will be SAT 650 for english and ACT 30 for math.
 
jadler may be correct. My understanding has been that one cannot mix and match tests, but can mix testing dates, with the top scores always being given sole consideration.

I might be all wet on this one. Wouldn't be the first time.
 
We need to revisit this, if for no other reason, than to gain further clarification. But more so, unless better information is available from '85 or others, to correct/clarify some confusion on this.

In checking another BGO who in turned asked another, the answer seems to be as I'd indicated ...

The short answer is this ... USNA does superscore, SORTA.

Meaning ... They do take the best scores from only ONE TEST which may have been taken on various dates. In other words, it will be the best math and verbal scores from EITHER the SAT or ACT, but not both.

Thus another "short answer" is the USNA does not do superscoring like civilian institutions might.

I do not know which drives the selection, if a candidate has his highest math on the ACT and his highest verbal on SAT. But I'd bet a dime to a dollar that the driving score and thus the test determinant is the math score, as that has long been THE MOST HEAVILY WEIGHTED VARIABLE in assigning points to the candidate's application.
 
I'll see what I can pull....but I don't see why it wouldn't be the highest of a mix. If all of this goes into the calculated WPM....I have to imagine that they take the top ACT scores, convert it to SAT, and then they are able to compare/contrast all the scores and have the highest one count and calculated into WPM.
 
I have some recollection that they told us they would "mix and match" scores -- IOW take the best math and verbal regardless of whether they come from the same test. That said, I've never seen scores reported that way in our system. It MAY be that the system doesn't have the ability to mix and match or it could be that my memory is faulty. Or that none of my candidates has had better "split" scores than complete scores on one test.
 
lol ... you're half correct. The site is invaluable.

About that so-called "clarification" ... like mud right now. lol

I'm sticking with my bet ... same test, different dates. No mixing ACT and SAT scores. We'll see.
 
I spoke with an admissions officer and he said that they take the highest from either
for example if u got a 800 CR and 700 math but also a 32 english and 36 math, they will take it as perfect scores on both the english and math sections (800 CR and 36 Math)
 
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