Here is a question that has been nagging at me for a while.
USMA admissions says it will accept EITHER the SAT or ACT.
RC suggests (and this forum) suggests to take both exams, multiple times and a super-score will be created.
They are both somewhat different tests and although they measure similar abilities, one candidate might score way better on one test than the other. My son scored very well on the SAT after three attempts, around 2000 total, but scored poorly on the ACT after being advised to take it to help his chances. Now there is a score that is probably in "risk" category on his portal. Will he be penalized in the long run because of this? Class rank is very high, sports, activities, etc all in place. Nomination is in as well.
My question is this: will a competitive score on the SAT outweigh/cancel out the poor score on the ACT (Yes, he is taking the ACT again to improve..he just had a really bad day) I know they both have the same weight in the total scoring of the candidate.
I know that someone here will say you should do exceptionally well on both tests to attend USMA and I don't disagree. But that isn't my issue. Some people only take one of the tests because they are fully aware that they might do poorly on the other. Those candidates are extended an offer of admission even though they might have done poorly on the other standardized test...and there is no way of knowing for sure unless both are taken.
Thanks in advance for any insight you might have.
USMA admissions says it will accept EITHER the SAT or ACT.
RC suggests (and this forum) suggests to take both exams, multiple times and a super-score will be created.
They are both somewhat different tests and although they measure similar abilities, one candidate might score way better on one test than the other. My son scored very well on the SAT after three attempts, around 2000 total, but scored poorly on the ACT after being advised to take it to help his chances. Now there is a score that is probably in "risk" category on his portal. Will he be penalized in the long run because of this? Class rank is very high, sports, activities, etc all in place. Nomination is in as well.
My question is this: will a competitive score on the SAT outweigh/cancel out the poor score on the ACT (Yes, he is taking the ACT again to improve..he just had a really bad day) I know they both have the same weight in the total scoring of the candidate.
I know that someone here will say you should do exceptionally well on both tests to attend USMA and I don't disagree. But that isn't my issue. Some people only take one of the tests because they are fully aware that they might do poorly on the other. Those candidates are extended an offer of admission even though they might have done poorly on the other standardized test...and there is no way of knowing for sure unless both are taken.
Thanks in advance for any insight you might have.