Profiles of Local Schools: SAT vs. ACT

We asked schools if they preferred the SAT to the ACT, or vice-versa. Not one school directly indicated a preference for one over the other, though one school recommended submitting scores for both. We also asked schools how they compare SAT scores and ACT scores to each other. Not surprising, most schools did not really want to share that information. Here’s what we learned:

Towson University: Towson accepts either the SAT or the ACT Plus Writing. (They will not accept the ACT without the Writing section). Admissions uses the Princeton conversion chart. (We tried to find a copy of this particular chart on the internet, but couldn’t. We are including, however, at the conclusion of this letter, a concordance table that was put together by the College Board and the ACT in conjunction with each other and is therefore presumably more balanced than other such tables.) Towson also encourages students who take both tests to submit scores from both.

Johns Hopkins University: JHU accepts either the SAT or the Act Plus Writing, with no preference given to either. Again, JHU encourages students who take both tests to submit both sets of scores.

George Washington University: GW accepts either the SAT or the ACT, with no preference given to either.

University of Maryland: UMD asks that you submit either the SAT or the ACT Plus Writing.

Georgetown University: Georgetown says it accepts the ACT “in lieu of the SAT,” which—intentionally or not—sounds as if the school prefers the SAT.

University of Virginia: UVA will accept either the SAT or the ACT Plus Writing.

College of William & Mary: W&M accepts either the SAT or the ACT. Admissions looks primarily at the Math and Reading section scores of the SAT, placing less emphasis on the Writing score but considering it nonetheless. When considering ACT scores, W&M looks at the single best composite score (rather than looking at the individual subscores or putting together a Super Composite Score out of the best subscores).

Virginia Tech: Tech accepts either the SAT or the ACT Plus Writing.

James Madison University: JMU accepts either the SAT or ACT, and asks that you send all your scores. JMU will consider the highest individual Reading and highest individual Math score for the SAT, and the single highest composite score for the ACT.

George Mason University: GMU accepts either the SAT or the ACT. Admissions “highly encourages” students to take both tests.

The bottom line: Choose whichever test you’re more comfortable with and score better on. In order to determine which that is, you need to take a practice test for each test. Time yourself (for real!), and do your best. Use the tables included here to compare your scores. In our experience, students’ scores can vary by as many as two hundred (SAT) points per section, when the two sets of scores are compared. (Typically, an ACT section score and an SAT section score are within 30 to 50 points of each other.) If you need help comparing scores or choosing a test, or you want help preparing for one or both of the tests, call us.