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n2ny
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2008 07:53 pm |
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My son has taken the SATs once (in Dec. of Junior year), and scored 2140 the hard way: 650V; 800M; 690W.
He just took the ACTs and his composite is 32, with three 99s, one 97 and one 90 (science -- he ran out of time). The writing hasn't been scored yet.
He's planning on taking SAT IIs in June: Math II and Am History.
The plan has been to retake the SAT in September and try to lift that 650, even though verbal is the hardest score to lift significantly. But that was before he decided to take the ACT.
Does he just go with the ACT (assuming his writing is strong enough). Should he retake it to see if he can lift the science score? He's already in the 99th percentile; does it matter?
Does he just submit everything?
Thank you for your wise advice.
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2008 09:30 pm |
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Statistically, these are equivlent scores.
Which test did he like better? What were the ACT subscores? (The % does not matter as much as the subscore.) Science is rather easy to raise for a strong student -- it's more reading comprehension of charts and graphs than actual science.
btw: ACT is offered in Sept in some states, but not in NY. SAT is usually not offered until Oct. ACT also offered in June the week after SAT Subject Tests. While it doesn't allow any time to prepare, with Score Choice anyone could take the real thing as "practice."
Last edited on Wed Apr 30th, 2008 09:43 pm by DesperateDad
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n2ny
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2008 10:22 pm |
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He found the ACT to be much easier than the SAT but he just lost steam by the time the science section rolled around. Also, they started the test VERY late and the kids took it in an auditorium. They hardly had any desk space. The conditions were horrible. Science brought down his composite score substantially.
As subscores, he had three 18s; two 17s; and two 16s.
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2008 11:04 pm |
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| sorry, I meant four individual scores for English, Math, Reading, Science which comprise the composite. The reason I ask is to be able to understand better if he has a chance of raising the ACT score (which is possible). If colleges require Subject Tests, colleges will recieve the SAT scores anyway. Last edited on Wed Apr 30th, 2008 11:40 pm by DesperateDad
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n2ny
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Posted: Wed Apr 30th, 2008 11:41 pm |
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Sorry!
35 (English)
35 (Math)
33 (Reading)
26 (Science)
He can def raise science. Maybe Reading. As you can see, his scores sank as the test progressed.
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 12:06 am |
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With that science score, I'd strongly recommend another go at the ACT. Depending on the scaling, your S was one-two more correct question(s) away from a 33, and ~six questions away from a 34. A 34 (1520/2280) is an impressive score and puts one higher in the zone for merit money at selective colleges.
Raising his Science score 5 points is doable. I've known bright kids raise the Science scores 6-9 points with several hours of home practice. (It really helps to learn how to attack the Dueling Scientists passages.)
btw: April Reading test had a brutal scale.
Last edited on Thu May 1st, 2008 12:07 am by DesperateDad
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n2ny
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 02:28 am |
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Thank you so much for that great advice, and for taking the time to help us. He knew he bombed science because he ran out of time on the last six questions.
We now have some good points to discuss with his college advisor. He wants to retake in September (vs. June), and I'm happy with that because he has the SATiis in June and another test site opens up then. Those scores will be available for early decision applications, yes?
How do you know what the scale is?
Thanks again!
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Descartes
Super Moderator
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 03:09 am |
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Ask and you shall receive:
2400 scale
http://www.princetonreview.com/college/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=864
1600 scale
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/highered/ra/sat/satACT_concordance.pdf
You can find other scales out there, too, but they don't vary greatly from these.
I agree, BTW, that it appears his best chance for improvement is to practice the science section. The difference between 99%-tile and 99.5%-tile is worth pursuing.
Last edited on Thu May 1st, 2008 03:15 am by Descartes
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n2ny
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 03:28 am |
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Thank you!
He has to work on his pacing as well. I'm sure he can do it.
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DesperateDad
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 05:20 am |
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actually, descartes, what you have posted are conversion tables. PR just took the CB-ACT table and grossed it up to a 2400.
To scale a test, one needs to statistically calculate what each correct question is worth, and, that depends on when it occurs. One missed question could be the difference between a 36 and 35. But, that same missed question, would not change a 26 to a 25.
ny: the science test is both reasoning and speed. It just takes practice under timed conditions to get the pace.
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Chedva
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 01:21 pm |
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| n2ny, one thing to remember as well is that many schools will accept the ACT with writing in lieu of both SAT I and SAT II. If the schools your s is applying to will accept just the ACT, then the SAT scores won't matter; he doesn't need to send any of them. Then he can send the SAT scores (with the ACT) only to those schools that do require SAT II anyway, and the schools will look primarily at the ACT for the basic scores.
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n2ny
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Posted: Thu May 1st, 2008 02:56 pm |
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Thank you everyone for your time and advice. This is all so anxiety provoking -- not because I NEED for him to go to a top school, but I feel as if I have no idea how to advise him. I'm supposed to be able to do that and yet, this is all so confusing.
Thank you all again for your help. I really appreciate it (and I look forward to the day when maybe I can begin to help others).
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outwest
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 02:58 am |
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Well, if he wants to do math or engineering or somethig aong those lines, I would send the SATs and not the ACTs with a lower science score. He got an 800 on math on the SAT and it doesn't test science.
PS He scored very well indeed!
Last edited on Fri May 2nd, 2008 03:00 am by outwest
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Deja
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Posted: Fri May 2nd, 2008 10:16 am |
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Make sure to check that all scores aren't reported on your son's transcript, because then the colleges will see all the scores anyway. That's the case with the transcripts in our school system.
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n2ny
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Posted: Sat May 3rd, 2008 02:47 pm |
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Thank you Chedva for your wise advice. You'd think with an 800M (and honors math in a highly competitive h.s.) he'd want engineering. But no. My 800M/650V wants a writing program. s i g h
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n2ny
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Posted: Sat May 3rd, 2008 02:48 pm |
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| Thanks Deja. They are not reported on his transcript.
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