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SAT
Tests critical reading, writing , and math skills in nine sections (plus one experimental section that does not count against your score).
- Critical reading including both short and long reading passages and sentence completions.
- Math including numbers and operations, algebra and functions, geometry and measurement, and data analysis, statistics, and probability.
- Writing including identifying sentence errors, improving sentences and paragraphs, and a student essay.
Measures:
- Ability to identify genre, relationships among parts of a text, cause and effect, rhetorical devices, and comparative arguments.
- Reading fluency.
- Understanding of the meaning of words and the basic logic in sentences.
- Knowledge of math course work.
- Ability to reason mathematically.
- Ability to identify grammatical errors and recognize how to improve sentences and paragraphs.
- Knowledge of standard written English.
Test Specifics:
- 3 hours and 45 minutes in length.
- Multiple choice plus student produced responses and a 25-minute long essay.
- Guessing penality of a quarter-point.
- Offered seven times a year.
- Can be taken multiple times; the last six scores are reported to colleges.
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ACT
Tests English, math, reading and science reasoning in four subtests. Also, there is an optional essay if desired.
- Usage, mechanics, rhetorical skills.
- Algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
- Critical reading.
- Reading passages from the social sciences, natural sciences, prose fiction, and humanities.
- Data representation, research summaries, conflicting viewpoints (science).
Measures:
- Knowledge and understanding of standard written English and rhetorical skills.
- Knowledge and understanding of ninth through eleventh grade course work in math.
- Reading comprehension across subject areas.
- Reasoning and problem solving in biology, chemistry, physical, and earth and space science (some general-level science background is helpful to understand the concepts).
Test Specifics:
- 2 hours and 55 minutes in length.
- All multiple choice for required sections and the essay section is optional.
- No guessing penalty; only correct answers count.
- Offered six times a year.
- Can be taken multiple times; only the scores from the selected test date are reported to colleges.
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