The New SAT Versus the ACT: How to Choose

In March 2016, a newly-revamped SAT exam was released. Its release forces students to face a tough question: should they attempt the new SAT or take the ACT, which has remained pretty much the same for many years? Experts say the new SAT is more straightforward, and now more similar to the ACT in format and subject matter. Keeping in mind that a 1600 on the new SAT is the same as a 36 on the ACT, there are still some important points to consider before deciding which to take.

The new SAT is returning to its original 400-1600 point scale. It has eliminated the wrong answer penalty (1/4 of a point deducted for incorrect answers). Like the ACT, the new SAT’s essay is now optional; unlike the ACT, there is no Science section. Many changes have been made in the different sections of the new SAT, including the removal of the Vocabulary questions.

The new SAT Reading section now includes longer passages, and does not contain sentence completions or short passages, making it more similar to the ACT Reading section. Unlike the ACT, its questions are now in sequential order. While the ACT focuses more on reading comprehension, the new SAT focuses on analyzing specific concepts and understanding how the authors construct their arguments. The new SAT Reading portion consists of 52 questions in 65 minutes, while the ACT Reading portion consists of 40 questions in 35 minutes.

The new SAT Writing section utilizes the same passage-based format as the ACT English section, and includes more grammatical concepts such as punctuation. It is important to note that the ACT asks almost twice as many questions. The SAT Writing portion consists of 44 questions in 35 minutes and the ACT English portion consists of 75 questions in 45 minutes.

The new SAT Math section has been redesigned to be more straightforward and to focus on math taught in high school, with a heavy emphasis on algebra and data analysis. The ACT Math section includes far more geometry and trigonometry, and does not provide formulas like the SAT does. The new SAT allows more time for the Math section, but the questions are more challenging. It includes both a calculator and a no-calculator portion. The ACT Math section is all multiple choice, and allows use of a calculator throughout the section. The new SAT Math portion consists of 20 no-calculator questions in 25 minutes plus 38 calculator questions in 55 minutes, and the ACT Math portion contains 60 questions in 60 minutes.

The Essay section is similar on both exams. Students are given about the same amount of time and the writing on both is optional. In the new SAT, you must evaluate an argument, while on the ACT, you must come up with your own argument and support it. It is important to find out whether or not your colleges require the Essay portion before preparing for the test. The new SAT allows 50 minutes to answer one prompt, while the ACT allows 40 minutes to answer one prompt.

So which test is best for you? The SAT is still a critical thinking test, with no penalty for incorrect answers, and while many consider it to be the easier of the two, since they are both graded on a curve, it is important to pick the one that will give you the strongest competitive edge. If you are able to stay focused for longer periods of time and work at a fast pace, the ACT might be your best bet. There is more practice material available for it and its content is presented in a consistent manner. If you are a slower test-taker, the new SAT may be a better option, as it is far less time intensive and allows more time per question. It also emphasizes creative thinking over memorizing content. To decide which test to take, obtain a copy of both exams and examine the rules, format, and questions in depth. Once you have decided which would be a better fit, start preparing as early as possible for the exam. Advance preparation will earn optimum scores.

Financial Matters: Comparing the Total Cost of Attendance

After months of anticipation, your child’s college admissions decisions have arrived. Congratulations! But before making the final college choice, many families still have one more very important thing to do: compare the financial aid offers from all of the colleges to which their student has been admitted and decide which option is best for their family.

Your family should receive financial aid and scholarship offers from all of your child’s colleges by April 1. If you have not received a financial aid offer from a college to which your child has been admitted by the first week in April, call the financial aid office immediately.

Once you have received all of your child’s financial aid letters, the following three-step process can help your family compare the offers accurately and make a smart decision about which college to attend.

Step 1: Determine your total cost of attendance for each college

In their estimates of “cost of attendance,” colleges usually include tuition, room, board, fees and a rough estimate for the average student’s additional costs such as books, personal expenses and travel. However, the college’s rough estimate may not be your family’s real cost. For example, some majors have additional expenses such as lab or studio fees and special equipment. A student who attends college far from home may need to spend more for transportation than the “average” student does. Students attending college in a large city or
moving to a colder climate that requires a new wardrobe may also find that the “average” for personal expenses is not realistic.

Do your research about airfare, costs in the student’s intended major, and even what a cup of coffee costs in the local area before assuming that the college's estimate of “total cost of attendance” is going to be realistic for your child. For each college, develop your own “estimated total cost of attendance” figure as your first step in comparing financial aid offers.

Step 2: Compare your family’s out-of-pocket costs for each school

Every college expects each family to contribute something to their student’s education. To make sure you’re accurately calculating what each college will actually cost your family, compare each of the following items from each financial aid letter side-by-side:

Expected Family Contribution (EFC): This is the dollar amount the college expects your family to contribute out of income and savings. Your EFC may include both a parent contribution and a student contribution. The student contribution shown on many financial aid offers is typically what the college expects the student to earn from a summer job. If you (or your child) do not earn that amount, or can’t find a summer job, then the family will need to cover this amount as well.

Student Loans: Most financial aid offers from colleges will include student loans. You may choose to turn down loans, or only accept part of the loan amount offered, but if you do so, your family will need to make up the difference in some other way.

Student loans, in and of themselves, are not evil. Borrowing a manageable amount to cover college expenses can be a good plan. However, the key word is “manageable.” All loans are
not created equal. Federal student loans tend to have the lowest interest rates, and, for some types of Federal Student Loans, interest does not begin to accrue until six months after you graduate from college. Some colleges include private loans in their financial aid offers. The interest rates on private student loans are significantly higher than Federal student loans. Use caution when thinking about taking expensive private student loans, even for a “dream” college.

You’ll want to carefully consider the types of loans your student has been offered by each college, and make sure that your child understands the full cost of his or her loans, including loan origination fees and interest costs over the life of the loan.

Parent Loans: To help American parents pay their expected share of college expenses, the Federal government also offers loans for parents called PLUS loans. Parent PLUS loans, if used wisely, can help cover your family EFC if you don’t have savings or income to pay the full EFC. But, keep in mind that interest and monthly payments begin as soon as you sign for a PLUS loan. Again, you can turn down any PLUS loans in your financial aid offers, but you will need to make up the difference out of pocket and it's always smart to under-stand the terms and interest rate if you do borrow.

Federal Work Study: To help students pay for personal expenses and books, many colleges include a work study amount in their financial aid offers. Federal Work Study is an on campus job that allows the student to earn up to the amount of the Work Study award. Students receive the Work Study amount only if they get a work study job and work enough hours to earn the full amount. If your child does not find a Work Study job, or doesn’t put in enough hours to earn the full amount, you will not get the amount shown on your financial aid offer and your family will need to make up the difference from other sources. Work Study also won’t be available to pay for books or other expenses until your student finds a job and starts getting their paycheck. However, a Work Study job is a great opportunity for your child to start building a resume, and studies have found that students who work 10 to 15 hours a week (the typical work study job) tend to get better grades in college.

For each college, add up the total for your EFC, loans, and Work Study in your financial aid offer and then subtract the total from your cost of attendance for the school. The result is your family's total “out-of-pocket” cost for the college.

Step 3: Consider the “free” money in each financial aid offer

After you’ve carefully compared your family’s out of pocket costs – EFC, loans, and work study – turn your attention to the “free” money each college is offering. This includes grants and merit scholarships. Grants are like a discount on the total cost of attendance; they do not have to be paid back or earned. Grants in your financial aid package may include those given by the individual college (often called institutional grants) or by Federal and State programs. While it’s great to also be offered a scholarship, you should know that usually there are requirements for the minimum GPA a student must maintain in order to keep the scholarship in subsequent years; be sure you understand what's required.

Try not to be swayed solely by the grants and scholarships in your child’s financial aid offer. When comparing financial aid offers, what matters most is your family’s total out of pocket costs at each college from step 2. In some cases, you may find the college that offers your child the largest scholarship or the most grants may actually end up costing your family the most out of pocket.

Comparing financial aid offers accurately and realistically isn't always easy, but it's an important last step in your family’s college admissions journey. Don't hesitate to call college financial aid offices or speak to your advisor if you have any questions or need help understanding your financial aid offer. Once you have a clear idea of what each college will cost for the next four years, you can decide as a family which choice makes the most sense. And that’s always a smart decision.