What would be a better standardized test for my daughter, the SAT or ACT? She wants to go to Duke to pursue a medical degree.
Anonymous
Choosing between the SAT and ACT depends on what your daughter feels most comfortable with and where her strengths lie. Since she's eyeing Duke for a medical degree, it's crucial to think about which test aligns better with her skills and what Duke prefers.
Think about it like this: the SAT and ACT have similar subject matter, but they're a bit different in how they're set up and the weights of each section. The SAT (even the new, digital version) focuses more on advanced vocabulary and reasoning in both the Math and English sections. On the other hand, the ACT throws in a science section and is a bit more straightforward.
Your daughter might find one test's timing and pacing easier than the other, so that's something to consider too. Plus, it's worth checking out if Duke has a preference for one test over the other, or if they're into superscoring (that's when they combine your best section scores from different test dates).
One way to help her decide is to have her do practice tests for both the SAT and ACT. It'll give her a feel for each and maybe even boost her confidence in one over the other. At the end of the day, it's all about what feels right for her. So, encourage her to go with her gut and choose the test she feels she can ace! And hey, if she's unsure, Duke's admissions office might have some good advice too.
Resources We Love
Take free practice tests for both the SAT and ACT at VT’s website. Once she’s established a preference and you’ve gotten any other information you need, you can choose from a wide array of SAT and ACT resources on VT’s site to get her score where it needs to be to have the best chance of getting into Duke.