你需要了解的第一件事情就是，SAT和ACT考試從作用上講，有著顯著的相似性。首先這兩者都是以多項(xiàng)選擇為主要形式的考試，用來(lái)測(cè)試你是否已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好接受大學(xué)教育。其次，對(duì)于你想要申請(qǐng)的大學(xué)來(lái)說(shuō)，他們同時(shí)接受并認(rèn)可SAT和ACT的成績(jī)。而且，任何一所大學(xué)都對(duì)SAT和ACT分?jǐn)?shù)一視同仁，并沒(méi)有對(duì)任何一個(gè)考試表現(xiàn)出偏好。
SAT
我們先來(lái)看下SAT考試的特點(diǎn)。SAT是一個(gè)依賴語(yǔ)境的測(cè)試，這意味著你如果在話題外有很廣泛的知識(shí)積累，你將在考試中取得更好的成績(jī)。數(shù)學(xué)部分的測(cè)試就是一個(gè)很好的例子：SAT考試中，如果有學(xué)生不會(huì)用一個(gè)傳統(tǒng)的公式來(lái)解出一道題目，他同樣可以使用邏輯學(xué)或其他的算法解決自己知識(shí)儲(chǔ)備上的不足。語(yǔ)言部分的測(cè)試，則要求學(xué)生長(zhǎng)期處于一個(gè)英語(yǔ)環(huán)境中，因?yàn)轭}目通常會(huì)比較迂回，關(guān)注于一些并不被大家熟知的文學(xué)作品，而且經(jīng)常會(huì)包括一些英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言中很細(xì)枝末節(jié)的差別。(比如，你曾經(jīng)試圖解釋“peppered”和“l(fā)ittered”兩個(gè)單詞的差別嗎?)寫作的部分則要求學(xué)生評(píng)價(jià)一篇文章，并說(shuō)明作者使用了哪些修辭手法來(lái)有效表達(dá)自己的觀點(diǎn)，這種時(shí)候，如果你了解一些修辭概念，比如文章的氣質(zhì)、標(biāo)志語(yǔ)、動(dòng)人的表達(dá)法，就能起到很關(guān)鍵的作用�？偟膩�(lái)說(shuō)，長(zhǎng)期處于英語(yǔ)文化下，以及擁有很好的批判性思維的學(xué)生，可以在SAT考試中更加如魚得水。
ACT
相比較而言，ACT就是一個(gè)更加程式化的考試，換言之，你在考試之外的知識(shí)積累不一定能派上用場(chǎng)。ACT的數(shù)學(xué)測(cè)試對(duì)于那些不熟悉特定公式和概念的孩子來(lái)講，就要困難許多，因?yàn)樗麄兒茈y找到另外的方法來(lái)解出這些題目。即便是在英語(yǔ)測(cè)試的部分，對(duì)固定語(yǔ)法結(jié)構(gòu)的知識(shí)也是非常必要的。閱讀部分側(cè)重考察學(xué)生復(fù)述細(xì)節(jié)的能力，只是簡(jiǎn)單地要求學(xué)生描述文章中發(fā)生了什么，而不是去分析文章的內(nèi)容。ACT的寫作部分，會(huì)要求學(xué)生評(píng)價(jià)針對(duì)同一問(wèn)題的不同觀點(diǎn)，并填充論據(jù)和例子，來(lái)寫出一篇強(qiáng)有力的論文。擅長(zhǎng)于記憶和復(fù)述事實(shí)的孩子會(huì)在ACT考試中有更出色的表現(xiàn)。
那么，對(duì)于每一個(gè)具體的孩子而言，在SAT和ACT之間做出選擇時(shí)，除了考試內(nèi)容的不同外，備考難度、考試時(shí)間安排、報(bào)名方式及渠道等等諸多要素，都應(yīng)該考慮在內(nèi)。
關(guān)于SAT和ACT考試，到底該選擇哪個(gè)?在總結(jié)多年學(xué)生指導(dǎo)經(jīng)驗(yàn)后，PO團(tuán)隊(duì)給出的專業(yè)建議是什么?敬請(qǐng)期待明天的微信推送，我們將結(jié)合真實(shí)的學(xué)生案例，為大家揭曉SAT和ACT的選擇之謎。
The college application process is getting more and more competitive every year; now more than ever, your standardized test score is an important pillar in your entire profile. Before you begin studying for the actual test, however, you first have to decide: which standardized test is better, the SAT or the ACT? The answer is a lot more complicated than you think.
The first thing to remember is that there are distinct similarities between the two. Both are almost entirely multiple-choice exams designed to test your college readiness. Both allow you to choose which scores you would like to send to your hopeful universities. Neither deduct points for incorrect answers. Most importantly, all universities accept both SAT and ACT, and they do not hold preference or merit to either one.
The SAT is a test based on context, which means that an expanded knowledge of outside topics will prove useful. The Math section is a good example of this: if students do not know the traditional formula to find a solution, they can use logic and alternative methods to work around their lack of knowledge. The Verbal section requires a lifetime of exposure to the English language as questions tend to be more roundabout, focus on unfamiliar pieces of literature, and often include nuances in the English language (have you ever tried to explain the difference between “peppered” and “l(fā)ittered?”). The Essay section asks students to examine a passage and explain how the author uses rhetorical devices to construct an effective article—knowledge of concepts such as ethos, logos, and pathos are crucial. Students with a lifetime of exposure to English literature and a strong background in critical thinking will feel more comfortable on the SAT.
The ACT is a test based on formula, which means that outside knowledge will not provide much help. The Math section is less forgiving for students who are unfamiliar with a specific formula or concept, and they will not be able to easily find an alternative route to the solution. Even on the English section, knowledge of strict grammar structures is necessary. The Reading section tests on your ability to recall details; it simply asks students about what happened in the passage rather than analyze it. The ACT Essay asks students to evaluate different perspectives on an issue, then build them into strong arguments with reasons and examples. Students who are able to remember and regurgitate the facts will excel on the ACT. Much like using your left hand or your right hand, different people will feel comfortable taking different tests. What's the professional advice from Prestige Only consultants? Please looking forward to our WeChat article tomorrow! We will bring you the answers.
上面，我們帶大家深入了解并對(duì)比了SAT和ACT考試的特點(diǎn)及不同。總的來(lái)說(shuō)SAT更加注重考察學(xué)生的批判性思維能力及英語(yǔ)文化積累，ACT相較而言更加程式化，對(duì)于非英語(yǔ)母語(yǔ)的孩子們來(lái)講，備考中的效率會(huì)更高。
我們?yōu)槭裁赐扑]ACT考試
在PO，我們會(huì)強(qiáng)烈建議學(xué)生避開SAT考試，而去選擇ACT考試。因?yàn)閷?duì)于學(xué)生們而言，SAT考試充滿了不確定性因素，這包括它持續(xù)進(jìn)行的修改、臭名昭著的作弊丑聞，以及高難度的測(cè)試形式。
1.2016年，SAT對(duì)它的測(cè)試結(jié)構(gòu)進(jìn)行了大規(guī)模調(diào)整，使得許多學(xué)生和考試培訓(xùn)的專家仍然在努力去消化這種變化，為適應(yīng)新的題目而積極準(zhǔn)備。技術(shù)上講，SAT考試目前仍然在不斷調(diào)整中，學(xué)生在每新的考試中還能看到陌生的提問(wèn)方式。
2.進(jìn)一步來(lái)講，SAT的作弊丑聞以及大規(guī)模取消考試的現(xiàn)象已經(jīng)成為考生和家長(zhǎng)們普遍的擔(dān)憂，有誰(shuí)愿意花費(fèi)這樣大量的人力、物力和財(cái)力來(lái)為一個(gè)隨時(shí)可能取消的考試做準(zhǔn)備呢?國(guó)際考生們也在慢慢無(wú)路可走，就在剛剛過(guò)去的2017年上半年，為了打擊考試作弊行為，美國(guó)大學(xué)理事會(huì)(CB)宣布取消6月份的國(guó)際生考試(SATII科目考試仍然照常進(jìn)行)。
3.后一點(diǎn)，SAT考試要求學(xué)生在英語(yǔ)語(yǔ)言及文化環(huán)境中有很長(zhǎng)時(shí)間的經(jīng)驗(yàn)。很多人可能會(huì)想要反駁說(shuō)，SAT考試比ACT考試給了孩子們更充足的答題時(shí)間，的確，不可否認(rèn)的是，SAT的閱讀每篇文章學(xué)生平均有13分鐘的閱讀時(shí)間，而ACT只有9分鐘。但是SAT的考生們需要把多出來(lái)的每一分鐘都用在分析一篇完全不熟悉的文學(xué)作品上。
給非英語(yǔ)母語(yǔ)考生們的建議
對(duì)于非英語(yǔ)母語(yǔ)的考生來(lái)說(shuō)，ACT考試要舒服的多。原因在于閱讀文章以及題目更加直接，而且整個(gè)測(cè)試更加程式化，這就意味著學(xué)生可以學(xué)習(xí)和應(yīng)用更加有效的應(yīng)試策略。許多家庭也熱衷于現(xiàn)在由SAT考試轉(zhuǎn)換為參加ACT考試，因?yàn)锳CT取消考試的可能性要低得多，第在亞洲取消考試的事件發(fā)生在去年暑期。雖然考試中ACT比SAT答題時(shí)間短也可能成為家長(zhǎng)和考生的一個(gè)擔(dān)心，但是考生們很快會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)，相較于SAT考試而言，他們有能力更加有效和自信地應(yīng)對(duì)ACT考試。
就像我們有些人是右撇子，有些人是左撇子一樣，不同的人可能選擇不同的考試會(huì)感覺(jué)更加自在。舉個(gè)例子來(lái)說(shuō)，我們有個(gè)學(xué)生L，她的IB課程取得41分(滿分42分)，連續(xù)多年獲得榮譽(yù)學(xué)生，是一個(gè)能力非常全面的學(xué)霸。但是在SAT的考試中卻很難突破1400分(滿分1600分)。她掙扎了幾年之后，終放棄了選擇SAT考試，然后嘗試了一下ACT�？肌５趪L試ACT考試的時(shí)候，就取得了36分的滿分成績(jī)，終于又回到正軌，信心滿滿地向著自己夢(mèng)想中的學(xué)校沖刺。
這不是一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單的決定
你可以向?qū)I(yè)人士咨詢
在SAT和ACT考試之間進(jìn)行選擇，是一個(gè)比較艱巨的任務(wù)，但是你要相信有很多具體的因素可以幫助你做出有效的選擇!如果關(guān)于SAT和ACT的考試有任何你覺(jué)得疑惑或者擔(dān)心的地方，歡迎與啟德高端留學(xué)的專業(yè)顧問(wèn)取得聯(lián)系，他們將幫助你確認(rèn)適合你的考試!同學(xué)們加油!
At Prestige Only, we strongly recommend that our students avoid the SAT. The SAT is too unpredictable for students due to its ongoing revisions, notorious cheating scandals, and difficult testing style. In 2016, the SAT rolled out massive changes to its testing structure that many students and test preparation experts are still struggling to comprehend and prepare for. The test is still technically under revision, and students are seeing unfamiliar question types on every new exam.
Furthermore, the SATs cheating scandals and mass cancellations are a common concern—who wants to put in all that time, energy, and money to take a cancelled test? International test takers are running out of options as well: in early 2017, College Board announced that the International June SAT was cancelled in order to discourage cheating (SAT II Subject Tests were still available).
Lastly, the SAT is an exam that requires a strong, lifelong background in English language and literature. Many are tempted to argue that the SAT gives students more time than the ACT, and it is undeniable that the SAT Reading gives you 13 minutes per passage while the ACT Reading only gives you 9. However, students taking the SAT spend every second of those extra minutes struggling to analyze an unfamiliar piece of literature.
The ACT is far more comfortable for students whom English is not their first language. The questions and passages are more direct, and the test is way more formulaic—which means that students can study and implement more efficient test-taking strategies. Many families are also keen to switch now because the ACT is way less prone to cancellation: the first ACT cancellation in Asia happened only last summer. While the shorter exam time will always be a concern, students will find that they are able to prepare more effectively and –most importantly—more confidently!
Much like using your left hand or your right hand, different people will feel comfortable taking different tests. Take, for example, Lucy (name changed to protect her privacy). Lucy was an IB 41/42, multiple-year honors student, and an all-around academic superstar, but struggled to break 1400 out of 1600 on the SAT. After several years of struggling, she finally conceded and tried an ACT diagnostic exam. She scored a perfect 36 on her first try, and is back on track towards applying to her dream school.
The SAT vs ACT might seem like a daunting question, but there are plenty of factors that can be broken down to help you make the most productive decision! If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to your PO Senior Consultant. They’ll work with you to find the test that you will be the most comfortable and confident with. Happy Studying!
