ACT Scores Reaction — A Different Test, Not a Better One

FairTest

National Center for Fair & Open Testing

for further information:

Jesse Mermell: (857) 350-8207

Bob Schaeffer: (239) 395-6773

for use with annual ACT score release — 12:01am Wednesday, August 13, 2008

THE ACT, A DIFFERENT COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST

BUT NOT NECESSARILY A BETTER ONE

The surge in the number of high school seniors taking the ACT reflects a growing movement away from the SAT but does not mean the ACT is a superior exam, according to the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest).

“The ACT is a different test, not a better one,” explained FairTest Public Education Director Bob Schaeffer. “ACT has had more consumer friendly policies, such as not requiring all test-takers to sign-up for an unnecessary, expensive ‘writing’ section and allowing students to choose which scores a college receives. But, like the SAT, the ACT remains a less accurate and less fair predictor of undergraduate performance than high school grades.”

“The best policy for approach for students is test-optional admissions, in which neither the ACT nor SAT is required,” added FairTest Executive Director Jesse Mermell. “That is why more and more colleges and universities are moving away from requiring either test.”

FairTest now tallies 760 accredited, bachelor-degree granting institutions which do not ask all or many applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores before admissions decisions are made.

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Attached pdf includes 2008 ACT scores.

ACT Fact Sheet – http://www.fairtest.org/facts/act.html

List of test-optional colleges – http://www,fairtest.org/optinit.htm