Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Identification, Testing & Assessment SAT or ACT for younger ones

DD12 and DD11 (both 7th grade) were part of a group which was urged by the AG teacher to take either the ACT or SAT through Duke Tip. I have no idea what would be best. Both girls said they would take the test (they did the Explore last year). They are both taking Alg.1 if that makes a difference. DD12 is mathy and organized. DD11 is all about science, social studies, and language arts (hates math) but very disorganized (under a 504 for ADHD inattentive). Ideas? Also, can a child with "mark in booklet" accomodations use that for one of these tests?
All advice welcome!!

Yes. SAT and ACT both allow answers written in booklet, with appropriate documentation.

https://collegereadiness.collegeboa...circumstances/students-with-disabilities

http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/accommodations.html#student

The revised SAT is much more like the ACT than the old SAT was. Explore was published by ACT, so it might be more similar?

What is the purpose of taking the test, to participate in TIP? Or for a benchmark?

I would suggest having them try a sample test for each. The full test, with real timing, breaks, etc. Much of the material is similar, so the practice will benefit both. The time pressure (time per question) differs, so some people struggle to complete one but are OK with the other. I've read, though can't confirm, that ACT contains more advanced math - some trig and advanced algebra - which would would suggest that the SAT might be better. Though that also means that the scoring bar for any type of admissions process would also be lower.

Our children did the sample test over a couple of Saturdays. Two ACT sections at each sitting, with the actual timing. Our results were consistent with the actual test results. (One child was 11, we did the test to see "where is he really?"; the other was a HS junior who was taking the test for college apps). Our choice of taking the ACT was tied to a few factors: we were in an ACT state, the ACT was given at our HS so we felt the younger one would be more comfortable in a familiar environment, the SAT test sites were not convenient, and (bad parenting, I know) we wanted a comparison score.

Be sure that you both correct the test, and have them look up the answer explanations for ones they struggled over or got incorrect. When one of ours took the SAT later, he found an error in the Kaplan prep book he practiced the test from.

Thanks all! DD12 just wants to try it. DD11, well, it's hard to know, but she says she wants to do it. Since they already did the Explore this won't be so strange. I do want to know "where" DD11 is because I think it's time to press the school again for some more challenging work (but need to be able to show the school some concrete evidence).