Do you westerners only only take the ACT usually?

Question

I'm from the north east and most students just take the SAT.

Answer 1

I'm from the Midwest (literally - Missouri).  Most people at my high school only take the ACT unless they're thinking about going to a school on the East or West Coast, or if they're going to be recognized by the National Merit Program.  I was only planning on taking the ACT, but I got a 202 on the PSAT, and since that's in the range for commended students (in my state), I had to take the SAT to prove that it wasn't a fluke that I did that well.  (This was according to my guidance counselor.)

So, in a nutshell, most people just take the ACT because that's what they're familiar with (scoring-wise, because we take the EXPLORE in 8th grade and the PLAN in 10th grade, and those are supposed to be predictors of ACT scores).

Answer 2

i'm from the mid-west (chicago suburbs)..and everyone at my high school takes a day off to take a required ACT w/o writing during school. mostly everyone takes the ACT and not the SAT. but most of my friends, and others interested in higher colleges (which pretty much require the SAT II) take the SAT I and SAT II too.

Answer 3

The ACT is the focus here in the midwest.  Thirty years ago, it was recommended to me to take both the ACT and SAT.  Now I'm told that students are only being encouraged to take the ACT unless they are applying to a school that specifically requires an SAT score.  Good advice, I guess.... why pay for an additional test when only one will suffice?

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Answer 4

In Michigan, juniors are required to take the ACT (which is offered free) in order to graduate, so it's not just the west that takes the ACT.