The DSAT vs. The ACT

For many years, both the ACT and SAT exams were considered the gold standard for measuring inbound college students’ academic readiness. Today, we have ditched one of those two: the SAT. In an effort to modernize standardized testing, the maker of the SAT (The College Board), revisited its decades-old formatting and gave it a revolutionary makeover. 

We say revolutionary because it has changed much more than the appearance and mode of the exam. Some of the changes made to the SAT are its duration, section breakdowns, and rules regarding calculator use. Not to mention, the test is now adaptive. In other words, the better you do, the harder it gets. So, what do these changes mean to you: the test takers? Many types of questions which were previously considered “hard” have now become easier, specifically in the math section. This is because you now have access to the infinitely-useful Desmos calculator. Consequently, students’ approach to the math section will change, most likely relying on the use of the calculator for most problems. As for the reading/writing section, students will have to rely on techniques like question type identification and annotation more than ever; otherwise, they risk losing points on trick, or simply hard, questions which become common the better you perform.

So, let’s talk about how this should impact your decision when choosing between taking the ACT and the new DSAT. Due to the nature of the new DSAT, considering your level of proficiency in mathematics and reading/writing is much more important. If you are strong at math, and weak at reading/writing, it may be wise to consider the ACT, unless you struggle with the time constraints. Since the ACT isn’t adaptive, you would be less likely to perform poorly in the reading and writing sections. On the other hand, if you are weak at math and good at reading/writing, you will probably perform better on the DSAT because of the Desmos tool provided to you. Either way, the best way to know for sure which test is best adapted to your skills is to take a practice test in each, and take the test you performed best at. Since both tests are made to be inherently equally difficult, it often comes down to personal preference and comfort.