Who thinks that ACT tests should be just as important as SAT tests?

They both have the same level of importance. The problem comes into play as to where people live. For the longest time the SATs were preferred by schools on both coasts. While the ACTs were preferred by schools in the middle of the country. Well now as students are able to go to more out of state schools those old stomping grounds of tests are finding themselves moved around and now they are both equally considered at most major schools.

I do!!! I personally just like the ACT better… I started taking the ACT in seventh grade, because my Enrichment/Gifted and Talented teacher encouraged us to (I got a 22 that first time and was horribly jealous of my friend who got a 24), and no one ever told me that the SAT was more important—I didn’t understand that until, like, halfway through my senior year. Where I’m from, everybody just takes both, and some people who know they’re staying in state only take the ACT. The SAT was only really important to me for National Merit, and no one ever did really explain the SAT Subject tests to me…

Besides which: I think the ACT is a more well-rounded test. The SAT has gotten better since they changed it, but it still relies too heavily on just math and English, and has way too much focus on vocabulary. It’s been criticized as being a test of how well you do on the test, rather than of your actual potential to do well in college. The ACT tests reasoning skills more, in my opinion, especially in the Science reasoning section, which is like nothing the SAT has; and while it does have some vocabulary-type questions in the English section (“Which of the following words would NOT work” type thing) it doesn’t make vocabulary a big part of the test, leaving the focus on actual grammar and reading comprehension skills.

So, yeah, I think that the ACT and SAT should be of equal importance… though it does seem that the ACT is gaining more acceptance, so their relative importance might eventually even out…

I agree. It’s only because the SAT has been around longer that it has more importance. But at my school everyone is required to take the ACT. I personally liked the ACT more (I’ve taken both). The SAT takes longer and seems more confusing, and they split everything into so many sections it’s crazy.