The ACT, a standardized college entrance exam different from the SAT, is becoming more popular among students who are applying to colleges and universities across Virginia.
University Dean of Admissions John A. Blackburn said over 1,000 applications included ACT scores this year.
"The rising popularity of the ACT is probably tied to state scholarship programs," he said. "Many states are giving scholarships for high scores on the ACT."
Rick Hinshaw, dean of admissions at Virginia Weslyan College in Norfolk, said the percentage of applicants reporting ACT scores increased from 19 percent in 2002 to 26 percent this year.
"I think more people are becoming aware of the ACT," he said. "When I first got into admissions 30 years ago, the SAT was the East Coast score and ACT was the West Coast score. Now, these tests have gone national and are being promoted all over the country."
All Virginia public colleges and universities accept both the ACT and SAT, although most prefer the SAT or both scores.
"We would ideally like to see either two SAT or ACT scores and one score from the other test," Hinshaw said. "The bottom line of college admissions is that we encourage students to submit their best possible scores."
Across Virginia, the number of students taking the ACT tripled from 3,600 in 1995 to 10,172 last year. This is still low compared to the 53,726 students taking the SAT last year, the Associated Press reported.
Nationally, 1.2 million students took the ACT this year.
The ACT differs from the SAT in that it tests information that students are supposed to have learned in high school as opposed to testing general intelligence and aptitude.
According to the ACT Web site, the advantages for students taking the ACT are that because the ACT tests are based on what is taught in the high school curriculum, students are generally more comfortable with the ACT than they are with traditional aptitude tests or tests with narrower content.
Additionally, the test is much less expensive because of the fact that it is a non-profit organization.
Both the SAT and the ACT plan to add a writing supplement to their tests next year in response to the need for an additional tool for colleges and universities to judge prospective student's writing abilities.
The ACT's writing test will be optional.
Blackburn said the University prefers the SAT because it is the test that they have been using for decades, while the ACT is a relatively new addition to admission applications.
--Staff Writer Erin Kim contributed to this report
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