The SAT is a standardized reasoning test that is used by many colleges to establish a candidate's baseline of scholastic aptitude. The test covers math, writing and critical reading skills. At the core of this exam is the ability to learn, think critically and use deductive reasoning. The test focuses primarily on a student's ability to absorb knowledge logically and work through arguments and problems.
The SAT is still used by many universities as a requirement for admission, but it is not without its opponents. The test is often criticized for what it fundamentally tests. Testing scholastic aptitude is at the core of the examination, but it fails to focus on what a student has actually learned in his high school coursework. The SAT is also often criticized for its cultural biases that often result in a cultural gap in achievement on the exam. Another issue many educators find with the SAT exam is that too much emphasis is placed on the exam, without taking into account that the multiple choice format and formulaic writing section are not conducive to all takers' academic skill sets.
At one time the ACT was almost exclusively used by schools in the Midwestern region of the United States, but at the dawn of the 21st century the test began gaining acceptance nationally as an alternative or supplemental exam for college admission. The ACT, while still a standardized test, differs from the SAT in that it tests a student's baseline educational level as opposed to aptitude. The ACT is favored by many colleges because it lets administrators know where a candidate actually stands educationally and what knowledge they will bring with them to the college campus.
Some colleges have entirely scrapped the SAT from their admissions criteria, but these institutions remain in the vast minority. Many have now chosen to accept either the SAT or the ACT, or to use the ACT as a supplement for the SAT. Colleges that have dropped the SAT entirely have been increasingly choosing to accept the SAT II Subject Tests, which like the ACT focus on the information the student has retained from her high school education.