More Maryland Students Taking the ACT

August 13, 7:52 AMBaltimore College Prep ExaminerCraig Meister

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More students are readying their No. 2 pencils for the ACT. 

The ACT, the scrappy Midwestern rival to the dreaded SAT, is gaining popularity across the country and in Maryland.

 In the past two years, the percentage of Maryland high school students taking the test has risen from 12% to 16%, according to Inside Higher Ed. These numbers are part of a national trend, as America's Class of 2008 took the test at a 9% greater rate than last year's class.

Why is the ACT growing in popularity? It assesses a student's grasp of his or her high school curriculum, while the SAT assesses a student's problem-solving ability. Add the fact that every college that accepts the SAT now accepts the ACT in its place, and you have the makings for ACT's surge in popularity.

The ACT also has a science section and covers different areas of math than the SAT, so a good number of students feel their strengths are better displayed through the ACT than the SAT.

Finally, the fact that until next year the ACT is the only test that allows students to hide their less-impressive scores from colleges, and only send their best scores, certainly helped propel the ACT. It is one of the main reasons the SAT will also institute a score-choice option for the class of 2010.