Both the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I) and ACT Assessment (ACT) are college entrance exams. Both SAT I and ACT provide a standard by which the skills of students applying for colleges and universities can be compared nationally.  Standardized tests are designed to allow college admissions officers to judge all students by a common measuring stick.  Standardized test scores compensate for the uncertainty surrounding high school grades, school-to-school differences, grade inflation, teaching quality, etc.  In addition, admissions officers use these scores as a way to predict academic performance in the first year of college.  Studies show that using SAT I or ACT scores with high school records provides a more accurate prediction of future academic success than using either alone (The College Board, 2002).  Educational organizations recognize scores on either test as useful indicators of college readiness and valid predictors of college success.