Introduction
The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered by the College Board.
The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student’s readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside your high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays. How important sat scores are in the college application process varies from school to school.
The ACT test motivates students to perform to their best ability. Test scores reflect what students have learned throughout high school and provide colleges and universities with excellent information for recruiting, advising, placement, and retention.
Many times, students who are not considering higher education rethink their plans when they see their ACT test results. This is especially true for underrepresented students. To support college and career planning, the ACT also offers a career exploration component to help students identify career options.
Difference between ACT and SAT:
Score Reporting, Different Score Ranges
Both tests follow different scoring scales. SAT scores range from 400 to 1600 points, whereas act composite scores range from 1 to 36 points. SAT section scores range from 200-800 points. The test consists of two main sections, and scores from these two sections are combined to come up with the total score. act section scores range from 1-36. The “composite” score (or overall score) is the average of the four test section scores and is graded on the same scale of 1-36.
ACT Reading Passages Are Longer
Typically, an ACT reading passage consists of about 750 words while reading passages on the SAT test can be anywhere from 500 to 750 words. This makes it sound like it takes more time to go through a passage and answer all the related questions on the act test, but that is not necessarily true.
David Dernier is the Vice President of Verbal Curriculum Development at KD College Prep. We asked him to explain the small nuances between the two sections. “Whereas the sat Reading section tasks students with noticing subtle differences between answer choices, the act is straight-forward by comparison. Reading passages on the act are longer, but the answer choices are more distinct, so students who can keep up with the reading pace of the act will find that answering the questions is not quite so tricky,” David says.
ACT English Puts More Emphasis on Passage Main Ideas
While working through the ACT English section, students will also be expected to think of the passage as a whole. You won’t find these broadminded types of questions on the SAT Writing section. “Another key difference is that the ACT English section asks questions about the passage as a whole, unlike the SAT Writing section. Instead of focusing only on bits of the passage with correlating questions, students will also need to prepare for questions that ask about the author’s purpose, requiring students to keep track of main ideas as they work through the passages,” David says.
Different Types of Math Questions
While both tests evaluate a student’s understanding of core math concepts, they have a few subtle but important differences. Scott Simons is the Vice President of Math/Science Curriculum and Instruction at KD College Prep. We asked him to explain a few of the differences you’ll find between the math sections.
“The ACT math section generally contains a larger number of geometry questions and is more calculation-based with very little data analysis. The SAT math section is more reasoning-based and contains fewer geometry question but more data analysis than the ACT Math test,” Scott says. When preparing for upcoming tests, it’s also important to know that the ACT Math section expects students to understand slightly more
advanced math subjects and concepts. “The ACT Math test also contains some higher-level algebra II and trigonometry concepts that do not appear on the SAT Math test,” Scott says.
SAT Test Features a No-Calculator Math Section
If you struggle with solving math problems in your head or without a calculator, then it’s helpful to know that the SAT test does include a no calculator math section. You’ll be required to put calculators away for that segment of the test. However, the ACT test allows you to use a calculator on the entire test.
As you probably already know, both the ACT and SAT tests restrict the types of calculators that you can use on the test. A calculator can help you improve your overall timing, but math questions on both tests tend to require more thought than simply entering numbers into a calculator and letting it solve for you.
ACT Test Includes a Science Section
What the ACT math section lacks in data analysis, it makes up for in the act science section. “There is very little prior science knowledge required. Scientific studies and experiments have been conducted, and you are provided with tables, figures, and graphs with the data from those studies and experiments, as well as textual information describing the topic and how the studies/experiments were done. You are then asked to interpret that data by identifying data points within the tables/figures/graphs and making conclusions about the scientific topic discussed from the given data/text,” Scott says.
But don’t let the ACT Science section scare you! You won’t be required to be a science expert. This part of the test will examine your ability to problem-solve and interpret data rather than retain extensive knowledge about a particular science subject. “There will be one or two questions per test that do require some outside science knowledge, but typically that knowledge will be fairly basic information from the relevant topic area,” Scott says.
Grid-ins: An SAT Answer Format
The ACT test consists solely of multiple-choice questions, aside from the optional essay. However, on the sat test you will find multiple-choice questions and grid-ins. What are grid-ins? We’re glad you asked! Grid-ins are problems that require students to fill in the correct number rather than select a number from multiple choices. There will be five grid-in questions on the non-calculator math section and eight grid-in questions on the calculator math section. Grid-in questions make up a total of 22% of all of the math questions on the test.
The Essay: Only Offered by the ACT Test
When comparing test sections in #5, you’ll notice that the ACT test offers an optional essay section but the SAT test does not. Until recently, the essay was included on both tests as an optional addon. In January 2021, College Board announced that it will no longer offer the essay portion of the SAT test. This is likely due to COVID-19 restrictions and limitations, as well as a drastic decrease in colleges that require or review essay section test scores as part of the admissions process.
Length of Time and Number of Questions
In terms of overall testing time, the SAT test is a little longer than the act test. On the other hand, the act test includes more questions. The sat test is about five minutes longer than the act test. The act test consists of about 61 more questions than the sat test.
- English: 45 minutes, 75 questions – 36 seconds per question
- Math: 60 minutes, 60 questions – 60 seconds per question
- Reading: 35 minutes, 40 questions – 52.5 seconds per question
- Science: 35 minutes, 40 questions – 52.5 seconds per question
- Writing (optional essay): 40 minutes, 1 question
- Total: 175 minutes, 215 questions (With Essay: 215 minutes, 216 questions)
- Reading: 65 minutes, 52 questions – 75 seconds per question
- Writing and Language: 35 minutes, 44 questions – 47.7 seconds per question
- Math with No Calculator: 25 minutes, 20 questions – 75 seconds per question
- Math with Calculator: 55 minutes, 38 questions – 86.8 seconds per question
- Total: 180 minutes, 154 questions
The ACT test is more fast paced than the SAT Test. In every section, you’ll have less time per question. ACT English allows for about 36 seconds per question, while the SAT Writing & Language section gives students about 47.7 seconds per question. “Students must work about 25% more quickly to complete the ACT English section on time,” David says. Students have about 52.5 seconds per question on the ACT Reading section and about 75 seconds per question on the SAT Reading section.
The act math test is shorter overall than the sat math section (which is made up of two parts: calculator and no-calculator). ACT Math gives students about 60 seconds per question, and both parts of the SAT Math section give students more time to solve (75 seconds per question on Math with No Calculator and 86.8 seconds per question on Math with Calculator).
The ACT Science section is also rather quick. Here, students have about 52.5 seconds per question.
Level of Difficulty: Is the ACT Test Harder Than the SAT Test?
In general, the tests are too similar to determine whether one test is harder than the other. However, a student may find that one test better aligns with his or her personal strengths and level of knowledge. Questions on the SAT test sometimes include slightly trickier language than ACT test questions. Questions on the ACT test tend to be a little more straightforward. On the other hand, the ACT gives you less time per question on every section. Your brain will need to keep a faster pace when solving for the answers.
You can get a 35 on two of the sections on the ACT test and still get a perfect composite score because the average will round up to 36. On the SAT test, you have to get a perfect score on all sections to earn a 1600. While perfect composite scores on the ACT test are more common, this doesn’t necessarily translate to one test being easier than the other— they just follow different scoring methods, and colleges are aware of
these small discrepancies.
Practice Versions: PSAT vs. PreACT Test
Each test has its own practice versions. However, access to these practice versions of the tests will vary depending on your location and your school district. There are benefits to taking the PSAT test in 11th grade, so we always encourage our students to sign up whenever possible. The National Merit® Scholarship Program uses 11th grade PSAT scores to determine scholarship eligibility and National Merit Semifinalist status. Some colleges also award special scholarships to students who earn this recognition.
In contrast, the PreACT test exists purely as a practice version of the ACT test. There are no added benefits. We only bring this point up because it may affect a student’s decision about which test to take. If you already plan to take the PSAT test, you might as well take the SAT test also. The PSAT and SAT tests are very similar, and taking the PSAT test will help you prepare for the sat test.
Pricing: The ACT Test Is Slightly More Expensive
The ACT test without the essay is about $5 more expensive than the sat test. The sat test currently costs $55. The ACT test is $60 without the essay and $85 with the essay. School day tests may be offered at a special discounted rate. A few states offer the ACT or sat test to their student residents for free. Fee waivers are available for eligible students.
CONCLUSION:
FINALLY, Which Test Should I Take: the SAT or ACT?
Ultimately, since all colleges accept both the act and sat, you should take the test that best plays to your strengths. Once you’ve decided which test works best for you, you can properly utilize your efforts to study, practice, and time yourself properly for each section.
Your default approach should never be to take both the act and sat, as studying for both simultaneously (unless you have a lot of study time on your hands) can negatively affect your overall scores of both test. It’s better to focus your efforts than to try to multitask.
However, if you do decide to take both tests, give yourself ample time (at least a month) between each test to properly study and prepare. When you’ve completed both, you can decide which results best portrays your skills, and send those results on to your future school.