Every school in the US (that is not test optional) accepts both the test scores: SAT and ACT. Both the tests are hugely popular among students. In the class of 2019, a record 2.2 million students took the SAT and 1.8 million students took the ACT. Many of these students must be common between the two tests. However, this creates an obvious question for most students - Which of the two tests is more suited to them? Answering this question becomes even more difficult when you realise that both the SAT and the ACT test the same core skills: Reading, Writing, and Math. Neither of the tests has negative marking, which makes it further difficult to decide between the two. Both the tests have an optional essay, which further deepens this difficult question.

 

To effectively compare and contrast the SAT and the ACT, we will proceed from an examination of similarities between the tests to an enumeration of their differences. 

• Both tests feature separate sections for Reading Comprehension, Math, and Grammar.
• Both tests have only one section for each topic (Reading or Math or Grammar)
• Both tests have an optional essay section that appears at the end of the test (and before which you will get a 5 min break) and that does not contribute to the total score.
• Both tests allow you to guess since they score you only on questions you get right and a wrong answer does not invite a negative score.
• Both tests have Reading and Grammar sections that feature passages instead of sentences.

 

Having looked into the similarities, we can now examine the key differences between the tests.

 

Difference #1: The Science Section

 

The ACT features an entire section devoted to Science, while the SAT has no such section. However, the SAT tests the same concepts as the ACT Science section just not through a seperate section and hence, you have a subscore termed as “Analysis in Science” on the SAT. But not many schools pay much attention to this subscore, whereas the same schools pay greater attention to your Science score on the ACT as it is a part of the 4 core scores on the test. So, if you are someone who enjoys reading science facts and information passage after passage, then the ACT is more suited to you.

 

Difference #2: Section order and scores

The ACT sections can be remembered using the acronym EMRSW- English, Math, Reading, Science, and Writing (optional).

The ACT scores each of the four compulsory sections on a scale of 1 to 36 and then averages the out to get a final or composite score.

The SAT sections are Reading, Writing and Language (both sections add up to your Evidence–based reading and writing score, on a scale of 200-800.) It also combines the Math No-calculator and Calculator sections for the final Math score, on a scale of 200-800. The two scores are then added to finally arrive at a score of 400 to 1600.
A perfect score on the ACT is 36 where as a perfec score on the SAT is 1600.

 

Difference #3: Time per question

At 65 min for 52 questions, the SAT reading section is lengthier for the fast-paced ACT reading section (35 min to answer 40 questions).

At 35 min for 35 questions, the SAT grammar (Writing and Language) section is shorter than the more elaborate ACT grammar (English) section (45 min to answer 75 questions).

At a combined 80 min for 58 questions, the SAT Math section is more time-consuming than the ACT Math section (60 min to answer 60 questions).

Difference #4: Cost

The SAT costs $49.50, if you decide to not write the essay. In case you want to write the essay, then the cost of the test is $64.50. International students have to pay anywhere between $43 - $53 extra depending on the geography they live in.

The ACT costs $52.00, if you decide to not write the essay. In case you want to write the essay, then the cost of the test is $68.00. International students have to pay $98 extra for the test with no essay. For the test with the essay, international students have to pay $98.5 in addition to the regular fees.

 

Difference #5: Testing Pattern

Currently, the ACT is an online test that you take from a prometric centre. However, the SAT still follows a paper-pencil pattern that you take from a testing center, generally a nearby school.

 

Difference #6: Testing Time

The SAT is a slightly longer test than the ACT. But the difference is not considerable enough to merit a choice based on this simple fact. 

While the ACT without the optional ACT Writing section lasts 2 hours 55 minutes, the SAT without the SAT Essay lasts 3 hours.

With the optional essay components, the SAT forges ahead with a test duration of 3 hours 50 minutes while the ACT reaches a more modest 3 hours 35 minutes.

 

Difference #7: Testing Dates

The SAT is offered 5 times a year for international students while the ACT is offered 7 times a year.

Difference #8: Registration Deadlines

The SAT requires you to register 4 weeks in advance and is administered by collegeboard, whereas the ACT requires you to register 5 weeks prior to the test date and is conducted by ETS. 

 

This is not all. There are many more differences between the two exams, which will be discussed section-wise in the following upcoming articles:

SAT vs ACT Reading

SAT vs ACT Math

SAT Writing vs ACT English

SAT vs ACT Essay

 

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