Even though colleges use both the SAT and the ACT in their admission decisions without worrying about which of the two is “BETTER,” most students are confused between the two tests.

In this post, we talk about the major differences between the Math sections of the two tests. This blog will help you identify which is better or easier for you - SAT math or ACT math?

Number Of Sections

The SAT math section is broken into two sections: No Calculator and Calculator, whereas the ACT math is tested only in one individual section. So, if you are someone who loves math, you will be more inclined to SAT math and if you are someone who hates math, you will be more inclined to ACT math. But, hold your horses and don’t jump to any decision yet! There is a lot more to know before you decide to start prepping for one of the two tests.

 

Weightage In Test

Both the SAT and the ACT are divided into four sections each. SAT has Reading, Writing, Math No Calculator, and Math Calculator. ACT has Writing, Math, Reading, and Science. So, Math constitutes 50% of the test on the SAT, whereas it constitutes only 25% on the ACT. And, it is not just about the number of sections, SAT math makes 50% of your final score and ACT math contributes only 25% to your final score. 

 

Test Design

On the ACT, Math is the second section, straight after you complete Writing. On the SAT, Math is both the third and the fourth section, after you have completed both the Reading and Writing and Language sections. Some of you might prefer doing the math early, however, at the same time some others might prefer to take it easy at the end. Hence, there is no “BETTER” test design. It boils down to your test-taking preferences.

 

Question Types

Although the two tests cover a similar breadth of topics, there is a difference between the question types on the two tests. 

The SAT Math has a large focus on algebra and word problems, whereas the ACT Math has a larger focus on geometry and trigonometry. The SAT Math questions are generally worded in a way that you miss out on some information to fall for a trap. However, the ACT math questions are fairly straightforward. Also, the SAT throws in some questions that do not have any answer choices as opposed to the ACT where each question has 5 answer choices. 

 

Answer Choices

The number of answer choices on the two tests differ. On the SAT, some questions - 13 to be exact - do not have an answer choice. These questions are known as Grid-ins. The other 45 questions have 4 answer choices each. On the ACT, each of the 60 questions has 5 answer choices. Hence, in case you make a guess on any random question on the tests, you have a 25% chance of getting it correct on the SAT versus only a 20% chance of getting it correct on the ACT.

 

Time

Time plays an important role for most of the students. Students generally do well when they have more time per question. The SAT offers more time per question. You get anywhere between 15 to 27 seconds extra on a question depending on the section for that question. 

 

Formula Sheet

The SAT provides a formula sheet at the start of both the Math sections. The ACT, however, does not offer any such help. On the ACT, you are on your own for the formulas. On the SAT, you have a ready reference for various geometry formulas, including the special triangle ratios. 

 

So which math test is better for me?

Unfortunately, even after understanding all the differences between these two very similar tests, it is very difficult to suggest which one works for you better. So, you must sit for a diagnostic test to decide your strengths and weaknesses and understand which of the two tests is more suited for your strengths and weaknesses. We know, it sounds crazy to sit for two full length tests; however, it is worth the time. Remember to weigh the pros and cons of each math test versus the full test. High scores on standardized tests is all about the balance, so it is good to put in your time and do the due diligence.

 

If you want to opt for a short test that will help you further identify the better one for you, here is a link to our SAT vs ACT test- https://collegify.com/sat-vs-act

 

Other titles in this series:

SAT vs ACT Overview

SAT vs ACT Reading

SAT Writing vs ACT English

SAT vs ACT Essay