SAT vs. ACT — What’s the difference
The SAT:
- –has 4 sections: 2 verbal and 2 math (Verbal: Reading Comp and Writing/Language; Math: No calc and With calc)
- has an optional essay that you will take since most colleges ask for it
- has a total of 96 verbal questions and 58 math questions, with an essay, all told taking a total of 230 minutes (with four 5 minute breaks, for a total of 250 minutes or 4 hours and 10 mins)
- is SUPERSCORED at most colleges, meaning that most colleges will take the best of the verbal or math for each time you take the SAT and make it into one score for entrance purposes (but not scholarship purposes)
- is a bit more convoluted on the question side (but, once one learns the tricks, this difficulty fades)
- gives about 1 min 10 secs per question on the non-essay portions
- gives a score of 200-800 for each of the 2 types of sections and combines them into one score out of 1600
The ACT:
- has 4 sections: English, Math, Reading, Science
- has an optional essay that you will take since most colleges ask for it
- has a total of 155 verbal questions (I count the science section as verbal; you don’t need to know a thing about science to do well on this; this section is all about reading) and 60 math questions with essay, all told taking a total of 215 minutes (with four 5 minute breaks, for a total of 235 minutes or 3 hours and 55 mins)
- is NOT SUPERSCORED anywhere, that I know, so you are taking each test, for both admissions and scholarship purposes, as a stand alone
- is a bit more straightforward on the question side
- gives about 48 seconds per question on the non-essay portions
- gives a score between 1 – 36 for each of the 4 tests and gives a cumulative score which is an average of the 4 tests scores together. For instance, let’s say one received a 24 on English, 28 on Math, 32 on Reading, and 36 on Science. Your cumulative score would be an average of those 4: a 30.
ONLY TAKE THE TEST THAT GIVES YOU THE BEST ADVANTAGE!
Old wisdom used to be to take both and see on which one you score better, but they employ VERY DIFFERENT strategies. You only want to prepare for THE ONE that gives you the best chance for success.
How do you know which is the right one for you? Refer to our “Pick the Right Test” Guide Below…
Pick The Right Test:
- Grab a copy of both tests. See the resource page for these.
- Spend an hour or so looking at each test (including its rules for each section, its format, and its problems) and see which one you like best. The best way to do this is to take a timed (it is CRUCIAL to time this) version of one section from each test. SAT sections, with corresponding ACT sections: Section 1—Reading is Test 3 on ACT; Section 2—Writing and Language is Test 1 on ACT. Sections 3 and 4—Math are Test 2 on ACT. ACT test 4 has no real equivalent section on the SAT.
- At the end of this exercise, students will be able to decide which test they like best (or at least hate the least) and that is the only one to focus on.
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