ACT vs SAT: Find your best fit test

When preparing for college admissions, one of the most significant hurdles high school students encounter is choosing between the SAT and ACT. For decades, these two standardized exams have served as dependable benchmarks in the college admissions process across the U.S. In this post, we provide a detailed overview of both exams, highlight key differences, and present tables on exam details, including an SAT vs. ACT comparison chart. Our goal is to simplify the decision-making process, helping you determine which exam aligns best with your strengths and academic goals.

What is the SAT?

The SAT is a well-known component of the college admissions process, recognized for its emphasis on specific content domains that evaluate student preparedness for higher education. Administered by the College Board, this computer-based test features 98 multiple-choice questions that span critical academic skills.

As a nationally standardized exam, the SAT test assesses a student’s college readiness across designated SAT sections, providing colleges with a consistent metric to compare applicants. Admissions officers use SAT scores alongside academic history, course rigor, recommendations, extracurricular achievements, and personal essays. The degree to which SAT test results influence an admissions decision depends on each college’s unique criteria.

What is on the SAT?

The exam consists of two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. Each section consists of two equally divided segments: the base module and the adaptive module. The base module of each section is a mixture of easy, medium, and hard questions. Depending on the students’ performance in this segment, the difficulty level of the second segment will be adjusted accordingly, either becoming more challenging or less so.

Reading and Writing

In this section, there are 54 questions: 27 questions in the base module and 27 questions in the adaptive module. The students are presented with short reading passages (or pairs of passages) followed by a multiple-choice question. Questions within this section are covered by four main content domains:

Craft and Structure

Assesses your ability to understand, analyze, and use high-utility words and phrases in context, rhetorically evaluate texts, and connect thematically related texts.

Information and Ideas

Tests understanding, thinking, and problem-solving skills by checking how well you can find, understand, judge, and put together information and ideas from written and visual graphics.

Standard English Conventions

Measures your ability to correct texts to follow the basic rules of English grammar, usage, and punctuation.

Expression of Ideas

Tests how well you can revise texts to improve them and achieve particular goals in communication.

The passages in this section range from 25 to 150 words, covering topics from literature, science, history/social studies, and the humanities.

Math

The Math section consists of 44 questions, with 22 questions in each of the base and adaptive modules, focusing on Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, and Geometry and Trigonometry. Throughout this section, students will encounter both multiple-choice and student-produced response questions designed to assess their comprehension, fluency, and ability to apply the fundamental math concepts, skills, and practices.

Roughly 30% of the Math questions are contextualized. These word problems require you to apply your math skills and knowledge to a social studies, science, or real-world scenario, thus requiring an understanding of both math and the given context to correctly solve the problem.

How long is the SAT?

As of 2023, the new digital SAT takes 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete. A 10-minute break is provided between the Reading & Writing and the Math section, resulting in a cumulative exam length of 2 hours and 24 minutes.

The amount of time you have per question in each section of the SAT is:

• Reading and Writing: 1 minute 11 seconds per question
• Math: 1 minute 35 seconds per question

How is the SAT scored?

Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale from 200 to 800, resulting in a total SAT score range of 400 to 1600. This range is determined by adding together the scaled scores from each section based on the number of correct answers you provide on the exam and the question difficulty. For comparison, the SAT score range is 400-1600, while the ACT score range is 1-36.

How much is the SAT?

The SAT registration fee is $68. Late registration incurs an additional fee of $38, while changing your testing center or canceling your registration results in an extra charge of $29. Canceling your registration after the cancellation deadline carries an additional fee of $39.

Fee waivers for the SAT are available to 11th and 12th-grade students from low-income backgrounds residing in the U.S. or U.S. territories. Additionally, U.S. citizens studying abroad may also qualify for fee waivers.

When should I take the SAT?

The majority of high school students opt to take the SAT during the spring of their junior year or the fall of their senior year. It is advisable to allow time for potential test retakes to improve scores before college applications. The SAT exam is administered nationally every year in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June.

What is the ACT?

The ACT scores also play a crucial role in the college admissions process. Commonly taken by high school students, the ACT offers both pencil-and-paper and digital testing options, and includes 215 multiple-choice questions covering essential academic subjects. With about 37% of students taking the ACT each year, it’s the next most popular exam after the SAT.

When considering the ACT vs. the SAT, it’s vital to recognize that the ACT is specifically designed to measure students’ readiness for college-level academics. ACT scores are considered by most colleges and universities, and there is no preference for one exam over the other. The exam is structured into distinct ACT sections, allowing students to demonstrate their strengths in English, Math, Reading, and Science as part of a comprehensive evaluation.

What is on the ACT?

The ACT exam is structured around four main ACT sections: English, Math, Reading, and an optional Science section. Each of these ACT sections contributes to your overall ACT scores, which are later summarized in an ACT scores chart to help students and colleges interpret performance. In addition to the core subjects, there is an optional Writing section that allows students to further demonstrate their skills. ACT math is considered to be more advanced than math on the SAT, and passages in the Reading section are slightly longer.

English

In the ACT English section, students encounter 75 multiple-choice questions. This portion features five short passages, each followed by about 15 questions. Students play the role of an editor, reviewing each passage to ensure clarity, strong organization, and grammatical accuracy.

The English section of the ACT primarily evaluates two key skill areas. First, it tests a student’s understanding of usage and mechanics, such as grammar rules, proper punctuation, and sentence structure. This ensures that test-takers are familiar with essential English conventions and can apply these rules effectively throughout the ACT sections.

Second, this section of the SAT measures rhetorical skills: the ability to improve the flow of a passage, maintain logical organization, and ensure the message is communicated clearly. Mastery in these areas demonstrates a strong grasp of how to edit and refine writing, which is crucial for succeeding in the ACT.

Math

The Mathematical section has 60 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Students must apply their mathematical knowledge and problem-solving skills to solve equations, analyze geometric figures, and interpret data.

There are six main content areas: Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, and Trigonometry. These questions are presented in a five-choice multiple-choice format and can vary in presentation, including word problems, straightforward math questions, and sometimes accompanied by pictures and charts to aid understanding.

Reading

The Reading section is a key component of the ACT, specifically designed to measure a student’s proficiency in comprehending and analyzing written passages. Within the Reading portion, students will encounter four distinct subsections, each featuring either one extended passage or a pair of shorter passages. These reading passages are drawn from diverse topics found across prose fiction, the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.

Across these SAT sections, students are required to answer 40 questions, with 10 questions linked to each reading passage. These questions assess essential critical reading skills, including the student’s ability to interpret, analyze, and draw informed conclusions from written texts presented in the Reading section.

Science (optional)

The Science section evaluates your ability to interpret, analyze, and evaluate scientific information and data. It consists of 40 multiple-choice questions divided into seven passages, each focusing on a different discipline: biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth/space science.

These passages may include charts, graphs, and tables alongside written explanations. Students must use this information to answer questions that test their understanding of scientific concepts, experimental design, data analytics, and reasoning skills.

This section does not require specific pre-existing knowledge of scientific content beyond what is covered in high school science courses. Instead, it’s more of an evaluation of your capacity to think critically and apply scientific reasoning to solve problems and draw conclusions based on the provided information.

The science section is optional, but highly recommended for students applying to top schools and STEM programs. Your score on the Science section will be averaged with your Reading, English, and Math results to create your total composite score.

Writing (optional)

The optional Writing section of the exam presents you with a single essay prompt that addresses a contemporary issue or problem, usually of a philosophical nature. The prompt typically presents multiple short perspectives on the topic and requires the student to develop their own arguments or positions in response.

You will be expected to analyze and evaluate the given perspectives and reinforce your stance with well-developed, logical arguments. You have the option to fully agree with one perspective, partially agree, or present an entirely different perspective, all within a 40-minute period.

How long is the ACT?

The ACT exam lasts 3 hours and 10 minutes. This includes the 15-minute break provided between the Math section and the Reading section. However, this time can vary slightly depending on whether you decide to take the optional writing section, which adds an additional 40 minutes to the overall test duration. So, with the optional writing section, the ACT exam can take approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes to complete.

The amount of time you have per question in each multiple-choice section of the ACT is:

• English: 36 seconds per question
• Math: 1 minute per question
• Reading: 52 seconds per question
• Science: 52 seconds per question

How is the ACT scored?

For each section of the ACT, your raw scores (the number of correct multiple-choice answers) are converted to a scale score that fits the official ACT score range, which spans from 1 to 36. These individual scale scores are then combined using the ACT scores chart methodology, resulting in your ACT Composite Score. The ACT Composite Score also ranges from 1 to 36, aligning with typical scoring conventions for standardized exams like the SAT.

The optional Writing Test is scored independently from the multiple-choice sections, with scores ranging from 2 to 12. The ACT scores chart offers detailed insights into how writing scores correlate with overall performance. Your Writing Test results include five separate scores: one overall writing score and four domain scores, each derived from an analytic scoring rubric. The overall writing score is calculated by averaging and rounding your four domain scores. These domains measure key skills: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions.

• Ideas and Analysis: This domain assesses your ability to generate insightful ideas and evaluate multiple perspectives on the prompt. High performance in this area demonstrates an understanding of the issue, audience, and purpose, elements crucial to strong writing.
• Development and Support: Here, scoring hinges on your skill in structuring reasoning, using examples, and reinforcing main arguments. Proficient writers expand on their thoughts, illustrate consequences, and enhance overall clarity, an aspect detailed in any comprehensive ACT scores chart.
• Organization: Scores in Organization reflect your capacity to logically structure your essay so that ideas are conveyed coherently. A clear organization establishes connections between points and guides readers seamlessly through your argument, which is a necessity for achieving top marks.
• Language Use and Conventions: This area measures your ability to communicate ideas clearly in written English and demonstrate your command of grammar, word usage, syntax, and mechanics. Successful writers tailor their style and tone to meet audience expectations, reflecting the high standards outlined in the ACT scores chart.

Each essay is evaluated by two graders, who rate it on a scale of 1 to 6 across four domains. The combined reader evaluations yield your domain score (2–12 scale), which contributes to your total Writing Test result.

How much is the ACT?

The registration fee for the ACT exam varies depending on whether you opt for the test without writing or with writing. Without writing, the fee is $68, while with writing, it is $93. This fee includes sending the reports to you, your high school, and up to four colleges, provided that the relevant codes are furnished during registration.

Should you decide to add or remove the writing test before the late deadline, an additional fee of $25 applies. Late registration incurs an extra charge of $38, whereas changing your test date or test center carries a fee of $44.

ACT fee waivers are available for 11th and 12th-grade low-income students testing in the U.S. or U.S. territories. The waiver covers the basic registration fee for either the ACT with Writing or the ACT without Writing. It may also cover other services, like sending score reports to additional colleges.

When should I take the ACT?

Most high school students choose to sit for the ACT during the spring of their junior year or the fall of their senior year. It is recommended that you allow sufficient time for potential retakes if you wish to improve your scores before applying to colleges. The ACT exam is administered nationally each year in September, October, December, February, April, and June. A July test date is also available for all states except New York.

SAT vs ACT: Which test should I take?

Deciding whether to take the SAT or the ACT depends on various factors, including your strengths and weaknesses, preferences, and college goals. Here are some considerations to help you make an informed decision:

Content

The SAT and ACT cover many of the same academic subjects, but the approach, structure, and skills assessed differ significantly, making an ACT vs. SAT decision important for students. You’ll notice that the SAT is divided into two main sections: Reading and Writing and Math. This format underscores the SAT’s emphasis on critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and advanced problem-solving abilities. The SAT Reading and Writing section evaluates your command of advanced language skills, challenging you with complex vocabulary and intricate sentence structures to measure your comprehension and language proficiency.

Conversely, the ACT consists of four main sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, along with an optional Writing section. This broader scope highlights the ACT’s commitment to evaluating a wider range of academic skills. Unlike the SAT, the ACT includes a dedicated Science section that assesses scientific reasoning and interpretation. The Science section is designed to test your ability to interpret, analyze, and draw conclusions from scientific data, making the ACT an ideal choice for students interested in STEM fields or who prefer a test that covers a more diverse range of content areas.

Examining the types of questions on each test reveals further distinctions in the SAT vs. ACT debate. The SAT generally features shorter reading passages that are denser and challenging in terms of vocabulary and text complexity. In comparison, the ACT provides longer reading passages but typically uses more straightforward language, making reading comprehension less about vocabulary breadth and more about speed and overall understanding.

Math content is another differentiator. The SAT places greater weight on algebraic concepts and real-world problem-solving, aligning with its focus on analytical reasoning. The ACT, however, covers a broader range of math topics, including geometry and trigonometry, offering a more comprehensive assessment of your math skills.

Both the SAT and ACT now allow calculator use throughout the entire Math section. Since 2023, the Digital SAT has eliminated its no-calculator segment, allowing students to use either their personal graphing calculator or the built-in Desmos calculator provided during the exam.

Ultimately, when deciding between the two exams, consider your personal aptitudes and preferences. If you prefer clear-cut questions and a wider variety of subjects, the ACT may be a solid fit. If you thrive on critical analysis, challenging vocabulary, and problem-solving, the SAT might suit you better.

SAT vs. ACT comparison chart

Below is a concordance table for SAT and ACT scores, used to compare scores between the two tests. If you have an SAT or ACT score from a practice or official test, you can use this table to get a sense of how you’re likely to score on the other exam:

Source: act.org

Test structure

The SAT utilizes a form of adaptive testing known as multistage adaptive design. Each section of the test (Reading and Writing, and Math) is divided into two equal-length parts: base module and adaptive module. You will answer a set of questions in the first part before progressing to the next. Your performance in the initial module dictates the level of difficulty in the following adaptive module.

There are two main benefits to the multistage adaptive design:

1. Improved Efficiency: Ensures the accurate measurement of knowledge and skills in a shorter timeframe. The SAT now takes just over 2 hours, compared to the previous 3 hours.
2. Flexible Question Navigation: Unlike most adaptive tests, you have the freedom to move between questions within a module. You can preview upcoming questions, revisit earlier ones, or mark questions for later review if time permits. It’s worth noting that there’s no penalty for guessing, so make sure to answer every question to the best of your ability.

In the English and Reading section of the ACT, the difficulty level of the questions varies, and there is no particular pattern. However, in the Math section, the questions typically become progressively harder as you advance through the section. There are 60 questions in the Math section, and you can consider questions 1-20 to be “easy”, 21-40 as “medium”, and 41-60 as “hard”. Similarly, in the Science section, the difficulty of the passages tends to increase as you move through the test, and the questions become more difficult as you navigate each passage. The harder questions are not worth more than the easier questions, so make sure to answer to the best of your ability since there is no penalty for guessing.

Time management

The SAT and ACT differ in the amount of time allocated per question, which can significantly impact test-taking strategies and overall performance.

For the SAT, test-takers are given 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete 98 questions across all sections. In the Reading and Writing section’s two modules, you have 32 minutes to handle 27 questions, which is roughly 1 minute and 11 seconds per question. Similarly, each Math module provides 35 minutes for 22 questions, approximately 1 minute and 35 seconds per question.

On the other hand, the ACT provides a total of 2 hours and 55 minutes for 215 questions. In the English section, you must answer 75 questions in 45 minutes, equating to about 36 seconds per question on average. For Math, you are tasked with 60 questions in 60 minutes, giving you about 1 minute per question. As for the Reading and Science sections, you’re given 35 minutes for 40 questions, averaging roughly 52 seconds per question.

The difference in time per question between the two exams can impact test-takers’ abilities to manage time effectively and answer questions accurately. With less time per question on the ACT, students may feel increased pressure to work quickly and efficiently, which can lead to heightened test anxiety and rushed decision-making. The additional time per question on the SAT may afford test-takers more opportunity to carefully consider each question and formulate accurate responses.

It’s important for students to consider their individual pacing preferences and test-taking strategies when choosing between the SAT and ACT. Some students may thrive under the pressure of shorter time constraints and prefer the quick pace of the ACT, while others may feel more comfortable with the extended time per question provided by the SAT. Selecting the exam that aligns with one’s pace and testing approach can contribute to a more confident and successful testing experience.

Familiarity

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the format of the content of both exams through practice tests. Take practice exams for both the SAT and ACT and see which one you feel more comfortable with and where you perform better.

For the most accurate benchmarks and a true testing experience, students should utilize the official practice exams directly from the College Board or ACT websites. These practice exams are created by the same organizations that administer the actual SAT and ACT, ensuring that the questions are authentic and a true representation of what students will face on test day. By taking these official practice exams, students can gain valuable insight into the structure of the tests and develop effective strategies for managing their time and approaching various question types. Diagnostic tests from trusted third-party sources can also help identify areas of strength and weakness.

Students should prioritize official practice exams for the most authentic and reliable preparation. These practice exams provide students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the content and format of the SAT and ACT, helping them feel more confident and prepared on exam day.

Test format

The SAT and ACT also differ in how each test is administered. The SAT is now fully digital, requiring students to use their own devices, such as tablets or computers, to complete the exam. The ACT offers both paper-based and digital formats, depending on the location of the test center. If you prefer a traditional pencil-and-paper experience, the ACT may be a better option. However, if you are comfortable taking exams on a computer and value a digital testing environment, the SAT is designed for you.

College requirements

Research the colleges and universities you’re interested in applying to, and check their admissions requirements. Most institutions accept both the SAT and ACT, but others may have a preference for one over the other. Choose the exam that most or all of your target schools will accept.

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing between the SAT and the ACT for college admissions, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best choice depends on your abilities, preferences, and goals. Consider all these factors carefully when making your decision, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your school counselor for advice. If you still can’t decide, there is always the option to take both exams. Best of luck!