SAT vs ACT: Which Test is Right for You?

Both the ACT and the SAT are equally recognized by universities around the world. This article provides SAT vs ACT detailed comparison to help students decide which test is suitable for them. Moreover, we have also highlighted some similarities between the two tests.

The SAT and ACT are entrance-level tests taken by students who wish to enroll in colleges abroad. Although both of them are standardized tests, they measure a student's ability and readiness for university in distinct ways. There has been a rivalry between the SAT and ACT for decades. 

Originally, the SAT was more of a psychological test that evaluated a student's aptitude for learning. Whereas, the ACT determined the academic preparation and achievement of candidates. Let's examine the differences between these two tests in more detail.

ACT vs SAT: An Overview

Before heading to the SAT vs ACT detailed comparison, lets look at the overview of differences between the two exams provided in the table below:

Point of Difference	ACT	SAT
Conducting Body	ACT Inc.	College Board on behalf of Educational Testing Service (ETS)
Full Form	American College Testing	SAT Reasoning Test
Mode of Exam	Both Paper- and Computer-based	Paper-based
Total Number of Questions	215	154
Time Per Section	English: 45 mins Math: 60 mins Reading: 35 mins Science: 35 mins Writing (optional): 40 mins	Reading: 65 mins Writing and Language: 35 mins Math Calculator: 55 minutes Math No Calculator: 25 minutes
Duration	3 hours 35 minutes	3 hours 15 minutes
Scoring Scale	1-36	400-1600
Sections	Math (Calculator and Non-Calculator), Reading and Writing	Math, Reading, Writing, and Optional Essay
Frequency	Four times in a year: March, May, October, and December	Six times in a year: February, April, June, July, September, and October
Fee	$52 without Writing $68 with Writing	Without Essay- $49.50 + Non-US Regional Fee ($49) With Essay- $64.50 + Non-US Regional Fee ($49)
Who Accepts Scores?	Accepted by all colleges and universities in the US and other countries	Accepted by over 800 universities in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, etc.
Scores Released Within	2 weeks	1-2 weeks

Differences between the ACT and SAT Exams

Now lets start with out SAT vs ACT detailed comparison. Although both tests share several similarities, here are the most important differences for you to consider before deciding whether to take the SAT or ACT.

1. ACT Scores vs SAT Scores
2. Timing
3. Science Section
4. No Calculator Math Subsection
5. Command of Evidence Questions
6. Difficulty Level
7. Essay Content
8. Chronological Reading Questions

ACT Scores vs SAT Scores

In the SAT, students receive a score between 400 and 1600, whereas in the ACT, scores range from 1 to 36. Despite the differences in these scoring numbers, universities use a simple conversion chart to compare applicants' test scores for admissions. The ACT to SAT score conversion chat is given in the table below:

ACT Composite Score	SAT Composite Score
36	1600
35	1560-1590
34	1520-1550
33	1490-1510
32	1450-1480
31	1420-1440
30	1390-1410
29	1350-1380
28	1310-1340
27	1280-1300
26	1240-1270
25	1200-1230
24	1160-1190
23	1130-1150
22	1100-1120
21	1060-1090
20	1020-1050
19	980-1010
18	940-970
17	900-930
16	860-890
15	810-850
14	760-800
13	720-750
12	630-710
11	560-620

Timing

In the SAT, students get more time per section, which allows them to devote more time to each question. This may be due to SAT questions requiring more writing and solving more problems, whereas ACT questions have a more straightforward format. On the SAT, for example, there is a time limit of 13 minutes for each passage in the reading comprehension section. In comparison, the ACT gives students around eight minutes to solve one passage.

Science Section

Another major difference has to do with science. While the ACT contains a section entirely devoted to science, the SAT does not. The ACT Science section contains 40 questions and lasts 35 minutes. Like the other three ACT sections, Science constitutes one-fourth of your total ACT score. So if you're a science whiz who loves the idea of having an entire section focused on scientific data, graphs, and hypotheses, the ACT might be a better fit for you.

No Calculator Math Subsection

Unlike the ACT for which you may use a calculator on all Math questions, the SAT contains a Math "No Calculator" subsection for which you may not use a calculator. Consisting of 20 questions, the No Calculator subsection is a mere 25 minutes long, making it the shortest section on the SAT. (By contrast, the Math Calculator subsection is 55 minutes long and consists of 38 questions.)

As a result, if you struggle with solving math quickly or without a calculator, you'd probably fare better on ACT Math than you would on SAT Math. On the other hand, if you're confident in your math skills and can work fast without a calculator, the SAT is a solid option.

Command of Evidence Questions

Are you good at pinpointing areas in texts to support your answers to questions? If so, the SAT might be a better fit for you. Evidence-support questions are a big part of SAT Reading but are entirely absent on ACT Reading. These questions build off of the questions that come before them and ask you to cite specific lines or paragraphs as evidence for your answer to a previous question.

Difficulty Level

As far as difficulty levels are concerned, both tests are fairly similar. That being said, it would significantly depend on what your weaknesses and strengths are. For instance, if you are confident that you can score well in Science, then the ACT is certainly the right fit for you.

Again, as mentioned earlier, the SAT gives you more time for each question under each section.

Essay Content

In the SAT, the writing assignment of 50 minutes will ask you to analyse a text and explain how the writer makes an argument to persuade an audience. The ACT writing test will be 40 minutes long consisting of one prompt. What you would be asked to do here is read the prompt and write an essay explaining your own stand on the given issue. It will be scored on the basis of the perspective you build and express in the essay.

Chronological Reading Questions

On SAT Reading, all questions given to you follow a chronological order—that is, in the order of the passage to which they refer. But on ACT Reading, questions can flow randomly and do not routinely follow the order of the content in the passages.

As a result, SAT Reading questions are generally easier to follow and thus easier to answer than ACT Reading questions. Chronologically ordered questions can also save you time on the SAT, as you won't need to search the entire passage for the area to which a question is referring.

Similarities between ACT and the SAT Exams

Though both these tests are different in various ways, SAT and ACT also share several similarities. Listed below are the some of these similarities:

• Both take over three hours to complete. (The ACT is 15 minutes shorter.)
• Both give colleges a solid overview of each student’s capabilities
• Both cover basic subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics
• Generally, 3rd and 4th-year high school students appear for these tests
• Registration for both opens about one month before the test date
• Most universities generally accept both exams
• Students aren’t penalized for a wrong answer
• Include passage-based reading and writing questions

Impact of COVID-19 on the SAT and ACT

Colleges re-examined SAT and ACT testing when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and testing sites were not available to everyone. The popularity of these tests was already reducing, so the pandemic allowed schools to re-evaluate their effectiveness. With testing options available again, some colleges are following these methods:

• Test-optional (decide whether or not to submit your scores)
• Test-blind (colleges don’t consider test scores in admissions decisions)
• Eliminating the test scores from the application

How Should I Choose Between the SAT and the ACT?

As you have understood the SAT vs ACT detailed comparison, you must be in a better position to decide which one should be suitable for you. Moreover, what is important to understand is that no institution would favour the scores of ACT over that of SAT or vice versa. 

The purpose of both the tests is the same, which is to check the readiness for admission to colleges/universities. The syllabus of the tests would have a different impression on each student. Hence, the best way to learn which exam would be ideal for you and your abilities is by taking practise tests of both the SAT and ACT. 

SAT vs ACT Detailed Comparison FAQs

1. Which test should international students take - SAT or ACT?

Both SAT and ACT are meant to assess a student’s preparedness for colleges and universities abroad. Hence, students can take any of the two tests depending on their abilities.

2. Are SAT questions harder than ACT?

There is no difference between SAT and ACT in terms of difficulty. However, each test benefits different types of students. Therefore, students need to figure out which test is best suited for them to achieve highest possible scores.

3. How does the ACT differ from the SAT?

There are differences between ACT and SAT on the basis of scores, sections, and duration. The total questions in ACT are 40 and average time per section is 10 minutes. Whereas, SAT has 52 questions with average section time of 9 minutes 37 seconds.

4. When should students begin studying for SAT/ACT?

Student are advised to start preparing for SAT/ACT at least three to four months prior to the examination.

5. What is the highest ACT score?

The highest ACT score that a student can achieve is 36. Moreover, the current average score on ACT is 21.