The SAT vs. ACT
Today we have a guest post from Jennifer Cohen, President and Chief Word-Nerd at Word-Nerd.com SAT Vocabulary Prep.
College entrance exams require a great investment of time, effort and money, so choosing which one to take is no small task. The SAT and ACT are similar in some ways, but very different in others. Rumors tend to make their way through high schools regarding the difficulty and desirability of one test over the other. Here’s some straightforward information to set the record straight.
The SAT vs. ACT: A Comparison
Length:
SAT: 3 hours, 45 minutes, with additional time for breaks/instructions
ACT: 3 hours, 25 minutes (includes optional essay section) , with additional time for break/instruction
Sections:
SAT: 10 Sections: 3 Critical Reading, 3 Math, 3 Writing (including Essay), 1 Experimental (not scored)
ACT: 4 Sections (plus optional essay): English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing
Subjects:
SAT: Critical Reading, Math, Writing
ACT: English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (optional)
Reading:
SAT: Reading comprehension passages and sentence completions that emphasize vocabulary
ACT: Reading comprehension passages
Math:
SAT: Arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and algebra II
ACT: Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry
Writing:
SAT: Essay, plus multiple choice questions testing grammar and English usage
ACT: Essay section is not offered for all administrations.
Science:
SAT: Not tested
ACT: Problem solving and analysis, science knowledge
Scoring:
SAT: Total score of 600 - 2400 based on total of 3 scores 200- 800 (Reading, Math, Writing)
Score of 0-12 for Essay (scored on 0-6 scale by two readers)
ACT: Composite score 1-36 based on average of 4 sections (English Math, Reading, Science)
Score 0-12 for Optional Essay.
Hopefully the above has answered a lot of your questions about the SAT vs. the ACT. At this point, you may have an inkling that one test may be preferable for you. But, there are more things to consider. First and foremost, do the schools you’re considering require one or the other? Most schools will take either, but will only accept the ACT if you take the optional writing test. Just do your research before registering!
Next, take a full-length, timed practice test of both tests. The only way you’ll know which test is really going to work for you is to take it. But do this BEFORE you launch into test prep. While many students think they should take both the SAT and the ACT, in truth, it may be a better use of your time to devote your preparation time to only one. You can spend more time on the specifics of your test of choice, and you’ll prevent confusion between strategies that only apply to one test. That’s why taking a practice test is so important. Pick one, then stick with that decision.
Now that you’ve got the basics down, get out there and take a couple of practice tests. You can find an SAT here and an ACT here. Just be sure to take the paper test. You won’t be taking the real thing online, so don’t be tempted to do that now. Good luck!
