Choosing between the SAT and ACT?
We’ll help.
Frequently Asked Questions about the SAT & ACT
What is the biggest difference between the SAT and ACT?
The biggest difference is that the ACT has a science section in addition to reading, writing, and math. The SAT, however, only has a reading, writing, and math section. On the SAT, the reading section is 65 minutes, writing is 35 minutes, math no calculator is 25 minutes, and math calculator is 55 minutes. On the ACT, reading is 35 minutes, math is 60 minutes, writing is 45 minutes, and the science section is 35 minutes.
Is the SAT easier than the ACT?
Both tests are equally as hard at face value. However, one test might be easier for your child depending on his/her strengths. For example, if your child is strong in science, it may be a great idea to do the ACT over the SAT.
Do colleges favor one test over the other?
No. The overwhelming majority of colleges, including the Ivy League, make it clear on their websites that the two tests are viewed the exact same. Simply because your peers are taking, say, the SAT, that doesn’t mean you should. A lot of students don’t take the time to analyze the differences between the tests before they prepare, which can result in less effective learning and preparation. Thus, picking correctly is essential.
What is a good SAT score? What is a good ACT score?
It depends on what school you are applying to. Generally, getting a SAT score above 1520 and an ACT score above a 34 will give you a good shot at a top 15 school. Top 16-30 schools require a SAT in the range of 1450-1500, or an ACT score in the 33-34 range.
How do I know if I should take the SAT or ACT?
If you heavily dislike science, we don’t recommend the ACT. If you do, however, your score may be rewarded by the ACT science section. The questions on the ACT, especially reading, tend to be much easier. If you’re having a hard time on the SAT reading section, consider switching to the ACT. The ACT is more fast paced, but with enough practice, moving through the test will be a breeze.
How do these two tests differ in structure?
Both tests are currently three hours long, but the ACT tends to be more fast paced because it contains more sections within the same time as the SAT. However, the ACT is known to present easier questions that are easy to breeze through, although the questions get progressively harder towards the end.
Most schools are test optional now. Why should I bother taking the SAT/ACT?
In order to stand out from the tens of thousands of applications that apply to competitive schools each year, one thing you can do is score exceptionally high on the SAT/ACT. Imagine you are an admissions officer looking at an application. The student is stellar is every aspect possible, but decided not to submit a test score that most other applicants submitted. How come this student didn’t submit their test score? Was it not high enough? Doing well on these exams can only help you, and will put you in a competitive spot against other students who are applying for that same spot. According to a New York Times article quoting Janet Rapelye, one of the deans of admissions at Princeton University, “More information is always better. If students choose one or the other, that's fine, because both tests have value. But if they submit both, that generally gives us a little more information.” Therefore, if possible, a student (and some do) can take both exams although it is by all means not necessary.
Should I take the essay writing section of each exam?
The essay is not required, nor is recommended by the majority of colleges. In fact, in 2021 the college board removed the essay portion from the SAT entirely. The ACT essay section remains, but many colleges have indicated that it is not required. As of 2022, only six colleges, none of which being near the top 50 ranked schools, require the ACT essay. It is highly recommended that students not waste their time on this optional section.
Is it true that the ACT uses rounding in its grading curve?
Yes. Any final score that ends in a 0.5 or above will be rounded up, while anything that ends in a 0.5 will be rounded down. For example, if a student averages a 35.5 across all 4 sections, he/she will receive a maximum score of 36 despite not scoring perfect 36’s on all sections.
Pros and Cons of the SAT
Pros
More time per question (~70 seconds)
The SAT is more common (1.7 million SAT students vs 1.35 million ACT students)
May advantage students proficient in math (1/2 of the exam on the SAT is math, whereas only 1/4 of the exam on the ACT is math.)
Less questions to be answered in total
The SAT doesn’t have a science section, although there are typically two science passages on the reading section, which require some amount of scientific/analytical thinking
Cons
Typically harder questions than the first half of questions on the ACT (ACT questions get progressively harder in math)
Generally has longer sections (most notably the reading section)
ACT reading tends to mainly be evidence based questions, as the answers are typically directly found in the reading. Therefore, the questions are easier, but there’s much less time per question.
Reading passages tend to be more complex and harder to read. There is usually one historical passage that may have old language.
Pros and Cons of the ACT
Pros
Questions and answers and known to be more concise, straightforward and easier to answer
May favor students who are good at science
Although there is a science section, you don’t need to have taken AP or college level courses to exceed. All the information you need is given, and it is mainly analyzing relationships and trends
Every single question is multiple choice. There are no short answer questions (called grid-in questions) like the SAT. This gives more room to guess if absolutely necessary (it is essentially impossible to guess on a grid-in problem on the SAT.)
Reading passages tend to be more contemporary and easy to read/skim
Scores that end in a .5 or higher are rounded up. That means you can get a “perfect score” by averaging a 35.5 or 35.75.
Cons
Less time per question ( ~50 seconds compared to ~70 seconds on the SAT)
More sections and topics to learn because there is a science section
The math section of the ACT includes a couple extra topics, such as matrices and logarithms, although they are tested at a fairly low level
Students need to move extremely quickly in between questions, or even skimming passages. The test is known to be extremely fast paced, but a lot of the questions are easier to comprehend.
ACT math questions have five answer choices, compared to four answer choices on the SAT