Both the ACT and SAT are widely accepted standardized exams that are required for admission to US colleges. Each test, which is aimed mainly at high school juniors and seniors, evaluates students’ ability in many crucial skill areas — like problem-solving, mathematics, and reading comprehension — that are required for success in college. Yet the question of ACT vs SAT lingers every time. The ACT and SAT differ from one another in a variety of ways, know the difference between the ACT and SAT below:
Time Distribution
In comparison to the ACT, the SAT provides more time for each question across the board. It provides some of the highest increases in the time allotted for each question on the Math and Reading sections, with the Math Calculator part allotting almost 30 seconds more per question than the ACT Math section. The following chart displays the variations in time spent on each question:
| ACT | SAT | |
| Science | 53 sec/question | N/A |
| Reading | 53 sec/question | 75 sec/question |
| Math | 60 sec/question | No Calculator: 75 sec/question Calculator: 87 sec/question |
| ACT English/SAT Writing | 36 sec/question | 48 sec/question |
More Differences
| SAT | ACT | |
| Total Time | 3 Hours | 2 hours 55 mins without writing, 3 hours and 35 mins with writing |
| Test Structure | Reading Writing & Language Math | English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, Essay (Optional) |
| Reading | 5 reading passages | 4 reading passages |
| Science | None | 1 science section testing your critical thinking skills (not your specific science knowledge) |
| Math | Covers: Arithmetic, Algebra I & II Geometry, Trigonometry, and Probability and statistics | Covers: Arithmetic, Algebra I & II Geometry, Trigonometry, and Probability and Statistics |
| Calculator Policy | Reading: 52 questions Writing and Language: 44 questions Math No-Calculator: 20 questions Math Calculator: 38 questions | You can use a calculator on all math questions. |
| Guess Penalty | No | Reading: 52 questions Writing and Language: 44 questions Math No-Calculator: 20 questions Math Calculator: 38 questions |
| Essays | None | Optional. The essay will test how well you evaluate and analyze complex issues. |
| Number of questions | Reading: 52 questions Writing and Language: 44 questions Math No Calculator: 20 questions Math Calculator: 38 questions | English: 75 questions Math: 60 questions Reading: 40 questions Science: 40 questions Writing (optional): 1 essay |
| Scored | Scored on a scale of 400–1600 | Scored on a scale of 1–36 |
| Cost | $60 | $63 without Writing $88 with Writing |
The decision between the ACT and the SAT ultimately comes down to personal preferences, strengths, test-taking strategies, and most importantly university requirements. Finding out which test best suits your skills and objectives can be done by taking practice exams for both exams and taking into account elements like content, structure, and time limits. Success on the ACT vs SAT depends on thorough test preparation and familiarity with the exam format.
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