SAT vs. ACT
Differences at a Glance
The road to college can be a confusing and hectic experience. Choosing the right admissions test to take – SAT or ACT – doesn't have to be. While most colleges across the country accept scores from either test, the SAT and ACT are significantly different, and in many ways, they measure different skills. This comparison chart should help…
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The Set-up
| SAT | ACT | ||||||
Section |
Time |
Q* |
*S |
Section |
Time |
Q* |
S* |
| Verbal | 30min. | 35-36 | English | 45 min. | 75 | 1-36 | |
| Verbal | 30min. | 30-31 | Math | 60 min. | 60 | 1-36 | |
| Critical Rdg. | 15 min. | 11-13 | Reading | 35 min. | 40 | 1-36 | |
| Total Verbal | 75 min | 78 | 200-800 | Science | 35 min. | 40 | 1-36 |
| Math | 30 min. | 25 | Math | 2hrs.55min | 215 | 1-36 | |
| Math | 30 min. | 25 | |||||
| Math | 15 min. | 10 | ACT are weighted equally | ||||
| Totals | 75 min. | 200-800 | |||||
| Experimental | 30 min. | varies | no score | ||||
| Totals | 3 hrs. | 138+ | 400-1600 |
The Verbal Sections
SAT- The SAT verbal sections include: Analogies, Sentence Completion's, and Critical Reading. You' ll need to work around tough vocabulary in both analogies and sentence completion's.
In the critical reading section, you'll get four passages from different subject areas.
To answer the questions, you'll have to grasp the author's overall argument quickly, and draw relationships between the details of the passage and its main idea.
ACT- The ACT English section gives you a series of sentences and paragraphs and asks you to identify and correct any grammatical or punctuation errors, garbled or redundant prose, or stylistic flubs. Don't be alarmed though. These questions do not test arcane grammar rules, but rather your basic grammar skills, logic and common sense.
In the ACT Reading section, you'll be given four reading passages followed by questions mostly asking you to locate facts and verify information.
OTHER "HELPS"- The SAT Critical Reading is like analyzing a debate, while ACT reading is more like researching a term paper. If you're good at interpretation, you'll do well on the SAT. If you're more of a quantitative thinker, you might be more comfortable with the ACT.
Math Sections
SAT- The SAT Math sections contain approximately equal proportions of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry questions, along with some other question types that require skills like probability and logical reasoning. The SAT is interested in testing your ability to manipulate information like key facts and formulas, rather than just memorizing them.
The questions are a mix of Regular Math (multiple choice), Grid-ins (regular math problems where you have to fill in the answer) and Quantitative Comparisons 9 multiple choice questions where you'll have to compare quantities in two columns.
ACT- The ACT Math section requires you to know pre algebra, geometry, and coordinate and plane geometric. Unlike the SAT, you'll also see trigonometry, the quadratic formula and graphs and equations of circles, ellipses and parabolas.
The questions are multiple-choice. Regular Math questions. They are straightforward, requiring you to know a particular concept or formula - so you'll need to have this information memorized.
Other "Helps"- Both the SAT and ACT test high school math and permit you to use a calculator. If you enjoy questions that call upon logical reasoning and visualization, you might prefer the SAT. But if you're more comfortable with straightforward, academically rigorous questions, the ACT might be for you.
Comparable Scores on SAT/ACT
| ACT | SAT | Percentile |
| 36 | 1600 | 99 |
| 29 | 1300 | 90 |
| 27 | 1200 | 80 |
| 25 | 1180 | 70 |
| 23 | 1080 | 60 |
| 21 | 1000 | 50 |
| 20 | 960 | 40 |
| 18 | 870 | 30 |
| 15 | 740 | 20 |