Choosing the right college can be both exhilarating and stressful but choosing the college admissions test to take shouldn’t be.
In this ultimate guide, we break down the two most popular college admissions tests, SAT and ACT, so you know exactly what to expect and choose the option that plays to your strengths.
We’ll look at the key differences between the SAT and ACT, including test sections, duration, scoring systems, how colleges and scholarship funds consider them, and provide you with answers to the questions our students ask frequently.
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Choosing the right college admissions tests can increase your chances of getting into your desired school and winning better scholarships.
SAT and ACT are the most commonly used college admissions tests in the US. Other tests include PSAT and APexam.
All these tests serve the same purpose: they help colleges evaluate prospective students’ eligibility for their programs.
College admissions test scores are usually considered alongside the high school GPA and other academic performance metrics to assess a student’s preparedness for college-level work.
Before jumping into the differences between the SAT and ACT, let's briefly explore the PSAT and AP tests to see how they impact college admissions.
While PSAT and AP are not official admission tests, they can still play an important role in the college entrance process.
How?
Think of the PSAT (Preliminary SAT) as a valuable steppingstone on your path to college. PSAT offers a preview of the SAT format and helps you pinpoint your strengths and areas for improvement. Scoring well on the PSAT can even lead to National Merit Scholarships and enhance your college application.
the Advanced Placement (AP) Test is the conclusion to the AP Course. Scoring well on this test not only lets you acquire college credit while still in high school, it can also signal to admissions committees that you’re ready for the academic challenges ahead and, in doing so, significantly impact your chances of securing a place at your college(s) of choice.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the SAT and ACT.
The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is a widely recognized standardized exam used for college admissions in the United States. According to College Board, SAT was the leading college entrance test in 2023, with around 1.9 million test-takers.
The test primarily consists of multiple-choice and some open-ended questions, and it is designed to assess your skills through three key sections:
Most students take the SAT during their junior and/or senior year of high school, typically in the spring or fall testing windows.
Students can take the SAT as many times as they wish. College Board indicates that most students typically take it only once or twice. If you choose to take the SAT twice, most colleges consider your highest score. Also, some colleges use Superscoring to make admission decisions.
As of 2023, the traditional paper-and-pencil version of the SAT has been fully replaced by a new digital format. Now, students have the option to bring their own laptop or tablet, use a device issued by their school, or borrow one from the College Board.
Students can take the SAT on their own laptop or tablet or borrow one from the College Board.
The American College Testing (ACT) is a standardized test used for college admissions across the United States. The ACT was the second most popular college entrance exam in 2023, with nearly 1.4 million students sitting for it.
The test consists of multiple-choice questions and measures your skills in four key areas:
Most students take the ACT during their junior and/or senior year of high school, usually in the fall or spring testing windows.
Students are allowed to take the ACT up to 12 times. However, you should keep in mind that retaking the ACT too many times might signal to the admissions committee that you are not adequately prepared for college.
Starting in 2024, students have the option to take the ACT in either a digital format or the traditional paper-and-pencil format.
While both tests are designed to assess your college readiness, they take different approaches to it, including the way they are structured, timed, and formatted.
| Feature | SAT | ACT |
| Sections |
|
|
| Content Focus |
|
|
| Number of Questions |
|
|
| Duration |
Total: 134 mins |
|
| Score Range |
Total score range: 400-1600; combines EBRW (200-800) and Math (200-800); Essay scored separately (6-24) |
Composite score of 1-36, based on average of 4 sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) |
Let’s explore each element in more detail.
The first major difference between the SAT and the ACT is in their structure.
The SAT has two main sections which consist of:
The third section is the Essay, which was optional until it was discontinued in 2021. Now, it’s only available in states where it’s required for the SAT School Day.
An important feature of the digital SAT test is that both the Reading and Writing and Math sections are divided into two adaptive modules. This means that students will answer a set of questions in the first module, and the questions they receive in the second module will depend on how they performed in the first module.
This adaptive approach allows the SAT to create a more personalized testing experience and adjust the difficulty level based on each student's abilities.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT comprises four mandatory sections and one optional:
As you may have noticed, the SAT doesn’t feature a standalone science section. So, if science isn’t your strong suit, you should consider taking only the SAT.
Do you perform well under pressure?
The two tests differ greatly in the amount of time they allot for each section.
The SAT’s total testing time is 2 hours and 14 minutes (134 minutes), while the ACT allows 3 hours and 35 minutes (215 minutes, including the optional Writing section).
Here’s a breakdown of each test by section, time allotted, and the number of questions:
SAT Section Breakdown
| Section | Time Allotted | Number of Questions |
| Reading and Writing | 64 minutes | 54 questions |
| Math | 70 minutes | 44 questions |
| Essay (optional) | 50 minutes | 1 essay |
| Total (without essay) | 134 minutes | 98 questions |
ACT Section Breakdown
| Section | Time Allotted | Number of Questions |
| English | 45 minutes | 75 multiple-choice questions |
| Math | 60 minutes | 60 multiple-choice questions |
| Reading | 35 minutes | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Science | 35 minutes | 40 multiple-choice questions |
| Writing (optional) | 40 minutes | 1 essay |
| Total (without essay) | 175 minutes | 215 questions |
To put things into perspective, the SAT allows an average of 1.37 minutes per question across its sections (excluding the essay), while the ACT provides about 0.81 minutes per question. For the writing sections, the ACT provides 40 minutes, while the SAT gives you a bit more time with 50 minutes.
This means you’ll need to strategize your time more carefully on the ACT, whereas the SAT gives you a bit more breathing room for each question.
Diving deeper into the differences between the two tests, let’s put their comparable sections side-by-side to see what they focus on.
SAT’s Reading and Writing section is comparable to the ACT’s English section.
Let’s look at how they compare in terms of formatting, length, and the skills they are designed to test.
| Feature | SAT Reading and Writing | ACT English |
|
|
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Multiple essays or passages followed by multiple-choice questions |
| Test Length |
|
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| Skills Measured |
|
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| Unique Features | Two adaptive modules that adjust their difficulty based on performance in the first module. | N/A |
Unlike SAT, ACT has a standalone Reading section, which consists of four reading passages, you'll be assessed on your ability to:
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Having helped thousands of students master the math portion of the SAT and ACT, we’re deeply familiar with how the two tests evaluate students’ skills.
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Let’s look at how the SAT and ACT approach math testing:
| Feature | SAT | ACT |
| Question Format | Multiple-choice and student-produced response (SPR) questions | Multiple-choice questions, mostly self-contained with some belonging to sets (e.g., related to graphs/charts) |
| Test Length |
|
|
| Content Domains |
|
This includes concepts such as:
|
| Unique Features | Two adaptive modules that adjust difficulty based on performance in the first module. | N/A |
| Calculator Use | Calculators are permitted. | Calculators are permitted. |
Both the SAT and ACT feature a standalone writing section, but they have their differences.
As we’ve discussed, the SAT Essay used to be optional but now is required for the SAT School Day in some states. The ACT’s Writing test remains optional. In both cases, make sure to verify whether your state or school requires the Essay or Writing test for college admissions.
Now, let’s break down what each test assesses.
For the SAT Essay, you’ll be evaluated on reading, analysis, and writing skills. You will have 50 minutes to read a passage of 650 to 750 words and explain how the author builds an argument to persuade the audience, supporting your explanation with evidence from the text.
The ACT Writing Test assesses your writing skills through a prompt about a complex issue with three different perspectives. Within a 40-minute timeframe, your task will be to present your own viewpoint and analyze how it connects to the provided perspectives.
The ACT Science section is designed to assess essential skills in the natural sciences with an emphasis on interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving.
The section covers a range of topics, including:
Unlike traditional science tests, this section focuses on your ability to understand and apply scientific concepts rather than just memorize facts.
Remember, the SAT doesn't include a dedicated science section.
Now, let's explore how the two tests would score your performance:
| Feature | SAT | ACT |
| Total Score Range | 400 to 1600 | 1 to 36 |
| Section Scores |
|
|
| Essay Scoring |
The SAT Essay is scored independently and does not contribute to the overall score.
|
The ACT Writing section (optional) is also scored separately and does not factor into the composite score.
Scored by two reviewers from 1 to 6 in four areas, totaling 2-12. |
| Scoring Method | Total score is the sum of section scores. | Composite score is the average of four test scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. |
| Incorrect Answer Policy | No penalty for incorrect answers. | No penalty for incorrect answers.
|
You might be wondering, what qualifies as a good SAT or ACT score?
The answer varies based on the colleges you're aiming for.
According to the College Board, achieving an SAT score of 1350 places you in the top 10% of test-takers and increases your chances for admission to more selective colleges.
Since the ACT uses a different scoring scale, what counts as a good score varies as well.
For highly selective schools, like Ivy League institutions, an ACT score between 31 and 35 is often the target. However, for some colleges, a score in the mid-20s might be perfectly acceptable.
Whether you're choosing the ACT or SAT, or both, we recommend researching the colleges you're interested in to understand their specific requirements.
Many students, whether they’re taking the ACT or SAT, might want to compare their scores on both tests.
Both the ACT organization and the College Board provide conversion charts to help students understand how scores from these two tests relate to each other.
Here’s an overview:
|
ACT Score |
SAT Equivalent Score |
SAT Score Range |
|
36 |
1590 |
1570–1600 |
|
35 |
1540 |
1530–1560 |
|
34 |
1500 |
1490–1520 |
|
33 |
1460 |
1450–1480 |
|
32 |
1430 |
1420–1440 |
|
31 |
1400 |
1390–1410 |
|
30 |
1370 |
1360–1380 |
|
29 |
1340 |
1330–1350 |
|
28 |
1310 |
1300–1320 |
|
27 |
1280 |
1260–1290 |
|
26 |
1240 |
1230–1250 |
|
25 |
1210 |
1200–1220 |
|
24 |
1180 |
1160–1190 |
|
23 |
1140 |
1130–1150 |
|
22 |
1110 |
1100–1120 |
|
21 |
1080 |
1060–1090 |
|
20 |
1040 |
1030–1050 |
|
19 |
1010 |
990–1020 |
|
18 |
970 |
960–980 |
|
17 |
930 |
920–950 |
|
16 |
890 |
880–910 |
|
15 |
850 |
830–870 |
|
14 |
800 |
780–820 |
|
13 |
760 |
730–770 |
|
12 |
710 |
690–720 |
|
11 |
670 |
650–680 |
|
10 |
630 |
620–640 |
|
9 |
590 |
590–610 |
Most colleges welcome both and do not have a particular preference for either test
However, not all colleges value college admissions tests equally. College admissions policies regarding these tests can be categorized by:
When it comes to scholarships, the approach can vary just like for admissions.
While scholarships used to be awarded almost automatically based on ACT/SAT scores, many colleges have shifted to GPA-based awards as they adopt test-optional policies.
However, some schools still offer automatic scholarships based on test scores, so it’s important to review the specific application requirements for each institution.
After everything we've covered, are you still trying to figure out which test suits you best?
Millions of students across the U.S. ask the same question every year.
Let’s recap the factors that can guide your decision.
If you’re stronger in Science and enjoy interpreting data, the ACT might be more up your alley. It includes a Science section and tends to have more straightforward questions.
On the other hand, if you excel in vocabulary and critical reading, the SAT may be a better fit for your skills.
The ACT has more questions but gives you less time per question, so it’s ideal for fast-paced test takers.
The SAT allows a bit more time per question, making it potentially better for those who prefer working through problems at a more measured pace.
When it comes to the math concepts tested, the ACT puts a greater emphasis on geometry and has a slightly larger focus on trigonometry than the SAT.
You’ll also find topics on the ACT like matrices, graphs of trigonometric functions, and logarithms.
One key difference is that the SAT provides you with mathematical formulas during the exam, whereas the ACT does not. If memorizing formulas isn't your strong suit, the SAT could be a better fit.
If geometry and trigonometry are your strengths, the ACT might be the way to go. But if you excel in algebra, leaning toward the SAT could be your best bet.
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Another factor to consider when choosing between the SAT and ACT is how much the Math section impacts your overall score.
For the ACT, Math accounts for about one-fourth of your total score. This means that if math isn’t your strongest subject, it won’t drag your overall score down too much.
On the other hand, the SAT places a much heavier emphasis on math, as it makes up half of your total score. So, a subpar performance in math could noticeably affect your overall results.
Both the SAT and ACT primarily use multiple-choice questions, but the SAT also includes student-produced responses for math problems.
In fact, on the SAT Math section, you’ll need to fill in your answers about 25% of the time.
If you’re not confident about producing your own answers, the ACT, with its entirely multiple-choice format, might be the better choice for you.
The fee for the ACT is $69 without the writing section and $94 with it.
The SAT registration fee is $68, but some students may qualify for a fee waiver.
*Prices in 2024
On the ACT, Calculators can only be used during the math sections of the tests. For details on approved calculators, check out the ACT's calculator policy page.
For the SAT, students can either bring their own calculator on test day or use the built-in graphing calculator available in the testing application. Scan the SAT's calculator policy for more details.
You can take the ACT up to 12 times. While it's perfectly fine to retake the test, keep in mind that taking it too many times might not present the best impression on your college application.
You can take the SAT as many times as you'd like. While the College Board recommends taking it at least twice, excessive attempts may not enhance your chances of getting into your desired college.
ACT scores are valid for five years, while SAT scores do not have an expiration date.
Certainly! Many students choose to take both the SAT and ACT. Just keep in mind that each test has its own registration dates and fees, so plan accordingly!
It’s recommended to start studying at least 3-4 months before the SAT or ACT.
Start Preparing with Our Specially Trained Math Tutors
Mathnasium is a math-only learning center for K-12 students of all skill levels, including high schoolers preparing for college admission tests.
Using a proprietary teaching approach, The Mathnasium Method™, our specially trained math tutors provide face-to-face instruction in a supportive group environment to help students truly understand the math concepts they’ll encounter on the exam.
Explore our approach to standardized test preparation.
Each student begins their Mathnasium journey with a diagnostic assessment that allows us to understand their unique strengths and knowledge gaps. Guided by assessment-based insights, we create personalized learning plans that will put them on the best path towards math excellence.
Whether you are looking to prepare for ACT, SAT or any other standardized test, find a Mathnasium Learning Center near you, schedule an assessment, and enroll today!
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