Difference between SAT and ACT
Difference between SAT and ACT

Difference between SAT and ACT

Are you confused between Sat and ACT? Either to go for both or none of them? Surely the questionsare hovering around you. Considering the two college level tests, both are the nationally controlledcertified tests that help the colleges in assessing the candidates. In the very meantime, you start questioning, which test I should take? It’s been a controversial debate on SAT and ACT that what is the basic difference between the two and which one is the best suited test. To wipe out the confusion, the difference between SAT and ACT is really important to know:

SAT vs ACT

SAT ACT
What Kind of test they are? Aptitude versus Achievement
  • SAT is a reasoning test. It was mainly designed as an aptitude test because it mainly checks your sense of reasoning.
  • ACT is a content based test.
  • ACT is an achievement test. It assess what you have learned so far in school.
What’s included in the test?
  • Reading (Reading comprehension)
  • Math (Arithmetic, Algebra, geometry, algebra 2)
  • Science (Not applicable)
  • Essay ( section mainly consist of a topic)
  • Reading includes reading comprehension
  • Math (Arithmetic, Algebra, geometry, Algebra 2 and Trigonometry)
  • Science includes Analysis, Interpretation, Evaluation, Basic Content and Problem Solving
Basic test Format
It consist of 10 sections in total:

  • Math section mainly consists of 3parts with 25- minutes
  • Writing: 1 part of essay, 25- minutes, 1 part of 10- minutes and 1 part of 25 minutes
  • Critical Reading: parts, 25 minutes
  • 1 experimental which is unscored
 It mainly consist of four sections

  • Math: 1 question of 60-minutes
  • Reading: 1 question of 35- minutes
  • Science: 1 question of 35 minutes
  • English: 1 question of 45 minutes
  • Writing: 1 question mainly consists of writing an essay ( optional)
What’s the nature of the test?
SAT is a complicated test, sometimes questions are easy but their writing style makes them more difficult. Here, in this case, it is a straightforward test. Question are usually longer but not that much difficult to solve.
Scoring criteria
  • The composite score ranges from 600 to 2400 points
  • ¼ point will be subtracted from your sore of wrong answer.
  • Here, you can have a short penalty for the wrong answer.
  • The overall Act score ranges from 1 to 36 points
  • There is no penalty for the wrong answers
  • In this case, you cannot enjoy the penalty.
Is science section included in both?
SAT is free form the science section, here you don’t need to know the chemical formulas which sometimes gets so pinching for the students. So, this test is devoid or liberated from the science stuff. SAT is good for those students who are not having science phobia.
When these test are being offered?
When it comes to SAT, it offers seven times in a year that is in January, March or April, May, June, October, November and December Here, ACT is offered more specifically six times in a year that is in February, April, June, September, October, and December.
How much they are well-known?
It’s been popular in private schools and schools on the east and the west coasts. Moreover, in US every four year college do acknowledge the SAT tests ACT is more popular with the public schools in Midwest and south. Same is with the ACT every four year college acknowledge it in U.S.
When will I get registered?
When it comes to the registration, a candidate has to get registered right about four weeks before the test Here, in this case, a candidate has to get his or herself registered right about five or six weeks before the test.
Official sites
For more information, do visit the site:www.collegeboard.com For ACT, do go for this link:www.act.org