When it comes to high school, there are a few guaranteed hot topics every year: getting a driver’s license, whom to take to prom, plans for post-graduation, and the ACT versus the SAT. Before it’s even time for a student to sign up for the test, they’ve heard about it in the media, in movies, from teachers, parents, siblings, friends, and more. These conflicting and often-exaggerated opinions can make Choosing between the ACT and the SAT very tough for students. We strongly believe that choosing one test can help students focus their energy. Background knowledge about the test can help all involved parties make an informed decision—and more importantly, help a student choose the test that is their best fit.
Both tests assess similar skills, but aspects of each can appeal to different students.
One additional change to consider is that the SAT is now digital. If you had an older child who took the paper format, there will be differences!
1. Allotted Time
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- The ACT is a fast-paced test that rewards memorization and quick reading skills.
- The SAT provides more time per question but requires in-depth problem-solving, analysis, and comprehension. The digital SAT is about an hour shorter.
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2. Format
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- The SAT is offered in a digital format only for the vast majority of students. Students get scratch paper, but the majority of their work takes place in an app.
- The ACT is generally offered on paper. As of spring 2024, a digital version is being offered in limited areas and a more complete rollout of the new, shorter digital exam will occur in the April 2025. The test will continue to be offered on paper in addition to this new digital offering.
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3. Reading Comprehension
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- Both the SAT and ACT test reading comprehension. The ACT Reading section favors speed and the ability to skim and locate terms quickly within four full-page passages.
- The SAT Reading section allows for a slower reading pace, but passages involve higher-level language and arguments. Each passage is short—about 3–5 sentences.
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4. Math
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- The Math section of the SAT has a built-in (and very useful!) graphing calculator. Questions tend to come from a smaller pool of concepts but work harder to trick the student and disguise their solutions behind scary equations.
- The ACT Math section gets noticeably more difficult than the SAT towards the very end. In addition, a wider variety of topics appear, though the questions tend to be more straightforward.
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5. English/Grammar
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- The SAT has a limited set of grammar questions built into the Reading & Writing section.
- The ACT has a dedicated English section that tests grammar questions like punctuation and sentence structure, as well as some questions testing the content and passage structure.
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6. Science
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- The ACT has a dedicated data analysis section (called the Science section) that requires students to interpret information from graphs and tables. This section is fast-paced and demanding.
- The SAT does not have a dedicated Science section, instead scattering graphs and charts throughout the Math and Reading & Writing sections to test data analysis ability.
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The bottom line: Because the tests are different and it’s not necessary to prepare for both, it is important to find the right fit for each individual student.
With these subtle-but-tangible differences between tests, any student who needs to decide between the tests should only choose after trying a full-length practice ACT and practice SAT test. In order to fully prepare students for the real test experience, we offer proctored ACT and SAT practice tests in a simulated test setting. Find a location near you or contact us for more information on the ACT and SAT diagnostic review process and how we can help guide you.
