Taking the SAT or the ACT for College Admissions?
Winter is a great time to register for standardized testing for college admissions. Due to COVID-19, many universities have waived the requirement for SAT and ACT score submission for the 2022-2023 academic year. However, not all schools have eliminated the requirement of these tests as part of their admission process for the future.
While both the SAT and ACT are similar, there are important differences between them. You can maximize your potential score by deciding which test best fits your learning style and knowledge.
Length of time to complete, without breaks:
ACT- 3 hours and 35 minutes, including optional writing section
SAT- 3 hours and 50 minutes, including optional essay
However, the ACT has more questions than the SAT and therefore requires you to move more quickly to answer each of the questions. But most importantly, neither test penalizes you for wrong answers, so if you do not know the answer, even your best guess could be right.
Subjects on test:
ACT- English/Reading, Math and Science
SAT- Reading/Writing, Math (with and without calculator)
The ACT has an English section, whereas the SAT has Writing and Language sections. The English of the ACT tests on English grammar, which includes the rules of the English (American) language. The SAT, in contrast, centers on development of language, writing and word choice (vocabulary).
Both exams require students to read passages and answer questions. However, the SAT asks questions in chronological order- first questions refer to what happens earlier in the passage. The ACT asks questions in random order.
Only the ACT has a science section. You do not need to know in-depth scientific concepts to do well, as the test relies on one’s ability to read and interpret data, charts, and graphs.
Both tests focus heavily on algebra in the math section. But unlike the SAT, the ACT includes larger sections of geometry and trigonometry. The ACT also allows you to use a calculator for all of the math sections, unlike the SAT. For the SAT, math accounts for 50% of the total score. In the ACT, math only counts for 25% of the total score.
Scoring Differences:
The ACT is scored from 1-36 for each section, and averaged for a total score. The writing portion is scored between 2-12, and not counted within your total ACT score. The SAT is scored from 200-1600. For the SAT, scores are not averaged together, but rather the scores of each section are added together. The score of the optional essay is not included in the final SAT score.
How to decide which test is best for you to take?
Some students take both tests (even multiple times). But it costs money to take each test, and time to prepare. To help you know which test you may be most adept at, here is a quiz. Answer Agree or Disagree for each statement.
- I am good at geometry and trigonometry.
- I struggle with solving math problems without a calculator.
- Science is a strength of mine.
- It’s easier for me to explain my opinion than to analyze something.
- I normally do poorly on math tests.
- I can recall math formulas easily.
- I like relying on multiple choice options for math questions.
- I have no problem moving quickly and working within tight time constraints.
- I struggle with finding evidence to back up my answers.
- I am good at reading comprehension, even if questions are asked out of chronological order.
Count the number of Agrees and Disagrees. If you have more Agrees, then focus your time studying for the ACT. If you have mostly Disagrees, then the SAT may be better suited to your strengths. If you have an almost equal number of Agree and Disagree answers, then either test will work.
Lastly, check if the universities you are applying to do “superscoring” for the SAT and/or ACT. Superscoring allows you to combine your best test section scores each time you take the test. This will allow you to stack your scores to achieve the highest score for your admissions application.
Sincerely,
Tiffanee M. Wright, MA, MPH | Executive Director
AHLI – International Education and Homestay
