ACT vs SAT: What’s the difference?

Both the SAT and the ACT are college entrance exams accepted by most schools, but your student might get a much better score on one than the other.

ACT

NOTE: The ACT Will be changing in April 2025. The following information is about the current ACT (2024).

There are 4 sections: Math, Reading, English, and Science, with an optional writing section (essay). The English sections of the SAT and ACT are both testing the same basic rules of grammar; however, the formats are different. The ACT requires students to read and edit passages. The SAT requires students to read only a sentence or two. The reading questions on the SAT are shorter but more analytical than those on the ACT. For the ACT, reading quickly and assessing the main point is critical. Both the SAT and ACT assess students’ ability to interpret data in the form of tables, charts, and graphs. The SAT does this as part of the reading section. The ACT tests these skills in the Science section. Contrary to what many students think, students need only a very basic understanding of science to excel in this section. What is most important is knowing how to process information displayed in tables, charts, and graphs. 

Fast readers, spatial thinkers, and students who process things better with a pencil and paper in hand will do well on the ACT.

SAT

There are 2 sections: Math and Reading/Writing. Each has two modules, the second of which will be generated based on the student’s performance in module one. The better the student does, the harder the second module will be. This online adaptive model started in March of 2024 and so is still in the early stages. The Reading/Writing passages are short and dense; attending to things like punctuation, passage structure, and the ability to synthesize information on a deep level are being tested more rigorously. The SAT is much shorter (124 questions, 108 minutes), adaptive, and scored from 400-1600.

Abstract thinkers, detailed processors, and students who work methodically will do better on the SAT.

Deciding which to take

We recommend setting aside at least 6 weeks to prepare for either test! Plan ahead. Both tests require mastery of high school math: linear algebra, geometry, and trigonometry; Writing: grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary; and Reading: main purpose, synthesis, and data processing. The content is essentially identical, but the approaches and skills being evaluated are slightly different.

1. Look into the colleges you plan on applying to in case they only accept one.
2. Take a practice test in both.
3. Assess your scores against the scores of the previous year’s freshman class.
4. Consider timing. When do you want to take the test and when are the tests offered?

If there is a huge difference, then you are better suited to one kind of test, play to your strengths, and take that one. If the scores are similar, think about the skill set you want to build, do you want to work on processing lots of information quickly (ACT), or a little information deeply (SAT)? Both are important for college-level learning.