For high school students who aspire to attend college or university, the SAT and ACT tests may become insurmountable obstacles on their paths. While the draining study process contributes to this struggle, simply understanding the differences between each of the exams and which test a student will succeed in can cause examinees to stumble.
Test takers will receive very different scores depending on the exam they opt to take. The SAT lies on a scale between 400 and 1600, with students scoring an average of 1050. ACT takers receive scores between one and 36. The average on this test lies around 20, but students aiming for fairly competitive colleges will benefit from exceeding the average score on either test. These schools may accept superscores, offered by both assessment companies. When a student superscores, he or she takes the test multiple times and submits the score reflected by the average of his or her highest scores on each section. While one cannot superscore a combination of the SAT and the ACT, taking both can guide decisions about which to retake with the aim of the highest result.
One key difference between each test includes the topics they cover. Four sections make up the ACT: English, math, reading and science. ACT takers may also opt into an optional writing composition section — scored on a scale two to 12 — which may further a college application through a display of quality writing abilities, though it does not weigh into the composite score. In comparison, the SAT does not test students on their scientific or essay-writing abilities, instead, the test consists of two sections: reading and writing as well and math. The ACT may reflect the academic prowess of people who prefer writing or science to a greater degree of accuracy than the SAT, though people who tend not to favor these subjects may prefer the test without them.
When considering the timing of each test, students may need to compare their own schedules with the dates when nearby schools will proctor the assessments. National testing dates for each test occur almost every month, and the dates for each rarely overlap. The key differences lie in how long a student will sit for the test and the time given per question. Without the writing section, the ACT lasts for roughly three hours and 30 minutes with breaks, whereas the SAT lasts for a mere two hours and 30 minutes. Per question, the SAT provides roughly one minute and 30 seconds as opposed to the ACT’s less than one minute, though the time difference correlates with the test questions’ typical complexity.
“For me, the SAT was a lot less overwhelming than the ACT because it has fewer sections to complete, and also it’s digital at our school, so I could more visibly time myself and pace out each question. The math portion of the SAT was where I really struggled (especially the second module) because I lacked review of some of my algebra skills that I had learned way back in my freshman and sophomore years. On the ACT, the actual content of the math sections was easier for me because I had taken Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics pretty recently, but what I struggled with was timing. It was difficult to finish that section within the allotted time. However, I will say the science section helped balance out my not-so-great math score on the ACT, which was a plus,” magnet senior Lena Manasreh said.
Students can register to take either test on the exam’s respective website, with prices varying based on the proximity of the date, location for international students and tax rates. With the SAT priced at $68, only three dollars vary between its standard cost and the cheaper ACT’s, although the writing section of the latter could tack on an extra $25.
From a collegiate perspective, the SAT and ACT may weigh in admissions to varying degrees depending on the school’s focus and the student’s extracurricular participation. Colleges rarely prefer one test over the other, so students should submit the tests they score highest on, if they take both. They can compare the scores with any of the charts offered by college admissions websites online to decide which reflects their peak performance.
“I only took the SAT, but it wasn’t really my choice. I’m taking the ACT next semester mainly because I need to study more in the areas that the ACT focuses on. I liked how stress-free [the SAT] felt. The math section felt fun because I was actually getting answers that were an option, and it actually computed in my head. I didn’t like the little technical issue they had because it threw me off, but I overall didn’t like that it was online. I’m taking the ACT on paper,” magnet junior Olyvia Graham said.
Regardless of whether a student opts to take one of the tests, both or none at all, the road to success requires a simple understanding of each option and his or her strengths. In general, students aiming for high scores may opt to take each test once and retake the one they preferred or performed superiorly in.
