By Justin Hsieh
Standardized testing is the precipice that looms over high school life, and most students either spend their time in its shadow or climbing up its rocky face. However, students are often confused about the distinction between two of the most important standardized tests in American high schools: the ACT and SAT. To address that confusion, here is a guide to the major similarities and differences between the two, and how to decide which one to take.
The Similarities
The ACT and SAT occupy similar positions and status in American higher education. Both are nationally recognized standardized tests used by American colleges and universities to assess and compare potential applicants. All colleges and universities in the U.S. accept scores from either test, and often do not express any preference for a particular test.
The ACT and SAT are also similar in general format and structure. Both tests are approximately three hours long, have similar costs, consist largely of multiple-choice questions designed to test a variety of skills in several categories (such as reading and math), give students a final score on a set grading scale and include an optional essay portion.
The Differences
Where the tests differ, however, is in the specifics of their timing and content. The SAT gives students more time per question, requiring students to complete 154 questions in three hours compared to the ACT’s two hours and 55 minutes for 215 questions. For students who are uncomfortable testing under time pressure, this can be a reason to choose the SAT over the ACT.
“I would say the SAT was less stressful because there’s more time per question,” said junior Ryan Nguyen, who took both tests. “That’s the only big difference; the ACT is a lot quicker pace.”
In addition to timing, the SAT and ACT test slightly different content. The most significant content-based difference between the tests is in STEM subjects — specifically, science and math. While the SAT includes scientific information, data, graphs and analyses as prompts in its math and reading sections, the ACT has a Science section explicitly dedicated to the subject.
On the math front, there are several distinguishing factors between the SAT and ACT:
- Calculator Use: While on the ACT, calculator use is permitted on all math questions, the SAT has a dedicated no-calculator math section. While all math questions on both tests can technically be solved without a calculator, and the SAT no-calculator section tends to include more reasoning- and analysis-based questions than arithmetic, students who feel uncomfortable without a calculator may prefer to take the ACT.
- Math Concepts Included: While both the ACT and the SAT math sections have a significant focus on algebra, the ACT includes other math subjects to a greater extent than the SAT. The ACT includes more geometry (35-45% compared to 10%) and trigonometry (7% to 5%) than the SAT, and also includes matrices, graphs of trigonometric functions and logarithms, which the SAT does not test at all. Students who excel in geometry or trigonometry may choose to take the ACT to play to their strengths, while students weak in those areas may opt for the SAT.
- Formula Reference: While the SAT provides a reference document with 12 geometry formulas and three laws before both of its math sections, the ACT provides no formulas. Students who have difficulty memorizing formulas may choose to take the SAT.
- Student-Produced (Grid-In) Responses: The SAT includes free-response math questions (12% of total math questions), where students must write and bubble in a numerical answer instead of choosing from options. Students who dislike grid-in may choose the ACT’s five-option multiple-choice format.
- Weight in Final Score: While the SAT math sections constitute half of the total test score (a 200-800 math score is added to a 200-800 English score for a total out of 1600), the ACT math sections account for one-quarter of the final score (math and the three other sections are each given a 1-36 score, and the four section scores are averaged for the final score). Students who have difficulty with math regardless of the previously mentioned factors and who want to minimize its effect on their score may choose the ACT.
In summary, when considering math in their ACT/SAT decision, students should take into account several factors. Students who excel on reasoning-based questions, prefer algebra to geometry or trigonometry, have difficulty memorizing geometric formulas, are comfortable with grid-in responses, or want math to constitute a greater portion of their final score might consider taking the SAT. Students who prefer to have a calculator for all questions, who are strong in geometry and trigonometry, who are comfortable memorizing geometric formulas, who dislike grid-in responses, or want to minimize the impact of math on their score might choose the ACT.
The SAT and ACT also include several differences in their reading, writing and language sections.
- Evidence-Support Reading Questions: While evidence-support reading questions (in which students must select a line from the text that justifies a previous answer choice) are a significant part of the SAT, they are absent on the ACT. Students who find it easy or helpful to find textual evidence for a line of reasoning may choose the SAT, while students who dislike interconnected questions may choose the ACT.
- Chronological Order: While SAT reading questions are always in chronological order, ACT reading questions can be in random order.
- Essay Prompts: While the SAT Essay asks students to analyze the author’s argument, the ACT Writing prompt asks students to offer their own opinion on a topic.
How to Decide
There are a variety of ways to decide whether to take the ACT or SAT. Some students weigh the previously described differentiating factors to consider which test might play to their strengths. Others take full-length practice exams of both tests and compare their scores. For most students, however, the choice between the ACT and the SAT is a matter of convenience and familiarity.
“[My family is] already familiar with the process [of taking the SAT],” said junior Peter Sears. “And I already have experience with the College Board through AP, so I’m already kind of stuck in their ecosystem. Obviously I’ve already taken the PSAT with the school for free, too, and the SAT comes with all the resources through Khan Academy. So there are just so many pull factors going on.”
Sears said both of his older sisters took the SAT. Junior Brian Foster, who took the ACT, offered a similar explanation for his choice.
“My sister took only the ACT, and my mom knew more about the ACT than the SAT,” said Foster. “So it was just easier. I don’t plan on taking the SAT.”
According to guidance counselor Lindsey Gonzalez, ACT-only students like Foster are the exception at FVHS. Most students take only the SAT, like Sears, or take the SAT first and then the ACT in addition, like Nguyen.
“I think most everyone chooses to do SAT, because it’s more standard at the college admissions level,” said Gonzalez. “The kids that choose to do ACT are stronger in math and science, or they might struggle a bit more in the humanities and writing and language. So those would be medical, STEM, kids like that.”
For all students, however, Gonzalez emphasizes that neither standardized test is as important as it’s often treated. Students should not stress over their choice of standardized test nor the preparation for that test, she says.
“Both of those tests are important,” said Gonzalez. “However, they’re not anything defining, in my opinion. I feel that if you’re going to spend all summer studying or this, so that you can go to this school because they only take kids with this test score, maybe that’s not the right school for you — and that’s not an insult. Just because you don’t get certain scores, it’s not an insult to your intelligence.”
Ultimately, Gonzalez recommends that students try their hand at the SAT, but not spend too much time worrying about or preparing for it.
“I say to start with the PSAT, start with the SAT, and see how you feel,” said Gonzalez. “Don’t spend a ton of money on those programs to get you higher scores; 20 extra points or 30 extra points isn’t a make or break in terms of getting into college. Spend that time developing something else, like your passions — it’s much more beneficial.”
This article drew largely on resources from PrepScholar.com.
