ACT

Don't know the difference between the ACT and the SAT? Not sure which one you should take? Let us help.

All universities now accept scores from either the SAT or the ACT, so you have a choice to make (or take both!). We've put together a comparison of the two tests below. Review this information and hopefully it will help you make a more educated decision as to the test that is right for you! Still not sure which test to take? Ask about The Princeton Review Assessment (PRA) test, a test created to give you an opportunity to "meet" both the SAT and ACT and provide you with a preliminary indication of which test you would do better on.

	ACT	SAT
When is it administered?	Six times per year (USA) Three times per year (Taiwan)	Seven times per year (USA) Six times per year (Taiwan
What is the test structure?	Four-section exam: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. An Experimental section is added to tests on certain dates only, and is clearly experimental.	Ten-section exam: Three Critical Reading, three Math, three Writing, and one Experimental. The Experimental section is masked to look like a regular section.
What is the test content?	Math: up to trigonometry. Science: charts, experiments. Reading: four passages, one each of Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science. English: stresses grammar.	Math: up to 9th grade basic geometry and Algebra II. Science: none. Reading: sentence completions, short and long critical reading passages, reading comprehension. Writing: an essay, and questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers?	No	Yes
How is the test scored?	1-36 for each subject, averaged for a composite score. A 36 is the highest possible composite score.	200-800 per section, added together for a combined score. A 2400 is the highest possible combined score.
Are all scores sent to schools?	No. There is a "Score Choice" option. Students can choose which schools will receive their scores AND which scores the schools will see.	Yes. If a student requests a score report be sent to specific colleges, the report will include the scores the student received on every SAT taken.
Are there other uses for the exams?	Scholarship purposes. Certain statewide testing programs.	Scholarship purposes.
Best time to register?	At least four weeks before the test date	At least six weeks before the test date
Need more information?	ACT, Inc.: (319) 337-1000 http://www.act.org/	Educational Testing Service (ETS) (609) 771-7600 http://www.ets.org/ The College Board http://www.collegeboard.com/