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/ |
