Comparison of SAT Versus ACT Test

What are the differences between the SAT & ACT Tests?

The SAT is based more on reasoning than content. The ACT is based more on content than reasoning.
The ACT requires students to do more work in a shorter period of time than does the SAT.

The Basics of The ACT The Basics of The SAT
  • more of a content-based exam
  • favors faster students as there is more work to do in less time
  • favors students who are better at math and science because those subjects comprise half of the score
  • favors students who are good at synthesizing a lot of information in a short time as there is more reading on the ACT than the SAT
  • more of a reasoning-based exam
  • favors students with a better vocabulary as most reading text is denser
  • favors students who are better in the humanities as they comprise two-thirds of the score
  • favors students who are better at reasoning and deduction
  • more predictable exam, and therefore easier to prep for
ACT Reading SAT Critical Reading
40 questions in 35 minutes 67 questions in 70 minutes
  • Single Passages
  • No Sentence Completion
  • No Dual Passages
  • Single Passages
  • Sentence Completion
  • Dual Passages
ACT English (grammar) SAT Writing (grammar)
75 questions in 45 minutes 49 questions in 35 minutes
  • Edit and answer questions for five different essays
  • Identifying Sentence Errors
  • Improving Sentences
  • Improving Paragraphs
ACT Math SAT Math
60 problems to solve in 60 minutes 54 problems to solve in 70 minutes
  • Provides no reference formulas
  • Includes trigonometry
  • Includes questions about equation of a circle
  • Includes logarithms
  • Includes imaginary numbers
  • Provides some geometric formulas for reference
  • Does not include trigonometry
  • Does not include formula of a circle
  • Does not include logarithms
  • Does not include imaginary numbers
ACT Essay SAT Essay
1 essay topic in 30 minutes 1 essay topic in 25 minutes
  • The Essay section is optional
  • Is not part of composite score
  • If taken, schools see essay score listed separately
  • Scored by two graders, max score is 12
  • The Essay section is required
  • Is part of writing score
  • Scored by two graders, max score is 12
ACT Science
Includes a science section

Scoring of the SAT and ACT

At first, comparing SAT and ACT scores appears complicated. The scaled score on an SAT section ranges from 200 (lowest score) to 800 (perfect score). The scaled score on an ACT section ranges from 1 (lowest score) to 36 (perfect score).

The correct way to compare the two exams, however, is much simpler than comparing scaled scores. The important number is the percentile that corresponds with the scaled score. This will provide a true comparison of a student’s performance on each exam.

Concordance Tables

Learn About The Diagnostic

Purchase The Diagnostic