What’s the Difference? ACT vs. SAT
Are you facing the registration deadlines, feeling pressured
to choose, and wondering which is better? Relax! The reality is that neither
test is superior to the other. Although there is no hard science proving that
the ACT or the SAT is easier, you probably want to determine which test format
is better suited to your strengths. Each test has different emphases and
familiarity with their individual structures may help you sort out which is
better suited to you.
About the ACT The ACT sports four trademark
multiple-choice subject tests covering English, Math, Reading, and Science. These are designed to
evaluate your overall educational development and your ability to complete
college-level work. You’ll have 2 hours and 55 minutes of dedicated test time to
complete the subject tests, not including breaks. As far as scoring goes, your
subject test scores (ranging from 1 to 36) are determined after throwing out
any incorrect answers — only correct responses count! The four areas are
then averaged together to come up with your overall, or composite, score. The
ACT includes an optional 30-minute writing test that you should definitely
include. NC schools will not accept your ACT score in place of your SAT
score if you take the ACT without the writing section
About the SAT In contrast to the ACT, the SAT is
designed to evaluate your general thinking and problem-solving
abilities. It begins with a required 25-minute essay. This is the start to
the Writing section, which you’ll complete in addition to the Critical Reading
and Math sections. The SAT differs from the ACT in terms of the amount of time
you’ll have to complete it (3 hours and 5 minutes) and the format in which you
provide your answers. Similar to the ACT, the SAT has multiple-choice areas,
but it also has a part in the Math section where you’ll be required produce
your answers — no chance of guessing from a set of choices here! And
unlike the ACT, the SAT doles out a slight penalty for wrong answers on the
multiple choice questions (but not on the student-produced ones). Both tests
allot ample time for completion. The SAT has fewer questions — 140
compared to the 215 on the ACT. The SAT also focuses heavily on vocabulary,
while the ACT hones in on grammar and punctuation.
It all depends on you The vast majority of students
perform comparably on both tests. If you want to put your efforts towards
preparing for only one of the tests, your best bet is to take a few practice
exams. There are free and low-cost practice exams available electronically
and in-print. If you’re undecided about which test to take, you may feel more
strongly about one or the other once you become familiar with the format of
both. You can then evaluate your test performance before heading off for the
real thing. Source: The Princeton
Review