Should I Take the SAT or ACT?

The SAT and ACT are two standardized tests used to evaluate a student's college readiness. Both exams are accepted by colleges and universities across the United States, and are used as a factor in determining a student's eligibility for admission. 

However, there are key differences between the two exams that students should consider when deciding which one to take.

Form & Content 

One key difference is the format and content of the exams. The SAT focuses on reasoning and critical thinking skills, with a strong emphasis on reading comprehension, writing, and math. On the other hand, the ACT is designed to assess a student's overall academic knowledge and skills, with a focus on English, math, reading, and science. The SAT is a longer test than the ACT, with a time limit of three hours and 50 minutes, while the ACT has a time limit of two hours and 55 minutes.

Another important difference between the two exams is the type of questions asked. The SAT is a more conceptual and abstract test, requiring students to analyze and interpret information. The ACT, on the other hand, is more straightforward and factual, with questions that are more straightforward and focus on recalling information.

The SAT has a maximum score of 1600, with separate scores for the math and evidence-based reading and writing sections. The ACT has a maximum score of 36, with scores for each individual section combined to give an overall composite score. Some students may find one scoring system more intuitive than the other, and it is important to consider which one best aligns with your personal strengths and weaknesses.

Calculator rules

The ACT allows students to use calculators for the entire math section, while the SAT has both a calculator and a no-calculator math section. This means that students taking the ACT will have access to a calculator for the entire math section, while those taking the SAT will need to be proficient in both using and not using a calculator.  Effective use of a calculator has been shown to improve accuracy and time management on standardized tests. 

Formula sheets

ACT also provides students with a math formula sheet during the math section, while the SAT does not. This means that students taking the ACT will have access to a list of mathematical formulas, while those taking the SAT will need to memorize any formulas they might need.

Consider the score-weighting

The SAT has a composite score that is calculated from two sections: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math. Math is worth half of the SAT composite score, as the score for each section is equally weighted. This means that a student's performance on the math section of the SAT will have a significant impact on their overall composite score.

On the other hand, the ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The composite score for the ACT is calculated by averaging the scores from each of these sections. Math is only worth a quarter of the ACT composite score, as each section is weighted equally. This means that while a student's performance on the math section is still important, it will have less of an impact on their overall composite score compared to the SAT.

Students who excel in math may want to consider taking the SAT, where math is worth half of the composite score, while students who struggle with math may want to consider taking the ACT, where math is worth a quarter of the composite score.

What about the dreaded ACT Science Section?

The SAT includes graphic literacy questions throughout the test, in both the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math sections. These questions may involve interpreting data, analyzing graphs, and using visual information to solve problems.

The graphic literacy questions on the SAT serve as an analog to the ACT Science section, which also involves analyzing data and interpreting graphs. 

Neither test is specifically focused on evaluating a student's understanding of scientific concepts and principles, rather, they assess how students  use visual information in a broader context (like a social science experiment or a poll). 

Enough about Math and Science, which test favors strong readers?

The Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT is designed to evaluate a student's reading comprehension and writing skills. This section is focused on evaluating a student's ability to analyze and understand written material, as well as their ability to write effectively and clearly.

On the other hand, the English and Reading sections of the ACT are designed to evaluate a student's understanding of grammar and syntax, as well as their reading comprehension skills. The English section tests a student's ability to understand and use proper grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure, while the Reading section tests their ability to comprehend and analyze written material.

In conclusion, students who are strong readers and excel in analyzing and understanding written material may want to consider taking the SAT, where the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section is designed to specifically evaluate these skills. 

On the other hand, students who excel in grammar and syntax, as well as reading comprehension, may want to consider taking the ACT, where the English and Reading sections are designed to specifically evaluate these subjects.

Practice material

Both the College Board (which administers the SAT) and ACT offer practice tests for students to use in preparation for their respective exams. However, there are some differences in the amount of free practice tests available through each organization.

The College Board offers several free official SAT practice tests on its website, as well as additional practice questions and materials. Students can use these resources to familiarize themselves with the format and content of the exam, and to practice their skills in a simulated test environment.

ACT also offers free official practice tests on its website, as well as additional practice questions and materials. However, the amount of free practice tests available through ACT may be limited compared to the College Board.

Both the College Board and ACT offer free practice resources for students preparing for their respective exams. However, the College Board may have more free official practice tests available compared to ACT. Students should consider this factor when deciding which exam to take and preparing for the exam.

• For more information on the SAT and free official practice tests, students can visit the College Board website at https://www.collegeboard.org/.
• For more information on the ACT and free official practice tests, students can visit the ACT website at https://www.act.org/.
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338580640_Calculator_Use_in_Standardized_Testing_Exams_A_Literature_Review