SAT Vs ACT: Which Exam Should You Attempt for Better Future Prospects?

Are you planning to study abroad? Have you ever heard of two popular exams – SAT & ACT? Are you wondering which exam is right for you? Or are you confused about SAT Vs ACT – what to choose? You are on the right page! The ACT and SAT have long been the two primary standardized tests used in the US for college admissions. And…

Do you know?
According to US News, even with test-optional policies, the SAT and ACT remain popular. In 2023, 1.9 million students took the SAT and 1.4 million took the ACT. These numbers show consistent interest in both exams. However, individual preferences and college requirements still influence students’ choices between the two tests.

No doubt these tests are important for colleges to evaluate student’s academic skills and potential. The ACT, short for American College Testing, and the SAT, known as the Scholastic Assessment Test, follow different approaches to evaluating students’ readiness for college-level work. While both tests share common goals, they differ in various aspects, such as test format, content, scoring, and regional popularity.

The ACT consists of four sections—English, Math, Reading, and Science—along with an optional Writing section. On the other hand, SAT includes two main sections—Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math—along with an optional Essay section. Regional preferences also come into play, with the ACT being more popular in the Midwest and South, while the SAT dominates in the Northeast and West Coast. That’s not all!

Want to know more? Come along… 

SAT Vs ACT: Overview 

Before directly jumping into the insights of the ACT vs SAT, let’s now first have a brief overview of both exams. These will give you a clear picture of the comparison that is going to happen later in this blog post. Let’s look at the key details now.

Exam Name	SAT	ACT
Full Name	Scholastic Assessment Test	American College Testing
Conducting Body	College Board	ACT Inc
Official Website	https://www.collegeboard.org/	https://www.act.org
Exam Duration	2 hours 14 minutes	2 hours and 55 minutes (without essay)3 hours and 35 minutes (with essay)
Usually For	UG courses in the US and Canada
Exam Mode	Online (Proctor-Based)	Online (Computer-Based)
Exam Fees	$60+$43 or INR 8525	$181.50 or INR 14,880 (without writing test)$206.50 or INR 16,930 (with writing)
Full Score/Marks	1600	36

Now, one by one let’s compare between SAT Vs ACT…

ACT vs SAT: Comparison of Exam Format 

Now that you have seen the key highlights regarding both examinations, let’s compare these exams based on exam format now. SAT Vs ACT: both exams follow somewhat similar exam patterns. The subjects are almost similar yet the number of questions and duration of each section are different.

The SAT exam pattern is as follows:

Section	Number of Questions	Duration of the Section
Reading and Writing	54	64 minutes
Maths	44	70 minutes
Total	98	134 minutes

Now, it’s time to have a look at the ACT exam pattern.

Section	Number of Questions	Duration of the Section
English	75	45 minutes
Mathematics	60	60 minutes
Reading	40	35 minutes
Science	40	35 minutes
Writing (Optional)	1 Essay	40 minutes
Total	215	215 minutes

While there is no negative marking in the ACT and SAT exams, it gives the students the freedom of guessing. Well. Something is better than nothing! Now, we will be looking at the differences and similarities of the common sections of the SAT and the ACT exam.

SAT Vs ACT: Comparison of Common Sections

The SAT and the ACT exam has two sections in common:

• Reading Section
• Maths Section

ACT vs SAT: The Reading Section

The ACT and SAT are both standardized tests commonly used by colleges and universities as part of the admissions process in the US and Canada. While they share some similarities in their reading sections, there are also notable differences. Let’s explore both the similarities and differences in the reading sections of the SAT vs ACT:

Similarities	Differences
Both the ACT and SAT reading sections present multiple passages for students to read and answer questions.	The ACT typically includes four reading passages, while the SAT usually consists of five reading passages.
Both tests assess a student’s ability to comprehend and analyze written passages.	ACT passages are generally shorter, with each passage ranging from around 600 to 800 words. On the other hand, SAT passages tend to be longer, with an average length of 750 to 900 words.
Both exams have strict time limits for the reading section.	The ACT primarily focuses on direct questions that require students to locate specific information within the passage, while the SAT includes more inference-based questions.
The reading sections of both tests include passages from various subject areas.	The SAT places a greater emphasis on challenging vocabulary words. The ACT tends to focus more on overall comprehension rather than vocabulary specifically.

SAT vs ACT: The Maths Section

The maths sections of the ACT Vs SAT have both similarities and differences. Let’s explore them:

Similarities	Differences
Both the ACT and SAT math sections assess fundamental math concepts, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis.	The ACT math section places a stronger emphasis on geometry and trigonometry, while the SAT math section includes more advanced algebra and data analysis.
Both tests present math questions in a multiple-choice format, where students choose the correct answer from a set of options.	The ACT math questions are generally more straightforward and focused on testing math skills and knowledge directly. The SAT math questions often involve more critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world application of math concepts.
Both exams have strict time limits for the math section, requiring students to work efficiently and manage their time effectively.	The ACT math section covers a broader range of topics. In contrast, the SAT math section dives deeper into fewer topics but includes more complex and challenging questions.
Both tests have sections that allow calculator use and sections that do not. Students are required to bring an approved calculator and use it accordingly during the designated sections.	The SAT includes grid-in questions, where students must provide the numerical answer rather than selecting from multiple-choice options. The ACT, however, only utilizes multiple-choice questions in the math section.

The comparison cannot be drawn on the other sections because they are missing in both exams. Earlier, both exams had an essay section but the College Board scrapped the essay section from the SAT.

Exam Fees: SAT Vs ACT

Fees could also be a great factor while determining which exam to choose from between – SAT vs ACT. We will see a complete breakdown of the exam fees for the ACT and SAT exams. We will also be looking at the additional fees if there’s anything like that.

ACT Exam Test Fees

The complete breakdown of the ACT exam fee structure for non-US or Indian students has been given below. Although the exam fee is in USD, we have converted them into INR so that you don’t have to look for calculators.

General Fees
The Full ACT (no writing)	$181.50 or INR 14,880
The Full ACT (with writing)	$206.50
Test Option Change	$25
Additional Fees
Late Registration	$36
Change Fee	$42
Score reports to 5th & 6th choice colleges	$16
Additional Score Reports	$18

SAT Exam Test Fees

The complete breakdown of the SAT exam fee structure for Indian students has been given below.

General Fees
SAT Registration Fees + Regional Fee (Outside US)	$60 or INR 4920 + $43 or INR 3526
Cancel Registration Fee	$25 or INR 2050
Late Cancel Fee	$35 or INR 2870
Additional Fees
Test Centre Fee (Selected locations only)	$23 or INR 1887
Change Test Centre	$25 or INR 2051
Cancel Registration Fee	$25 INR 2051
Late Cancel Fee	$35 or INR 2871

Please NOTE that

• Fee waivers are available! For details related to the fee waiver and other additional fees, please visit the official website.
• Waitlist registration is not currently available. Check back for information on potential waitlist availability in the future.
• Check the official website satsuite.collegeboard.org/ for some score-related services.

SAT vs ACT: Comparison of Registration Process

When it comes to registering for standardized exams like the SAT and ACT, there are notable differences in the process. Both exams are widely accepted for undergraduate admissions in the United States, but the steps to register vary slightly. Let’s have a look into the specifics:

ACT Exam Registration

• Start by visiting the official ACT website and signing in to your account.
• Complete all required details in the registration form.
• Choose your preferred ACT center and exam date during the registration process.
• Finalize your registration by submitting the requisite fee payment.

SAT Exam Registration

• Begin by logging into the College Board website.
• Follow the step-by-step process to fill in all necessary information for the SAT exam.
• Select your desired test center and exam date from the available options.
• Complete the registration by making the required fee payment.

Key Differences

• ACT registration is done through the ACT website, while SAT registration is done through the College Board site.
• ACT registration typically involves fewer steps compared to SAT registration.
• The fee payment process for both exams occurs at the end of registration, after selecting the test center and date.

In essence, while both exams serve similar purposes, understanding the nuances of their registration processes can help students reach their application journey more effectively.

Score Comparison: SAT Vs ACT

It’s time to explore the score scales or ranges of both exams. Here’s a table showing the same: 

SAT Score Range	ACT Score Range (Equivalent)
610-590	9
640-620	10
680-650	11
720-690	12
770-730	13
820-780	14
870-830	15
910-880	16
950-920	17
980-960	18
1020-990	19
1050-1030	20
1090-1060	21
1120-1100	22
1150-1130	23
1190-1160	24
1220-1200	25
1250-1230	26
1290-1260	27
1320-1300	28
1350-1330	29
1380-1360	30
1410-1390	31
1440-1420	32
1480-1450	33
1520-1490	34
1560-1530	35
1600-1570	36

Universities Acceptance: SAT Vs ACT

In this section, we will be covering top universities that accept SAT & ACT scores! This will help you understand do colleges prefer the ACT or SAT! 

Name of SAT Accepting College	Name of ACT Accepting College
University of Toronto	Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
University of British Columbia	Stanford University
University of Alberta	Harvard University
Harvard University	California Institute Of Technology
Standford University	University of Chicago
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	University of Pennslyvania
University of California	Yale University
University of Texas	Columbia University
Arizona State University	Princeton University
University of Pennsylvania	Cornell University

Also, read: Study in USA & Study in Canada

SAT Vs ACT: Final Verdict!

Deciding between the ACT vs SAT is not the same for everyone. Consider your strengths, what you like, and what colleges you want to apply. The ACT covers more subjects and is faster, while the SAT focuses on reading and writing. Choose the test that suits you best and lets you show your strengths. Both exams are considered to be the qualifying examination for undergraduate courses in the United States and Canada.

To make sure that talent is properly given to the industry, iDreamCareer is on a mission to reach every state and every child. To fully understand yourself, speak with our study abroad consultants, who have over 20 years of expertise. Aayush, Tapan, Toufiq,  and other intelligent but perplexed individuals were assisted by us in making the best professional decisions.

Check out blogs!

• GMAT Exam Paper Pattern
• SAT Exam Eligibility
• SAT Exam Syllabus
• LSAT Exam
• GMAT vs. GRE
• Crack MBA Entrance Exams
• How to Prepare for GMAT Exam
• Looking For an MBA (Finance)
• IELTS Syllabus
• GMAT Accepting Colleges in India
• Study Abroad Consultants in Delhi

FAQs