With fourth quarter and spring quickly approaching, standardized testing season is amongst the class of 2025. Whether one takes the ACT or the SAT, it is important to understand the differences between each test in order to perform at your maximum potential.
The SAT
The SAT was first used as a standardized test in 1926, 98 years ago. It is administered by the College Board, and tests writing, reading, and math. The test has four sections: Reading, Writing and Language, Math (calculator), and Math (no calculator). The Digital SAT does not have a no calculator math section, however.
Pro’s: The SAT
- Less questions to answer, more time to answer per question.
- No science section: advantageous to those who struggle with science.
- Slightly less expensive than the ACT
- The SAT provides math formulas
- Only four answer choices for multiple choice questions (better chance of guessing an answer and getting it correct)
Con’s: The SAT
- Questions are more difficult than ACT.
- Test is 50% math (compared to ACT which is 25%), meaning those not as skilled in mathematics will be at a disadvantage.
- Test does not have science section (disadvantages those who excel at science)
- No calculator section on the paper version of the SAT
The ACT
The ACT is administered by ACT. Inc. and was developed as a direct competitor to the SAT. Despite being younger than the SAT, the ACT has surpassed the SAT in annual number of test takers. The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning.
Pro’s: The ACT
- Easier questions than the SAT
- Allows a calculator on entire math section
- Test is broken into smaller sections (better for those who have trouble focusing)
- Science reasoning section: advantageous for those who excel in science
Con’s: The ACT
- More questions to answer, less time to answer each question
- More geometry/trigonometry questions
- No math formula sheet
- Slightly more expensive than SAT
Ultimately, both tests are pretty equal in both time and rigor. Differences between the tests, however, could help you achieve a higher score to submit in college applications. If possible, you should try to take both tests to see which you perform best on.
