SAT vs ACT at a glance
| Digital SAT | Enhanced ACT | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | College Board | ACT, Inc. |
| Format | Digital only, in the Bluebook app, at a school or test center | Online or paper, depending on the test site |
| Sections | Reading and Writing; Math | English, Math, Reading; optional Science and Writing |
| Questions | 98 | 131 core (171 with Science) |
| Testing time | 2 hours 14 minutes | 2 hours 5 minutes core (2 hours 45 minutes with Science) |
| Adaptive? | Yes: the second module of each section adapts | No: everyone gets the same questions |
| Time per question | About 71 seconds (R&W), 95 seconds (Math) | About 42 seconds (English), 67 seconds (Math and Reading) |
| Reading | Short passages (25 to 150 words), one question each | Long passages with several questions each |
| Calculator | Whole Math section; Desmos built in | Whole Math section; bring a permitted calculator |
| Math formulas | Reference sheet provided | No formula sheet |
| Math answer format | 4-option multiple choice plus typed-in answers | 4-option multiple choice |
| Score scale | 400–1600 (two sections of 200–800) | 1–36 composite (average of English, Math, Reading) |
| Guessing penalty | None | None |
Formats as published by the College Board and ACT for the current tests. Check both organizations’ sites for any updates.
The differences that matter most
Pace
The biggest practical difference is time pressure. The ACT asks more questions in slightly less time. ACT English gives you about 42 seconds per question, and ACT Reading asks you to read long passages and answer questions at about a minute each. The SAT gives noticeably more time per question in both sections. If you are a careful, accurate worker who runs out of time, the SAT’s pacing may suit you better. If you work fast and stay accurate, the ACT’s pace is likely to feel manageable.
Adaptive vs fixed
On the SAT, your first module in each section decides whether your second module is harder or easier, and only the harder route reaches the top of the scale. Some students like that the test meets them at their level. Others find a hard second module stressful. The ACT is the same test for everyone in the room, and its questions do not change based on your answers.
Reading style
SAT Reading and Writing uses dozens of short passages, each with a single question. That rewards precise reading of a few sentences at a time. ACT Reading uses long passages with a set of questions on each, which rewards sustained focus and efficient passage reading. Students who lose concentration over long texts often prefer the SAT, while strong, fast readers are often comfortable with either.
Math content and tools
SAT Math puts about 70% of its weight on algebra and advanced math (linear equations, functions, quadratics, and exponentials), with a built-in Desmos graphing calculator and a formula reference sheet. ACT Math samples a broader range of topics: matrices, vectors, logarithms, conic sections, and more trigonometry. It gives no formula sheet, so you need to memorize the key formulas. Students who have finished Algebra II and some precalculus are well placed for either test. Students earlier in the math sequence often find the SAT’s narrower focus more manageable.
Science
ACT Science is now optional and outside the composite. If the programs you are applying to ask for it, plan to take it. The SAT has no science section, though some questions in both of its sections draw on science passages and data.
Testing format
The SAT is taken only on a laptop or tablet in Bluebook. The ACT is offered online at many test centers and on paper at many others, so students who strongly prefer paper still have that option with the ACT.
Which test might suit you?
These are general tendencies. Your own practice-test experience is the best guide.
| The SAT may suit you if… | The ACT may suit you if… |
|---|---|
| You want more time per question | You work quickly and accurately under time pressure |
| You prefer short passages, one question at a time | You read long passages comfortably and like question sets |
| Your math strength is algebra, and you like graphing tools | You have covered a wide range of math, including some precalculus |
| You like having a formula sheet | You are comfortable with optional science or data reasoning |
| You are comfortable testing on a screen | You prefer the option of testing on paper |
How to decide in two weekends
- Weekend one: take a full, timed, official practice SAT in Bluebook.
- Weekend two: take a full, timed, official practice ACT from ACT, in the format you would test in.
- Compare. Use the official concordance to put the two results on the same scale, then ask which test felt more manageable and where your mistakes came from: content you can learn, or a pace that felt out of reach.
- Commit. If the results are close, choose the test whose format you preferred. Then put all your preparation into that one test.
Also check your state and school. Many states and districts give one of the two tests free on a school day, which is a free attempt worth taking into account.
Comparing SAT and ACT scores
The College Board and ACT published a joint concordance table in 2018 that links SAT total scores to ACT composite scores. Both tests have since been redesigned, so check both organizations’ sites for any updated tables. The rows below are approximate and unofficial. They summarize the official table and serve only as a rough comparison between practice tests.
| ACT composite | Approximate SAT total (unofficial) |
|---|---|
| 36 | About 1570–1600 |
| 33 | About 1450–1480 |
| 30 | About 1360–1380 |
| 27 | About 1260–1290 |
| 24 | About 1160–1190 |
| 21 | About 1060–1090 |
Preparing on CollegePrepRoom
Whichever test you choose, CollegePrepRoom has a course for each section, from the CollegePrepRoom Publication Series. The four courses are SAT Math, SAT Reading & Writing, ACT Math and ACT English & Reading. Each one has free practice questions with full explanations. For the full picture of each test, read the SAT guide and the ACT guide.
SAT vs ACT questions, answered
Do colleges prefer the SAT or the ACT?
No. Colleges in the United States that accept test scores accept both and treat them equally. Choose the test on which you feel more comfortable and can show your skills best.
Is the ACT easier than the SAT?
Neither is easier overall; they are hard in different ways. The ACT gives less time per question and covers a wider range of math topics. The SAT gives more time per question, uses short passages, and adapts its second module to your performance.
Should I take both the SAT and the ACT?
Most students are better served by choosing one and preparing for it well. Take a timed practice test of each first, then commit to the one that suits you. Preparing for two tests at once splits your study time.
How do SAT and ACT scores compare?
The College Board and ACT publish an official concordance table that links SAT totals to ACT composites. The rows on this page are approximate and unofficial summaries of it. Use the official table for exact comparisons, and treat the rows here as a rough guide.
Does the ACT still have a science section?
Science is optional on the enhanced ACT and no longer counts toward the composite. The SAT has no separate science section. Some of its Reading and Writing passages and Math questions are set in science contexts.
Which test is better if math is my strength?
It depends on the kind of math. The SAT puts most of its weight on algebra and advanced math and gives about 95 seconds per question, with a built-in graphing calculator. The ACT covers more topics, including matrices, logarithms, and conic sections, at about 67 seconds per question and with no formula sheet.