ACT vs SAT: Which Test Is Best for You?
Written by Lee Gonet
Each human being reflects God's glorious creation in unique ways and therefore thinks and processes differently. Neither the ACT nor the SAT is harder than the other, and they both test the same general information; nevertheless, they are structured differently, and as a result, a student, typically, scores higher on one test over another.
Does It Matter?
Test-prep can be time consuming and expensive, but high scores are invaluable in gaining admittance to the college of your choice and earning merit-based scholarships. You want to improve as much as possible, so taking a test that demonstrates your abilities to the best possible advantage is important. In other words, don’t waste time studying for both tests!
Which Test?
High schools in Alabama push the ACT, but colleges will accept either test and use a conversion chart similar to the one below. My advice has always been to take both as practice tests and see if you favor a particular one.
When my daughter practiced the ACT, she came out of her room literally crying, “Mom, please don’t make me take that test.” However, she was comfortable with the SAT and upped her score considerably with practice.
Conversion Chart
To see which test is best for you, convert each of your practice-test results using this ACT=SAT chart from the College Board.
21 = 1060-1090
20 = 1020-1050
19 = 980-1010
18 = 940-970
17 = 900-930
26 = 1240-1270
25 = 1200-1230
24 = 1160-1190
23 = 1130-1150
22 = 1100-1120
31 = 1420-1440
30 = 1390-1410
29 = 1350-1380
28 = 1310-1340
27 = 1280-1300
36 = 1600
35 = 1560-1590
34 = 1520-1550
33 = 1490-1510
32 = 1450-1480
Limit Yourself
Many colleges believe that underprivileged students who can’t afford to pay for repeated testing or expensive coaching are at a disadvantage. As a result, over 340 schools nationwide will evaluate your overall record (collegeboard.com), and not just consider your highest scores. In light of this practice, I suggest increasing preparation and decreasing official testing.
Comparison Chart
ACT
1-36
45 min/75 questions = 36 sec. ATPQ*
5 passages with 15 questions each
Mechanics 55% / Rhetorical 45%
60 min/60 questions = 60 sec. ATPQ*
Math counts for 25% of your composite
5 answer choices
Pre-Algebra 20-25%
Elementary Algebra 15-20%
Intermediate Algebra 15-20%
Coordinate geometry 15-20%
Plane geometry 20-25%
Trigonometry 5-10%
35 min/40 questions = 53 sec. ATPQ*
4 passages with 10 questions each
1 passage contains 2 sections
1 Fiction or Narrative, 1 Humanities,
1 Social & 1 Natural Science
Questions asked from random sections
Question Types: main idea, vocab, inference, & detail
35 min/40 questions = 53 sec. ATPQ*
6 Passages with 6-7 questions each
65% of passages do not need to be read
Reading charts & graphs, calculating, analyzing experiments
Analyze an argument, provide your opinion, compare and contrast the two
Score Range
English
Math
Reading
Science
Essay
SAT
400-1600
35 min/44 questions = 48 sec. ATPQ*
4 passages with 11 questions each
Mechanics 45% / Rhetorical 55%
80 min/58 questions = 83 sec ATPQ*
Math counts for 50% of your composite
4 answer choices
Intermediate-advanced Algebra 62%
Problem solving & data analysis 28%
Geometry & Trigonometry 10%
Provides geometry formulas
13 grid-in questions (22% of total)
25 questions w/o use of calculator
65 min/52 questions = 75 sec. ATPQ*
5 passages with 10-11 questions each
1 passage contains 2 sections
1 Literature, 2 History or Social Studies
2 Science
Questions asked in chronological order
Question Types: same as ACT, plus evidence-supported, data, & technique
No science section, but 35 science questions in other 3 sections
100% of passages must be read
Reading charts, graphs, & data, understanding scientific concepts
Analyze an argument, dissect its strengths and weaknesses, no opinions
*ATPQ = Average Time Per Question
(More time given on all SAT sections)
For additional information, read Hannah Muniz’s or Alex Hiembach’s blogs on prepscholar.com.