The SAT vs. The ACT: Which should you take?
and What do the scores mean?
 

What is the difference between the SAT and ACT? They’re both standardized tests and they both factor into the college admissions process. See more in the chart below.
 

SAT
ACT
When is it administered? 7 times per year 6 times per year
What is the test structure? 10-section exam: Three Critical Reading, three Math, three Writing, and one Experimental.
The Experimental section is masked to look like a regular section. 		5-section exam: English, Math, Reading, Science Reasoning, and Writing (optional).
An Experimental section is added to tests on certain dates only, and is clearly experimental.
What is the test content? Math: up to (9th grade basic) geometry and Algebra II.
Science: none.
Reading: sentence completions, short and long critical reading passages, reading comprehension.
Writing: an essay, and questions testing grammar, usage, and word choice. 		Math: up to trigonometry.
Science: charts, experiments.
Reading: four passages, one each of Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science.
Writing: optional essay (recommended)
English: stresses grammar.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers? Yes - Answer ONLY what you know!!!  Skip the rest.
There is a 1/4 of a point taken off your score for each wrong answer on multiple choice questions.		 No - Answer ALL questions!!!
How is the test scored? 200-800 per section, added together for a combined score of 600-2400.
2-12 for the Writing (essay).		 1-36 for each subject, averaged for a composite score. A 36 is the highest possible composite score.
2-12 for the Writing (essay).
Are all scores sent to schools? Yes. If a student requests a score report be sent to specific colleges, the report will include the scores the student received on every SAT taken. No. There is a "Score Choice" option. Students can choose which schools will receive their scores AND which scores the schools will see.
Are there other uses for the exams? Scholarship purposes. Certain statewide testing programs. Scholarship purposes. Certain statewide testing programs.
Best time to register? At least 6 weeks before the test date At least 4 weeks before the test date
Fee waivers Can register with up to only 2 waivers ever during junior/senior year of high school regardless of whether you take the test or not once registered with that waiver.
-Paper/mail-in or online registration accepted with a waiver.		 Can register with up to only 2 waivers ever during your junior/senior year of high school regardless of whether you take the test or not once registered with that waiver.
- Paper/mail-in or online registration accepted with a waiver.
Need more information? Educational Testing Service (ETS)
(609) 771-7600
www.ets.org
The College Board
www.collegeboard.com
1-888-SAT-HELP		 ACT, Inc.:
(319) 337-1000
www.ACTstudent.org

 

Concordance between ACT Composite Score and
Sum of SAT Critical Reading and Mathematics Scores (WITHOUT WRITING)
SAT CR+M (Score Range) ACT Composite Score SAT CR+M (Single Score)
1600 36 1600
1540–1590 35 1560
1490–1530 34 1510
1440–1480 33 1460
1400–1430 32 1420
1360–1390 31 1380
1330–1350 30 1340
1290–1320 29 1300
1250–1280 28 1260
1210–1240 27 1220
1170–1200 26 1190
1130–1160 25 1150
1090–1120 24 1110
1050–1080 23 1070
1020–1040 22 1030
980–1010 21 990
940–970 20 950
900–930 19 910
860–890 18 870
820–850 17 830
770–810 16 790
720–760 15 740
670–710 14 690
620–660 13 640
560–610 12 590
510–550 11 530


WITH WRITING

ACT Composite Score
PLUS Writing		 Estimated
SAT CR+M+W
(Critical Reading+Math+Writing)		 Estimated
SAT CR+M+W
(Score Range)		 ACT Composite Score
36 2390 2380–2400 36
35 2330 2290–2370 35
34 2250 2220–2280 34
33 2180 2140–2210 33
32 2120 2080–2130 32
31 2060 2020–2070 31
30 2000 1980–2010 30
29 1940 1920–1970 29
28 1880 1860–1910 28
27 1820 1800–1850 27
26 1770 1740–1790 26
25 1710 1680–1730 25
24 1650 1620–1670 24
23 1590 1560–1610 23
22 1530 1510–1550 22
21 1470 1450–1500 21
20 1410 1390–1440 20
19 1350 1330–1380 19
18 1290 1270–1320 18
17 1230 1210–1260 17
16 1170 1140–1200 16
15 1100 1060–1130 15
14 1020 990–1050 14
13 950 910–980 13
12 870 820–900 12
11 780 750–810 11

 

The SAT vs. ACT: Which Test to Take
Find more about how the two tests compare
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