When I was in high school, I opted to take both the SAT and the ACT because at least one of my dream institutions required both tests. I didn’t know much about these entrance examinations when I started my adventure, but as I prepared for them, I discovered some significant distinctions. In this brief tutorial, I intend to clarify the distinctions between the ACT and the SAT in the hope that they will assist you in your college selection and application process.

The ACT requires less time.

If you’re anything like me, you despise having to concentrate on one subject for an extended amount of time. If you are impatient and have difficulty focusing, I would recommend taking the ACT if you have the option. The ACT is two hours and 55 minutes long, whereas the SAT is three hours and 45 minutes long. Also, if you have a learning handicap, you should take the SAT because evidence shows that learners with disabilities perform higher on the ACT. The ACT does not need a writing portion, whereas the SAT does. If you are not a good writer, I would recommend taking the ACT and skipping the writing component.

The SAT emphasizes literacy, whereas the ACT emphasizes math and science.

Literacy (vocabulary) is weighted more heavily on the SAT than it is on the ACT, and numerous questions were designed to require you to read each piece several times to comprehend what you read. The ACT contains a science and math portion designed to assess critical thinking and higher-level math skills. If you tend to perform better in language than math and vice versa, this information should assist you in determining which test to take.

Differences in how each test is graded

The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36 based on the average of the four test components. The SAT is scored on a scale of 600 to 2400, with each section scoring between 200 and 800. The ACT simply evaluates the questions you answer correctly, with no penalty for selecting the incorrect answer. The SAT deducts one-quarter of a point from your score for each erroneous answer. However, there is no penalty for leaving items blank.

The SAT is more difficult.

The SAT emphasizes thinking and logic above information, which may be advantageous for those who think in a reasonable, analytical manner. The ACT is a typical content test that may be effective for those who excel in traditional school topics.

Remember to keep your grades up to date.

Although this article is about the differences between the SAT and the ACT, I would be remiss if I did not mention that getting into a good college requires a high GPA. So, make sure you maintain a high level of academic performance throughout the school year. Use your school’s learning management system to check your marks frequently. You can determine your current GPA by entering your class grades into this calculator, so you can see how well you’re doing academically or how well you need to do on upcoming exams and finals, especially if your marks are weighted by percentage.

Finally, some final ideas

Visit the SAT and ACT websites to learn more about them. Many four-year universities accept both examinations, but you must check with their admissions department to confirm. Even better, double-check by calling the university’s admissions department to confirm. Even better, write them an email as well, so you have their response in writing. Take practice tests from both tests before deciding which one to take. I’d go with the one I’m most comfortable with and have a higher practice score on.

That concludes this article. If you have any further questions about the SAT or ACT, please leave them in the comments section below, and we will respond.