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We provide a helpful overview and answer frequently asked questions about test prep below.
For additional details, visit the official ACT and SAT websites.
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Should I take the ACT or SAT?
Most students select their preferred test as the first step in the test prep process and then prepare for that test exclusively. Both the ACT and SAT test for "college readiness". We recommend students take a practice test of each to obtain baseline scores, and then compare them to determine which test is the better option. Some students naturally do better on one of the tests, while other students earn comparable scores but prefer the content and timing of one of the tests.
You can compare your scores using the official Concordance Table published by ACT and the College Board.
We offer a free 15 minute phone consultation to help you with the diagnostic process if you have not yet decided on a test. Request Consultation.
We highlight some key differences between the tests below.
| ACT | SAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Timing * | 2 hours 55 minutes (+ 40 minutes for optional essay) | 3 hours |
| Subjects | English, Math, Reading, Science | Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (Reading, Writing & Language) Math (No Calculator, Calculator) |
| Scores | Each of 4 sections: 1 – 36. Composite: Average of the 4 scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Score of 1 – 36. Optional essay scored separately from 2 – 12. |
Each of 2 sections: 200 – 800. Total: Sum of the 2 scores. Score of 400 – 1600. Optional essay discontinued in 2021. |
| Official Website | act.org | collegeboard.org |
* Both the ACT and SAT may have an additional 20 minute experimental section on test day.
What content is tested?
The tests are relatively similar, but there are a few key differences.
| ACT | SAT | |
|---|---|---|
| English / Writing & Language | Grammar, rhetoric, and structure. | Similar. |
| Math |
Mostly Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Data Analysis
|
Similar but less Geometry.
|
| Reading | 4 sections (one contains paired passages): literature, social science, humanities, and natural science
|
5 sections (one contains paired passages): literature, historical document or text (one passage or pair), social science, 2 science (two passages or one passage and one pair)
|
| Science |
6 passages on topics including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Sciences
|
No science section. Science related questions, including data interpretation and analysis, appear in other sections. |
| Optional Essay | Read a prompt on a contemporary issue and three diverse perspectives and write an essay in response. Evaluated on 4 dimensions: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions | College Board discontinued the optional essay in 2021. |
How long is each test section?
There is greater time pressure on the ACT.
| ACT | SAT | |
|---|---|---|
| English / Writing & Language | 45 minutes, 75 questions 36 sec. per question |
35 minutes, 44 questions 48 sec. per question |
| Math | 60 minutes, 60 questions 60 sec. per question |
25 minutes, 20 questions (No Calculator), 55 minutes, 38 questions (Calculator) 75 or 87 sec. per question |
| Reading | 35 minutes, 40 questions 52 sec. per question |
65 minutes, 52 questions 75 sec. per question |
| Science | 35 minutes, 40 questions 52 sec. per question |
N/A |
When should I take my test?
The ACT is typically offered 7 times a year: September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. The SAT is also typically offered 7 times a year: August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. In 2020, there is also a September SAT scheduled.
Students taking the ACT often take it in February or April of junior year, with the option to take it again in June, July, or September. Students often take the SAT for the first time in March of junior year, with the option to retake it in May, June, August, or October. Because junior year is typically quite demanding, some students prefer to get an early start and take their tests in the fall or winter of junior year.
What is a good score?
While some students aim for a particular target score, others simply want to do the best they possibly can. Many colleges publish score data (such as the range, average, or 25th and 75th percentiles) of admitted applicants on their admissions websites. This gives you a sense of how your score compares to those of admitted students. Your official test score report will indicate your national percentile (e.g., if you score in the 80th percentile, that means you scored better than 80% of test takers). You can view official data on percentiles for the ACT and the SAT on their websites.
Should I take my test more than once?
Many students these days choose to take the ACT or SAT multiple times. Others take it just once. Many colleges "superscore" the SAT by considering the best score for each section across multiple test dates. Several colleges "superscore" the ACT. While some colleges request all test scores, others give students the option to select scores to send. Research your target schools to learn their specific requirements. Their admissions websites often explain if they superscore, offer score choice, or require the optional essay.
Will my official score report show which questions I answered incorrectly?
Students can receive standard score reports or order reports that provide details on the test they took. ACT offers Test Information Release (TIR) for the April, June, and December test dates, providing a copy of the ACT test questions, the student's answers, and the answer key. For the SAT, the College Board offers the Question and Answer Service (QAS) for the October, March, and May tests, providing a copy of the test the student took with a guide that gives correct answers and scoring information. The report shows the level of difficulty of each question, along with the student's answers. For other test dates, they offer the Student Answer Service (SAS), a report with information on the types of questions, their level of difficulty, and whether the student's answers were correct, incorrect, or omitted. Students who plan to take either test more than once often find it helpful to know what they answered incorrectly.
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