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Many students consider the SAT and the ACT. Some take one or the other, some
take both (some even take both more than once). Hopefully the information in the
table below will help you decide which exam is best for you. Of course, your
decision should be made with the entire examination in mind, not just the math
sections. You should discuss the decision with your parents and guidance
counselor.
In general, the SAT is more "reasoning-based" and the ACT is more
"content-based." Many students find the ACT to be more straightforward, with
fewer "tricky" problems. Perhaps the best way to decide is to try practice tests
for each and see how you do. Some other factors:
- Depending on your math level, you may want to take the ACT later because it
has a wider range of math that you may not encounter in school until later in your Junior year (see below).
- All of your SAT scores for all tests are sent to colleges;
whereas with the ACT you can choose which test to send. On the
other hand, most colleges will only "consider" your best SAT scores
(your best reading, best math and best writing across all tests).
Therefore many guidance counselors advise students that there
really is little downside to taking the SAT multiple times.
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SAT |
ACT |
| Range of math needed |
Narrower |
Broader, e.g.,
trigonometry, complex numbers, matrix algebra |
| Questions |
44 multiple choice
10 grid-in
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60 multiple
choice |
| Duration |
70 minutes |
60 minutes |
| Time per question |
1.25 mins - multiple choice
1.50 mins - grid-in
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1.0 mins - all multiple
choice |
| Formulas supplied |
Some |
None, but formulas may
be given in problems. |
| Diagrams |
Drawn to scale unless indicated otherwise. |
Not drawn to scale |
| Guessing penalty |
Yes, for multiple choice questions. No penalty for
grid-in questions. |
No |
| Calculator allowed |
Yes |
Not the TI-89 |
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