February 27, 2013
Many schools will accept both the SAT and the ACT, so which exam should you take? Let’s take a closer look at these exams to understand the differences between them. These differences will help you determine what kind of test-taker you are and ultimately which test is right for you.
Are you a Marathon Runner or a Sprinter?
In comparing the SAT to the ACT, it is helpful to consider the difference between a marathon runner and a sprinter. A marathon runner has a longer distance to run than a sprinter and must maintain a steady pace, focus, and stamina in order to make it to the finish line. Both speed and endurance are important for both a sprinter and marathon runner. However, speed is more important – crucial even – for the sprinter than the marathon runner, and endurance is more important for the marathon runner than the sprinter.
So, what does this mean in regards to SAT vs. ACT test taking? If you are the marathon runner type, then the SAT is your test. This test has more timed sections than the ACT (10 timed sections versus 5 timed sections), and though it is a longer exam, it allows you to maintain a comfortable yet steady pace throughout the exam and permits pauses in between sections to catch your breath. To succeed, on the SAT exam you must keep your stamina and pace yourself so that you don’t burn out before the test is over.
If you are the sprinter type, however, then the ACT is your exam. The ACT has fewer timed sections, but each section is about twice as long than the sections on the SAT, requiring you to work at a faster pace. To succeed, speed is critical for you to complete the test in the allotted time. Though you don’t have as many pauses or opportunities to breathe between sections, once you’re done with a section, you’re done.
Math Sections
There are three math sections on the SAT comprised of two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section. As a marathon test-taker you are required to tackle questions at a consistent pace, but you are able to pause between sections to catch your breath. The entire exam consists of 44 multiple-choice questions and 10 “grid-ins,” or self-produced response questions. For the grid-ins, you will have to solve a problem and write out your response in a bubble grid. In total you will have 70 minutes to knock down 54 problems- that leaves you with 1 minute and 20 seconds per math question on average (keep in mind that some questions will take less time and others will take more time).
ACT Math
Perhaps you are not a marathon runner but rather a sprinter, in which case the ACT might be better suited for you. On the ACT, you are required to push through 60 math questions in one 60-minute timed section with no pauses. As a sprinter, you don’t have time to daydream or look around the room – you’ll lose valuable seconds. On average, you have 1 minute per math question; you must run full speed ahead without looking back. And though you don’t get any in between pauses as you do on the SAT, once you’re done with the math section on the ACT, you won’t have to encounter another math section later on.
SAT vs. ACT Math
In addition to the differences in format of the two exams, content is also a key difference. While, both the SAT and ACT require students to have a strong understanding of concepts learned in Arithmetic/Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics classes, the ACT also includes a small amount of Algebra II and Trigonometry concepts. This makes taking these classes in high school very important for ACT test-takers. Though more advanced in content, ACT questions tend to be written more straight forward and similar to test questions given on a high school math test than SAT questions, which tend to involve more critical thinking skills.
Reading and Writing Sections
In addition to the Math sections, the SAT includes Critical Reading and Writing sections. SAT Critical Reading consists of two 25-minute sections and one 20-minute section. The types of questions that you will encounter include Sentence Completion questions that test your vocabulary and understanding of context clues within a sentence and Passage-based Reading questions that test your comprehension skills with short and long reading passages. SAT Writing consists of one 25-minute section, one 10-minute section, and a 25-minute Essay. The types of questions that you will encounter include Improving Sentences, Identifying Sentence Errors, and Improving Paragraphs that test your understanding of standard written English grammar and punctuation rules. The essay requires you to develop a point of view on an issue, and support your viewpoint with clear reasons and evidence.
Comparable to the Critical Reading and Writing sections on the SAT are the English, Reading, and Writing sections on the ACT. ACT English is a 45-minute section consisting of 75 questions that test your mechanical and rhetorical skills based on the rules of standard written English. ACT Reading is a 35-minute section consisting of 40 questions that measure your reading comprehension skills. ACT Writing is a 30-minute optional section that requires you to compose a persuasive, compelling essay about an issue. Some colleges will require you to take the ACT plus Writing while others will not so it is important to check the requirements of the schools you are applying to before making a decision on whether or not you will complete the Writing section.
Other SAT vs. ACT Exam Differences to Consider
The Guessing Penalty
There are other important differences between the SAT and the ACT. One of the most important to understand is referred to as the guessing penalty. On the SAT you are penalized ¼ point for every incorrect response, but on the ACT nothing is deducted for incorrect responses. For those marathon runners, this is not as bad as it sounds. The SAT was designed to make random guessing a bad idea, but a well-prepared student who can eliminate three wrong answers out of five would not be in a bad position if they made an educated guess – that’s a 50/50 chance of getting a question right. However, if you can’t eliminate three choices, then it may be a good idea to skip that question and come back to it later. If later you still can not eliminate three choices, leave that question unanswered. For the 10 “grid-in” questions in the SAT Math section, however, no points are deducted for answering questions incorrectly so it is best to input a response for every “grid-in,” even if it is a random guess. On the ACT, however, there is no penalty for guessing. You should always make an educated guess on the ACT because a blank answer is the same as a wrong answer – so it is best to have something rather than nothing because no points are deducted for incorrect answers.
ACT Science Section
Another important difference between the two tests is that unlike the SAT, the ACT contains a Science section. This section tests your skills in chemistry, earth science, and biology. As opposed to quizzing you on science terminology and concepts, however, ACT Science is more focused on how well you can assess data, hypotheses, and research summaries. ACT Science requires you to quickly read paragraphs, charts, and graphs and uncover trends and patterns. You do not need to be a science genius, and your reading comprehension skills will definitely help you on this section.
Final Words on SAT vs. ACT
The SAT consists of 10 sections totaling 3 hours 45 minutes; the ACT consists of 5 sections totaling 3 hours 25 minutes (including Writing). Overall, timing is important on both tests, but is a bigger nemesis on the ACT than the SAT. Success on the both tests, however, demands effective time management. Students who have timing difficulties on the SAT will experience them, and often to a greater degree, on the ACT.
You may already have a good idea of what kind of test taker you are, a marathon runner or a sprinter, but the only way to know for sure is to prepare for and take a practice test for both the SAT and the ACT. Practice tests are a great way to determine your strengths and weaknesses. They allow you to get a feel for what the actual test is like and a sense of how much work you will need to dedicate in order to be best prepared for the real test – and ultimately reach your target score. Consider taking a practice test for both the SAT and ACT exams, and then decide which exam is a better match for your abilities.
When taking your practice tests, it is important to simulate a real testing environment and practice answering questions under the proper time constraints. When you are ready to take a practice exam, don’t hesitate to contact the MathSP Team. We can administer a full practice test for you and help you to determine which type of test-taker you are!
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