The SAT vs. The ACT

Which one should you take? In recent years, the ACT has become the more popular exam by a small margin, though it didn't always use to be that way. In 2012, 1,666,017 students took the ACT vs 1,664,479 SAT students.

There are advantages and disadvantages to taking both exams. For instance, the Writing section is optional on the ACT and required on the SAT. It is important to point out that average results show that the writing scores on the SAT have been the lowest that they have ever been nationally.

So, which test is easier? There is no concrete proof showing that one test is easier than the other. Each test plays to different strengths, so it may be a good idea to try to gauge which exam may be a better fit for you. People say that the ACT is more straight-forward while the SAT is more tricky. The SAT requires a stronger vocabulary, while the ACT requires to read, process and retain information quickly. There is a long-standing myth that girls tend to do better on the ACT, and boys on the SAT. It is important to know that your gender cannot predict a better outcome on either of these tests.

Here are a few factual differences between the two exams:

• The ACT has 4 required sections: Math, English, Reading, Science. The 5th component, Writing Test, is optional. The Sat only has 3 components: Math, Critical Reasoning, and a mandatory Writing Test.

• The SAT has a guessing penalty – meaning, they remove points for wrong answers. The ACT score is only based on the number of correct answers. There is no guessing penalty.

• The ACT is based on high school curricula, while the SAT, for now, measures verbal and quantitative reasoning strategy and general problem-solving skills.  For example there is a science section on the ACT and the math portion includes trigonometry. There is no science portion on the SAT and the math tested does not go above Algebra II. And while the ACT is based on high school curricula, curriculum is not standardized nationwide.

• The ACT focuses on how quickly you can read and process information and there is less time per question. The SAT focuses more on strategy and methodical problem solving and there is more time to spend per question.

• Data has shown that the SAT is more popular among students on the East and West coast while the ACT is more popular in the Mid-West and the South. It is important to note that all four-year colleges accept both exams. 

All of this information is valid as of now. As we know, major changes are coming to the SAT in 2016 (see my previous blog entry). If you are still having trouble deciding, Kaplan put together this short SAT vs. ACT practice exam with answers so that you can decide which exam is a better fit for you. You can view it here.

Honestly, you can do well on either exam as long as you have the proper preparation.

-M

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