SAT vs ACT

1. SAT vs ACT What’s the difference?

2. ACT October December February April June SAT October November December January April June Test Dates

3. ACT Five sections English Math Reading Science Reasoning Optional Writing SAT Three main sections Critical Reading Math Writing Test Structure

4. ACT Math: up to trig (4 questions) Science: charts, experiments Reading: 4 passages, prose fiction, social science, humanities and natural science English: stresses grammar Writing: persuasive essay SAT Math: up to basic geometry and Algebra II Science: none Reading: sentence completions, short and long critical reading passages, reading comprehension Writing: an essay and questions testing grammar, usage and word choice Test Content

5. ACT Optional Last section Present opposing sides of the prompt 30 minutes Scored 1 - 12 SAT Required part of SAT First section Take a position and defend it 25 minutes Scored 1 - 12 The Essay

6. ACT Tests a student’s retention of curriculum SAT Tests reasoning skills, ability to think logically Comparison of Content

7. ACT All multiple choice What is the value of log28? SAT Multiple choice and 10 free response questions in math For what positive number is the square root of the number the same as the number divided by 40? Comparison of Questions

8. ACT 1-36 for each subject, averaged for a composite score 36 is the highest composite SAT 200-800 per section, added together for a combined score 2400 is the highest Scoring the Test

9. ACT No penalty Score based on number correct SAT Penalty applied Score is based on #correct - fraction of wrong Wrong Answers

10. ACT “Score Choice” – students choose which schools receive their scores AND which test date is sent SAT If a student requests a score report be sent to a specific college, the report includes all scores Sending Scores

11. ACT www.act.org SAT www.collegeboard.com More Information

12. College Planning at SJA

13. SAT vs ACT What’s the difference?