So How Do These Tests Stack Up to Each Other?

Deciding between the SAT and ACT is a pivotal choice for high school students gearing up for college. The SAT, which underwent a significant revision in March 2024, now shares more similarities with the ACT than ever before. Despite these changes, notable distinctions remain in aspects such as problem-solving approaches, presentation of concepts, and specific content areas.

At ConnectPrep, we’re well-versed in both exams and are dedicated to helping you achieve mastery as well. Understanding the unique features of each test is crucial for making an informed decision that aligns with your strengths and academic goals. Whether it’s the analytical nuances of the SAT or the straightforward format of the ACT, we’re here to guide you through each step of your preparation journey.

Test Structure

The SAT is transitioning to a digital format, marking a significant evolution in how the test is administered. This change aims to make the exam more accessible and aligned with today’s technological advancements. The digital SAT will retain the core sections—Reading, Writing, and Math—but the delivery method will now be through digital platforms. This shift to digital testing is expected to streamline the process, from administration to scoring, and may offer a more personalized testing experience for students. The adaptation to digital format reflects an effort to keep pace with educational and technological trends, ensuring that the SAT remains a relevant measure of college readiness.

The ACT structure remains the same, with the exception of the new essay, which will be longer.

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ACT

Scoring

The SAT reverts back to the 400-1600 scale. Now the writing and reading sections will count the same as the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score, which will be combined with the Math score to create a final score between 400-1600.

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ACT

Each test taker will receive a separate essay score that doesn’t factor into your score on the 400-1600 range.
There is also a change with the essay score. Instead of just one score between 2 and 12, each test taker will get three scores, for reading, analysis, and writing, between 2 and 8.

The ACT scoring: section scores from 1-36 averaged to create a composite also between 1 and 36.
The exception is the ACT Writing. It will still be a separate score, but it will now be on a scale of 1-36, rather than 2-12. Also, like the new SAT essay, it will be scored across multiple areas: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. Each of the subscores will be between 2 and 12.

Overview: Reading

The SAT reading will include only longer passages ( Sentence completions and short passages are no longer part of the test)

There will be no sentence completions or short passages

Similar to the ACT reading: there will be a series of 500-750 word passages with questions.
Both tests will feature paired passages

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ACT

Time: 65 Min
# of Questions: 5 passages, 52 questions
Passage Types: 1 U.S. or World Literature, 2 History or Social Studies, 2 Science
Question Types: Main Idea, Vocab-in-Context, Inference, Evidence Support, Data Reasoning, Technique, Detail-Oriented

Overview: Math

The SAT has aligned itself more towards the Common Core Math curriculum being taught in classrooms across the country. The math is more straightforward similar to the ACT and will include a few trigonometry and complex numbers problems.

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ACT

Heart of Algebra — 33%
Problem Solving and Data Analysis — 28%
Passport to Advanced Math — 29%
Additional Topics in Math — 10%

Pre-algebra — 20-25%
Elementary algebra — 15-20%
Intermediate algebra — 15-20%
Coordinate geometry — 15-20%
Plane geometry — 20-25%
Trigonometry — 5-10%

Overview: Science

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ACT

There will not be a science section on the NEW SAT. The NEW SAT will contain a few data interpretation questions similar to the ACT. In 3 sections, there will be chart/graph analysis questions along with two reading passages that focus on science topics.

The ACT science section comes down to data analysis. Understanding the information in charts and graphs. It does not require prior knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, geology, etc. A test taker should learn specific strategies to score well on this section.

Overview:Essay

The essay is the one section for which both tests are undergoing a major overhaul. Moreover, the SAT essay and ACT writing test are both becoming more complex, rather than less so, and they will both be optional.

Ideally, the changes to the essay will create results that better reflect your ability to understand and build arguments, though it remains to be seen how many schools will require the essay section once it’s optional for both tests.

So How Do These Tests Stack Up to Each Other?

Test Structure

SAT

ACT

Scoring

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ACT

Overview: Reading

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ACT

Overview: Math

SAT

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Overview: Science

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Overview:Essay

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ACT

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