Side-by-Side Comparison of the Updated ACT and the New SAT
Wow! The SAT has changed. Instead of 10 smaller sections, now there are 4 bigger tests, just like the ACT. The SAT no longer penalizes for guessing. And the essay is now optional. It has even begun incorporating science items in the English and reading tests. To top it off, question formatting is very similar, too. Let’s get right to it…
(This post contains screenshots of items released by ACT Inc. and the CollegeBoard (makers of the SAT). The items are not the property of 36 University.)
Test Order and Structure: ACT vs SAT
Both tests have 4 main tests and an optional essay.
| ACT | SAT | |
| Section 1 | English (75 questions in 45 min) | Reading (52 questions in 65 min) |
| Section 2 | Math (60 questions in 60 min) | Writing/Language (44 questions in 35 min) |
| Section 3 | Reading (40 questions in 35 min) | Math (20 questions in 25 min). Last 5 are grid-in. |
| Section 4 | Science (40 questions in 35 min) | Math (38 questions in 55 min). Last 8 are grid-in. |
| Section 5 (Optional) | Writing (Optional Essay in 40 min) | Essay (Optional in 50 minutes) |
| Total Time | 2 hrs 55 min or 3 hrs 35 min w/ Essay | 3 hrs or 3 hrs 50 min w/ Essay |
Scoring
| ACT | SAT | |
| Max Score | 36 | 1600 |
| Details | Each test has max score of 36.
Composite is average of four scores. |
SAT Reading max score: 800
SAT Reading derived from Reading & Writing/Language. SAT Math max score: 800 SAT Math score derived from 2 math sections. Composite is sum of Reading and Math scores. |
There is no penalty for wrong answers on either test.
Writing scores are kept separate from the other scores on both tests.
Subject Comparisons
ACT English vs SAT Writing/Language
| ACT | SAT | |
| Setup | 75 questions in 45 minutes | 44 questions in 35 minutes |
| Pace | 36 seconds per item | ~48 seconds per item |
| Question Format
Both require you to evaluate underlined parts of passage. |
 |
 |
| Similar Question Type |  |
 |
| Similar Question Type |  |
 |
| Notes | SAT English includes graphs.
|
The English tests on both the ACT and SAT have a very similar structure. The SAT English incorporates science graphs occasionally and seems to require a slightly more extensive vocabulary.
ACT Math vs SAT Math
| ACT | SAT | |
| Setup | 60 questions in 60 minutes | Part 1 (no calculator): 20 questions in 20 minutes (15 MC, 15 Free Response)
Part 2 (calculator): 38 questions in 55 minutes (30 MC, 8 Free Response) |
| Pace | 60 seconds per item | Part 1: 60 seconds per item
Part 2: ~87 seconds per item |
| Question Format | ACT Math has 5 answer choices. | SAT Math has 4 answer choices on multiple choice questions.
SAT Math also has some Grid-In answer items. |
| Basic Items |  |
 |
| Same Writers? |  |
 |
| Grid-Ins | Not applicable. | 
***Students grid-in answers on answer document. |
| Notes | Calculator is allowed on all items. | Calculator is allowed on Part 2, not Part 1. |
The math tests are not as similar as the English tests.
ACT Reading vs SAT Reading
| ACT | SAT | |
| Setup | 40 questions divided over 4 passages
35 minutes |
52 questions divided over 5 passages
65 minutes |
| Pace | 52.5 seconds per item | 75 seconds per item |
| Passages | 4 passages:
Prose Fiction Social Science Humanities Natural Science |
5 passages:
U.S. or World Lit U.S. Constitution or Global Conversation Social Science 2 Science passages |
| Comparison Items #1 |  |
 |
| Comparison Items #2 |  |
 |
| Notes | The SAT has begun adding items that require
students to locate justification in the text.
|
|
| Notes | SAT Reading has science graphs included
in the 2 science passages.
|
As with the English tests, the Reading tests are very similar. On the SAT English tests, students will work with 2 science passages. On the ACT, the science is in a section on its own.
ACT Science in the SAT Writing and Reading
| ACT | SAT | |
| Setup | 40 questions divided over 6 or 7 scenarios
35 minutes |
N/A |
| Pace | 52.5 seconds per item | N/A |
| Question Format | The ACT Science test requires students to interpret
information in tables and graphs.
|
The tables and graphs are incorporated in the
SAT English and Reading tests.
|
| Basic Items | Questions require students to evaluate
experiments and research.
|
The tables and graphs are incorporated in the
SAT English and Reading tests. |
ACT Writing vs SAT Essay
| ACT | SAT | |
| Setup | 1 essay in 40 minutes | 1 essay in 50 minutes |
| Format | 1 Central Question.
3 Perspectives Provided. Students are asked to: -state and develop their own position. -analyze and evaluate the 3 perspectives in light of their stated position. |
Students are given a relatively lengthy
passage to evaluate. Instead of stating their own position, they are asked to dissect, analyze, and evaluate the passage. |
| Examples | You can find an example of an ACT Writing
test prompt provided by ACT Inc here: |
The Collegeboard has two sample prompts
available on its website: |
Final Word
I don’t consider one test more difficult than the other, and the new SAT is new enough that I haven’t completed enough practice tests to make a complete assessment. At this point, maybe the most obvious difference between the tests is that 1/4 of the ACT score is derived from math items and 1/2 of an SAT score comes from math items.
Kendal Shipley, Ed.D.
6/3/2016
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