Comparing ACT with SAT





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This is for SAT in Jan 2016 or before.

{#1} What Is the SAT?

The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is administered by the College Board. in the United States and is developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

After SAT’s introduction in 1901, the name and scoring changed several times. In March 2005, the test was renamed as “SAT Reasoning Test” with changes to the test structure and the range of possible scores. This is then the “New SAT”.

{#2} What Is The Difference Between The SAT And The ACT?

The chart below summarizes the differences between the two tests.

SAT

ACT

When is it administered?

Seven times per year

Six times per year

What is the test structure?

Ten-section exam : Three Critical Reading, three Math, three Writing, and one Experimental. The Experimental section is masked to look like a regular section.

Four-section exam : English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning. An Experimental section is added to tests on certain dates only, and is clearly experimental.

What is the test content?

Math : up to 9th grade 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.

Math : pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, geometry, and trigonometry.

Science: charts, experiments.

Reading: four passages, one each of Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science.

English: stresses grammar. (Include an optional essay.)

How long is the test?

3 hours 45 minutes

3 hours 30 minutes (with the 30 minutes optional essay)

Is there a penalty for wrong answers?

Yes, for the multiple choice questions

No

How is the test scored?

200-800 per section, added together for a combined score. A 2400 is the highest possible combined score.

1-36 for each subject, averaged for a composite score. A 36 is the highest possible composite score.

Are all scores sent to schools?

Yes. If a student requests a score report be sent to specific colleges, the report will include the scores the student received on every SAT taken.

No . There is a "Score Choice" option. Students can choose which schools will receive their scores AND which scores the schools will see.

Are there other uses for the exams?

Scholarship purposes.

Scholarship purposes. Certain statewide testing programs.

Need more information?

Educational Testing Service (ETS)
www.ets.org
The College Board
www.collegeboard.com

ACT, Inc.:
www.act.org


{#3} How To Compare SAT Scores With ACT Scores?

Although there is no official conversion chart, several colleges have issued their own conversion chart. The following table is based on the University of California’s conversion chart.

SAT (Prior to Writing Test Addition)

SAT (With Writing Test Addition)

ACT Composite Score

1600

2400

36

1560-1590

2340-2390

35

1520-1550

2280-2330

34

1480-1510

2220-2270

33

1440-1470

2160-2210

32

1400-1430

2100-2150

31

1360-1390

2040-2090

30

1320-1350

1980-2030

29

1280-1310

1920-1970

28

1240-1270

1860-1910

27

1200-1230

1800-1850

26

1160-1190

1740-1790

25

1120-1150

1680-1730

24

1080-1110

1620-1670

23

1040-1070

1560-1610

22

1000-1030

1500-1550

21

960-990

1440-1490

20

920-950

1380-1430

19

880-910

1320-1370

18

840-870

1260-1310

17

800-830

1200-1250

16

760-790

1140-1190

15

720-750

1080-1130

14

680-710

1020-1070

13

640-670

960-1010

12

600-630

900-950

11



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