10 Key Differences Between SAT and ACT Tests

High school students are often perplexed with the question: Which is better, SAT or ACT? Universities and colleges use both SAT and ACT to evaluate potential students, despite the resemblances, a few critical variations exist between them.

The structure of the SAT test differs markedly from that of the ACT. The SAT is split into two parts: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, along with Math. Conversely, the ACT is divided into English, Math, Reading, and Science sections.

Deciding which test is easier between SAT or ACT depends entirely on a student's strengths and weaknesses. The SAT may be more suitable for students with strong reading and writing skills. Alternatively, science-oriented students might have an edge with the ACT.

The SAT and ACT also diverge in terms of scoring scales. For the SAT, scores can range from 400 to 1600, while the ACT score ranges from 1 to 36.

There's a clear difference between subjects tested in SAT and ACT. The SAT How to prepare for ACT math focuses greatly on reasoning, problem-solving and data analysis abilities, while the ACT math section covers topics from pre-algebra to trigonometry.

Choosing whether to take SAT or ACT truly depends on an individual's preferences. Most schools will accept scores from either the SAT or ACT, so pick the exam that best represents your abilities. In the end, what matters most is not which test students take, but how well they do on it.