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ACT
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SAT
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Sections
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Reading, English, Math, and Science
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Reading, Writing & Language, and Math
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Essay
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Optional 40-min Essay
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Optional 50-min Essay
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Scoring
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Section Scores of 1-36 Composite Score of 1-36
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Section Scores of 200-800 Composite Score of 400-1600
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Number of Questions
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154
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215
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Time Allotted
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3 hours, 40 minutes including the essay
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3 hours, 50 minutes including the essay
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Test Length and Timing
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Reading Test: 35 mins.; 40 questions
English Test: 45 mins; 75 questions
Math Test: 60 mins; 60 questions
Science Test:35 mins; 40 questions
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Reading Test: 65 minutes; 52 questions Writing & Language Test: 35 minutes; 44 questions
Math Test: 80 minutes; 58 questions
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Reading Passage types
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1 Prose Fiction or Literary Narrative, 1
Social Sciences, 1 Humanities, 1 Natural Sciences
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1 U.S. or World Literature, 2 History or Social Studies, 2 Science
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Reading Question types
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Main Idea, Vocab-in-Context, Inference, Detail-Oriented
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Main Idea, Vocab-in-Context, Inference, Evidence
Support, Data Reasoning, Technique, Detail- Oriented
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Reading Key skills
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Reading comprehension, inferring ideas, locating details
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Math Content
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Pre-algebra — 20-25% Elementary algebra — 15-20% Intermediate algebra — 15-20% Coordinate geometry — 15-20% Plane geometry — 20-25%
Trigonometry — 5-10%
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Heart of Algebra — 33%
Problem Solving and Data Analysis — 28% Passport to Advanced Math — 29% Additional Topics in Math — 10%
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Math Skills
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Memorizing formulas, translating word problems, working quickly without making errors
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Doing simple calculations without a calculator, translating word problems, analyzing data
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Science Skills
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Do simple calculations without a calculator, read charts, graphs, analyze experimental designs
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Understanding scientific ideas, reading charts and graphs
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Most Colleges require that you take the Writing/Essay section. The ACT Writing section will describe an issue and provide three different perspectives on the issue. Your task is to evaluate and analyze the perspectives, to state and develop your own perspective, and to explain the relationship between your perspective and those given. The SAT Essay will present a passage. Your task is to explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience and support your explanation with evidence from the passage.
Your essay should not explain whether you agree with the claims, but rather explain how the author builds an argument to persuade the audience.
Score Comparison (SAT incl. writing score compared with ACT score)
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SAT
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ACT
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SAT
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ACT
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SAT
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ACT
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SAT
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ACT
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1600
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36
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1340
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30
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1070
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23
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790
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16
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1560
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35
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1300
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29
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1030
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22
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740
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15
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1510
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34
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1260
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28
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990
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21
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690
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14
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1460
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33
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1220
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27
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950
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20
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640
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13
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1420
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32
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1190
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26
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910
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19
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590
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12
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1380
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31
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1150
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25
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870
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18
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530
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11
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1110
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24
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830
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17
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School Code: 102735