Both Sat and ACT are standardized tests that universities accept for admission. Both has its advantages and disadvantages, but it depends on the on the strength and weakness of an individual.
Students generally score higher when they take the exam that is best suited to them. This makes it easier for them to gain admission to colleges.
Generally, ACT tests a student of the subject matters that studied in high school, whereas SAT tests a student’s thinking skills. ACT may suit those students who received good grades in classes.
On the other hand, SAT is suited to those students who have strong deduction skills. It is more like an aptitude test. It uses tricky confusing phrases intentionally to confuse the students. But some students like SAT more than ACT.
ACT gives more importance to grammar, has covers test on Science reasoning, whereas SAT emphasizes on the use of vocabulary, and has no tests based on science reasoning.
Three sections are included in SAT, that is, writing, critical reading, mathematics, whereas ACT comprises of four sections. They are reading, science, mathematics and English.
In SAT, students are required to give answers to mathematical question, whereas ACT comprises of multiple-choice questions.
IN SAT, the level of difficulty in questions increases as the test progresses, whereas in ACT, the level of questions remains almost constant.
In spite of having the same time for both the tests, the number of questions differs. SAT comprises of 140 questions, whereas ACT comprises of 215 questions.
In a SAT exam, there is negative marking, whereas in ACT exam, there is no negative marking. Further, the questions of SAT are design in such a way that it can slow down the test taker. Therefore, it is suggests to first answer the questions that are easier and then move on to the harder ones.
Students can earn maximum of 36 points in SAT whereas they can earn maximum 800 points in ACT.
