Differentiating the SAT & ACT
As a test prep tutor and the designer of our Brigham Learning diagnostic testing system, the most frequent question I field from families of rising Juniors and Seniors is: Which college admissions test should I take? While this has always been an important consideration, the recent shake ups in higher ed admissions on Diagnostic Testing has made the decision even more relevant. As more schools roll back test-optional policies implemented in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, having a clear direction for student’s upcoming college applications saves time, energy, and money (testing fees can add up!). As such, understanding the major differences in the two major college admissions tests that CommonApp schools will be requesting is vital information to help smooth what is otherwise a rough and bumpy road.
Towards that end, there are two main distinctions I would highlight for prospective college applicants and their families so they can make informed decisions about their testing options.
Format: Paper vs Digital
Currently, the biggest difference between these two major tests lies in their format. Recent changes in the SAT’s official format mean that it is now a digital-only test. The overall length of the SAT has also been reduced, from over 3 hours originally to about 2 hours total. This can be a boon to students who perform well under timed testing conditions and who are adept at computer-based schoolwork; however, for those who struggle with a digital interface or with time management, the new SAT format might prove challenging.
The ACT is still offering paper-based testing as their default format, with the option for digital testing if desired. The length of the test has remained constant, clocking in at over 3 hours total (including breaks), meaning for students who fatigue or have attentional challenges, the overall length may be difficult to manage. For students who work better at a steady pace over longer periods of time, this may be a boon as the transitions between test sections are more gradually paced, so they do not have to sprint from beginning to end of each section.
Materials Covered
The tests also include some differences in material across their quantitative and qualitative sections (2 each). Where the SAT quantitative has two Math components, the ACT has one Math and one Science section. Both tests use Reading & Writing as their qualitative sections. On the ACT, writing & grammar questions have their own section separate from passage based reading, whereas the SAT now combines these two types of questions on its qualitative sections. Passage lengths in Reading are also longer on the ACT than the SAT (something to consider for students who struggle with time).
A note on the Science section: it is unique to the ACT, and may throw inexperienced test takers for a loop. Rather than relying on pre-existing scientific knowledge gained in Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior year classes, this section presents students with examples of scientific experiments or studies and their results in the form of data tables and graphs. Students must then answer questions about both the results of the experiments in question and the scientific methods used in the experiment, along with drawing scientific conclusions.
These differences should be considered when choosing an admissions test to focus on; ultimately, taking a diagnostic practice test is the best way to get an individualized assessment as to a student’s strengths and challenges, and which test might best maximize their scores.