answersLogoWhite

0

What are the SAT and ACT?

Updated: 10/10/2023
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Best Answer

Differences in Testing PhilosophyACTSATThe ACT strives to assess the knowledge you've acquired, meaning that the test focuses on subjects and skills taught in high school. The SAT tries to assess one's reasoning ability. It does so using tricky and confusing phrasing to determine your test-taking skills (i.e., your performance under pressure and your ability to identify what's being asked).

The following information is a few years old, but may help:

  • The act math includes some trigonometry, the SATdoes not.
  • The act includes a science reasoning test, the SAT does not.
  • The SAT questions, within a particular set, appear in order of difficulty - not true on the act.
  • The SAT tests vocabulary much more than the act.
  • The act tests English grammar, the SAT does not.
  • The SAT is not all multiple choice.
  • The SAT has a wrong answer penalty; the act does not.
  • The act is more of a content-based test; the SATtest critical thinking and problem solving.

There are also fee waivers available for both tests. These cover not only the test fee but provide up to four free college applications -- potentially worth hundreds of dollars. See your guidance counselor or see the related links below

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

About the ACT

The ACT sports four trademark multiple-choice subject tests covering English, Math, Reading, and Science. These are designed to evaluate your overall educational development and your ability to complete college-level work. You'll have 2 hours and 55 minutes of dedicated test time to complete the subject tests, not including breaks.

As far as scoring goes, your subject test scores (ranging from 1 to 36) are determined after throwing out any incorrect answers - only correct responses count! The four areas are then averaged together to come up with your overall, or composite, score.

The ACT also includes an optional 30-minute writing test designed to measure your skill in planning and writing a short essay. This segment is your chance to highlight your writing skills! If you opt to take it, the additional scores will be reported, along with comments about your essay. These scores are reported separately.

So, if writing is a weak area, you might want to take the ACT and skip the writing section, since it's currently optional (although some schools require it). If writing is your strength, having extra kudos passed on to your choice schools may benefit you.

About the SAT

When looking at the SAT in comparison to the ACT, a clear difference is that the SAT is designed to evaluate your general thinking and problem-solving abilities. It kicks things off with a required 25-minute essay. This is the start to the Writing section, which you'll complete in addition to the Critical Reading and Math sections. The SAT differs from the ACT in terms of the amount of time you'll have to complete it (3 hours and 5 minutes) and the format in which you provide your answers.

Similar to the ACT, the SAT has multiple-choice areas, but it also has a part in the Math section where you'll be required produce your answers - no chance of guessing from a set of choices here! And unlike the ACT, the SAT doles out a slight penalty for wrong answers on the multiple choice questions (but not on the student-produced ones).

When considering the ACT vs. the SAT, keep in mind that both tests allot ample time for completion, but the SAT has fewer questions - 140 compared to the 215 on the ACT. The SAT also focuses heavily on vocabulary, while the ACT hones in on grammar and punctuation.

Source: www.examville.com

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

The ACT test is more straight forward questions like school. also guessing counts. The SAT is more out of the box thinking and you have to be careful about guessing as they take points off in most sections for a wrong answer.

The best books to study for the SAT is The college board's official SAT study guide. Get that book and "Answers and Explanations " by Peter Tanguay. Answers and Explanations has the definitive and complete solutions to the SAT tests in the official SAT study guide. This is all you need to score high on the SAT. Good luck.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

The ACT test questions are more like school and guessing counts. The SAT test has more out of the box and you have to be careful about guessing as most sections take 1/4 point off for a wrong answer.

The best books to study for the SAT is The college board's official SAT study guide. Get that book and "Answers and Explanations " by Peter Tanguay. Answers and Explanations has the definitive and complete solutions to the SAT tests in the official SAT study guide. This is all you need to score high on the SAT. Good luck.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

They are two tests made by competing companies both with the same purpose.

Both tests are intended to evaluate a persons skills in preparation for college.

The SAT was first developed in 1901 by a not for profit company trying to help colleges better evaluate students coming in from a wide range of different educational backgrounds.

The ACT was created and sold to schools by a for profit company in 1959 claiming to be a more accurate test with a wider range of subjects.

The SAT has traditionally focused on math and English skills while the ACT included math, English, reading and science portions.

Both tests have changed questions used over the years and the rights of ownership have changed to different companies than the ones who originally founded them.

It's up to the individual college to decide for themselves which test is more important than an another.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Scholastic Aptitude Test

American College Test

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

ACT originally stood for 'American College Testing,' but has been shortened to better reflect what they represent. SAT stands for 'Scholastic Assessment Test.'

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What are the SAT and ACT?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What are the top scores for the SAT I and SAT II and the act?

800 points per section for the SAT, 2400 points total. 800 points per section on SAT II. 36 on ACT.


If you do not take sat or act can you still play by ncaa rules?

can you play by ncaa rules if you do not take sat or act


Do you need to take the act or sat to to enter at the university of Phoenix?

No. University of Phoenix does not require the ACT or SAT for admission.


What is the SAT and ACT scores required for Full Sail University?

Full Sail University does not require SAT or ACT scores.


How does a 1200 on the SAT compare to the ACT?

It is about a 26 or 27 on the ACT


Does yale require the ACT test?

Yes and if not ACT you must at least have the SAT. After doing the normal ACT or SAT for most Ivy League schools you must have at least 3 SAT Subject Test Scores sent.


Do you have to take the SAT or ACT to get into St. Edwards?

You must take either the SAT or the ACT to get into St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas.


Do you have to have taken the ACT to get into college?

Not at all. Both the SAT and ACT are standardized college entrance exams and either are accepted by collegeswith no preference. This is especially true after the SAT's latest revision.There are a few key differences in the SAT and the ACT. Since the revision of the SAT, it is rumored that the SAT is slightly harder than the ACT (I've taken both and I believe this to be true). However, the SAT seems to be slightly more rewarding.Also, the SAT's scoring system allows for the fact that it is difficult. You do not need to get every answer correct in order to score a perfect score on the SAT. It *is* important that you answer every question. On the SAT (and the ACT, for that matter) it is always better to at least make an educated guess as opposed to skipping a question.There are tons and tons of tips and tricks for studying for the SAT that will help you tremendously.


Do you qualify for extended time on the ACT if you already have it for the SAT?

Not necessarily, the ACT is a bit more strict when it comes to extended time compared to the SAT.


Do you have to take sat for eastern Michigan?

No. Their website specifically states that neither the ACT nor the SAT is required for students over the age of 21. That implies that they do want either the ACT or SAT from students under 21, but reading between the lines a little it seems that their preference is for the ACT (in the section talking about it, they mention ACT 3 times and SAT only once).


Does Princetion University require the essay section of the ACT?

Yes and the SAT if you are from out of state. I had to do all parts of the ACT and SAT because I was from out of state. Hope this helped you.


Do you have to take your ACT to go to Virginia College?

No, the school does not require the SAT or the ACT.