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Sat - Act Comparison

The document compares the SAT, New SAT, and ACT exams. It outlines the key differences in their structure, content, and scoring. The SAT and New SAT both have Reading, Writing & Language, and Math sections. The ACT adds a Science section. The SAT is 3 hours long while the ACT is shorter at 2 hours and 55 minutes. The New SAT returns to the 1600 scale while the ACT uses a 1-36 scale. The SAT Essay is mandatory but factored into the score only for the old SAT. The New SAT and ACT Essays are optional.

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212 views

Sat - Act Comparison

The document compares the SAT, New SAT, and ACT exams. It outlines the key differences in their structure, content, and scoring. The SAT and New SAT both have Reading, Writing & Language, and Math sections. The ACT adds a Science section. The SAT is 3 hours long while the ACT is shorter at 2 hours and 55 minutes. The New SAT returns to the 1600 scale while the ACT uses a 1-36 scale. The SAT Essay is mandatory but factored into the score only for the old SAT. The New SAT and ACT Essays are optional.

Uploaded by

api-269876274
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What are the differences between the

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTS?


SAT

New SAT

ACT

The current SAT is broken up


into 3 content areas: Reading,
Writing, and Math. It is known
for its focus on vocabulary
(almost 30% of the reading
section), multiple passage
types, and reasoning-based
math (up to Algebra II). Additionally, the essay is factored
into the writing score.

The redesigned SAT will return


to the 1600 scale; Reading
and Writing will combine for
one section score. The Math
will focus more on the content
students are learning during
their junior year. Also, the
Essay will be optional and not
factored into the Reading/Writing score.

The ACT is made up of 4


sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, plus an
optional Essay. The section
lengths range from 35 minutes
(Reading and Science) to 60
minutes (Math). The content of
the Math, Science, and English
is similar to what junior students
are learning in school.

QUICK LOOK
SCORING

200 - 800 each


400 - 1600 total

3h

2h

1 - 36 each
1 - 36 total

T
SA45m

ACT

200 - 800 each


600 - 2400 total

55

New SAT

scores: Reading,
3 section
Math, and Writing
scores: Read2 section
ing/Writing and Math
scores: English,
4 section
Math, Reading, and Science

AC

SAT

Timing
Test duration

Only the old SAT still carries


the wrong answer penalty.

3hours

ew

S AT

Number of Sections

applerouth

www.applerouth.com

MATH
Number of Questions
SAT

New SAT

ACT

54 58 60

Both the SAT and


the New SAT have
student-producedresponse questions.

Time per Question


SAT
New SAT
ACT

Formulas
The New SAT includes more
formulas to reference.

ACT allow
The SAT and
ctions.
r all Math se
fo
rs
to
la
u
lc
a
c
O
T has one N
The New SA
ne
ection and o
s
R
O
T
A
L
U
C
CAL
a calculator.
that allows

The ACT does not allow


formulas for reference.

Range of Math

SAT
Geometry
Algebra
Arithmetic

applerouth

New SAT
Advanced Algebra
Interpretation of Data
Some Geometry &
Arithmetic
Some Trigonometry

ACT
Geometry
Algebra
Arithmetic
Trigonometry

www.applerouth.com

READING

Vocabulary

What percent of questions test vocabulary?

Number of Questions
SAT

New SAT

ACT

19 sentence completion
48 passage-based

passage-based
questions

passage-based
questions

67 52 40

Time per Question


SAT
New SAT
ACT

SAT New SAT ACT


75s

53s

comparison

Do the Reading sections have

MEDIUM

SAT

New SAT

ACT

No

Yes, relating to
two passages

Only on the
Science section

comparison

LONG

MEDIUM

comparison

ACT

3
2

Graphs and Charts?

LONG

New SAT

4
2

8%

63s

SAT

4
4

17%

20%

0%

Number of Passages

SHORT

36%

40%

LONG

MEDIUM

comparison

applerouth

Types of Passages
SAT

New SAT

ACT

Passages come
from a variety of
sources from the
last 200 years.

1 prose
1 social
science/history
2 sciences
1 great global
conversation

1 prose
1 social science
1 humanities*
1 natural science

There is no pattern
in the types of
passages used.

Contains a mix of
contemporary and
historical writing.

All contemporary
writing.
* This tends to be the
comparison passage

www.applerouth.com

ENGLISH/WRITING
Number of Questions
SAT

25
18
+ 6

sentence
improvement
error
identification
paragraph
improvement

New SAT

ACT

(passage-based
questions)

(passage-based
questions)

4
11

5
15

passages
questions
each

Graphs and Charts?


SAT

New SAT

ACT

No

Yes, relating to
two passages

Only on the
Science section

passages
questions
each

49 44 75

Vocabulary

What percent of questions test vocabulary?


10%

Time per Question


SAT
New SAT
ACT

Do the English sections have

7%
43s
48s

5%

36s
0%

3%
0%

SAT New SAT ACT


Important

GRAMMAR
topics

GRAMMAR VS. RHETORICAL SKILLS

SAT

80%

Sentence parallelism
Relationship between words

20%

(subject/verb, pronoun/antecedent)

New SAT
Punctuation
Words in context
Sentence Structure

ACT
Punctuation
Sentence Structure

applerouth

45%

51%

55%*

49%*

*The difference between the 49% Rhetorical Skills on the ACT and 55%
on the SAT feels even greater in practice, as the questions on the SAT
require a fuller understanding of the passage.

www.applerouth.com

Timing

ESSAY
Is it Mandatory?
SAT

New SAT

YES

ACT

NO

NO

SAT

New SAT

ACT

25m

50m

40m

The
Essay affects
the overall score
only on the old SAT.

SCORING

SAT
New SAT

ACT

1
3
4

section score

0 - 12 total

section scores: Reading,


Analysis, and Writing

2 - 8 each

section scores: Ideas/Analysis,


Development/Support,
Organization, and Language
Use/Convention

2 - 12 each
1 - 36 scaled
total

Can the student use a

The other two tests


consider it an additional score.

Prompt

Personal Opinion?
SAT

A short quote and


related question

New SAT
No, the student
must only explain
the opinion given

A short passage which


the student must analyze
A contemporary issue with
three different opinions

ACT

Yes, but the


student must
address the three
perspectives

Pages alotted for the Essay


SAT
New SAT
ACT

applerouth

2
4
4
www.applerouth.com

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