ACT vs SAT Comparison Chart
Comparison chart
ACT versus SAT comparison chart
| ACT Started in 1959 | SAT Started in 1926 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | American College Test | Scholastic Aptitude Test |
| What is tested | ACT assesses knowledge of subjects taught in high school. | SAT measures literacy and writing skills, and assesses how well a student analyzes and solves problems. |
| Website | www.actstudent.org | sat.collegeboard.com/home |
| When to take the test | ACT examination is offered six times a year in the months of February, April, June, September, October, December. | In USA, SAT examination is offered seven times a year in the months of January, March, May, June, October, November, December. |
| Penalty for incorrect answers | There is no penalty for wrong answers. | There is no penalty for wrong or omitted answers. |
| Test Duration | 3 hours and 25 minutes (including 30 minutes for an optional writing test). | 3 hours (+50 minutes with optional essay). |
| Major Sections | 3 major sections– English, Math, and Reading (Science Reasoning and the Writing) sections are optional. | 3 major sections– Mathematics, Reading and Writing. |
| Top Score | 36 | 1600 |
| Popular in | The ACT tends to be relatively more popular in the Midwest and the South. | The SAT tends to be more popular on the East and West coasts. |
| Test owned by | ACT Inc. | College Board |
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SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board, which is not affiliated with Lucid Prep and was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product or services.
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB®) is a registered trademark of the United States Military Entrance Processing Command , which is not affiliated with Lucid Prep.