How is the ACT Different from the SAT?
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While both ACT and SAT are standardised tests required for UG admissions abroad, they vary greatly. ACT and SAT are very different from each other in terms of scoring, pattern, syllabus, and testing modules. ACT is a longer duration test while SAT is shorter than ACT by just 41 minutes. Thus, ACT is different from SAT, let us understand more about this in this article.
ACT vs SAT Highlights
What are ACT & SAT |
Standardized Tests |
Accepted for |
Undergraduate admissions abroad |
Accepted in Countries of |
USA, Canada and the UK |
Tests |
High school knowledge |
Major Subjects Tested |
Math & English |
How many attempts for ACT annually? |
12 |
Total attempts for SAT annually |
No restrictions |
Assessments at universities |
Made unbiased despite ACT or SAT score submission |
How is the ACT Different from the SAT?
Though both ACT and SAT are standardized tests aiming to assess high school students’ knowledge in various subjects of Maths and English, ACT varies greatly with the new Digital SAT exam. Check out how the ACT differs from the SAT:
- ACT assesses students in English, Maths and Science, but SAT excludes Science sections.
- The ACT exam is conducted on computers at centres while SAT Digital is conducted on students’ own laptops, Chromebooks or iPads at the SAT exam centre.
- Though SAT Digital has reduced its test hour by an hour, ACT still has a longer duration of testing in comparison to SATs by almost 41 minutes.
- ACT has fewer breaks between its different sections there is a 10-minute break in between the Reading & Math section and another 5 minutes before attempting the Writing section. SAT gives a 10-minute break after each module of each section.
- ACT gives the option for choosing the writing section. If chosen there is a fee else there is an ACT fee. Whereas, there is no essay or writing section available for Indian students on the SATs.
- ACT scores and results are released within a few weeks while SAT scores and results are released within a couple of days.
- Lastly, it is believed that ACT is a more curriculum-based test whereas the SAT moreover tests the student’s aptitude.
So those international students who have confidence in the ACT syllabus more than the SAT syllabus can opt for appearing for the ACT exam. Check out the latest SAT Exam Dates and ACT Exam Dates.
ACT vs SAT Common Parameters
In continuation to the above section, the following section throws more light on the important aspects of ACT and SAT, which may help students in choosing ACT or SAT:
Predict your IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE in just 4 steps!
Parameters |
ACT Exam |
SAT Digital Exam |
---|---|---|
Taken by Students in 2022 |
1.35 million |
1.7 million |
Conducting Body |
ACT |
College Board |
Full Form |
American College Testing |
Scholastic Assessment Test |
Registration Fees for Indian Students |
ACT Registration Fee: INR 15,861.92 (without writing) INR 20,114.44 (with writing) |
SAT Registration Fee: INR 11,124 (approx) |
Exam Duration |
2 hours 55 minutes |
2 hours 14 minutes |
Conducted Annually |
14 times across 7 months |
7 times |
Mode of Conduction |
Online |
Digital |
Exam Syllabus |
ACT Syllabus: English Math Science Reading Writing (Optional) |
SAT Syllabus: Reading & Writing (RW) + Maths |
Overall Score |
1 - 36 |
400 - 1600 |
Scores Released |
Within 2 weeks |
Within 10 - 13 days |
Read more about:
Similarities in the ACT and SAT Exam
Despite numerous differences between the two standardized tests for undergraduate exams, there are still a few commonalities between the ACT and the SAT, read the following section for more details:
- Both ACT and SAT are tested at test centres despite one being offline and the other being online respectively. Read about: ACT Test Centres
- Both ACT and SAT students in Math and English subjects.
- There are MCQs with four options in all sections of the ACT and SAT.
- Also, calculators for the Math sections of both the ACT and SAT are allowed during the exams.
- Students submitting either ACT or SAT would be assessed unbiased and will be treated equally to each other.
ACT vs SAT Score Conversions
Since the ACT is considered equivalent to the SAT, students who submit either of the test scores can qualify in the following range:
ACT Composite Score |
SAT Digital Score Range |
ACT Composite Score |
SAT Digital Score Range |
---|---|---|---|
36 |
1600 |
35 |
1560-1590 |
34 |
1520-1550 |
33 |
1490-1510 |
32 |
1450-1480 |
31 |
1420-1440 |
30 |
1390-1410 |
29 |
1350-1380 |
28 |
1310-1340 |
27 |
1280-1300 |
26 |
1240-1270 |
25 |
1200-1230 |
24 |
1160-1190 |
23 |
1130-1150 |
22 |
1100-1120 |
21 |
1060-1090 |
20 |
1020-1050 |
19 |
980-1010 |
18 |
940-970 |
17 |
900-930 |
16 |
860-890 |
15 |
810-850 |
14 |
760-800 |
13 |
720-750 |
12 |
630-710 |
11 |
560-620 |
10 |
640-620 |
09 |
610-590 |
Check out: SAT Cutoff
With the latest score range for the SAT exam, the conversion has also been updated as per the ACT scoring scale. The applicants can refer to this table in case they have given a certain exam and want to convert it to another exam's scale of scoring.
How ACT Differs from SAT?: Conclusion
To conclude, about how the ACT is different from the SAT, there are just these key pointers:
- There is an optional essay section on ACT which has been scrapped from SAT Digital.
- The Maths section on ACT holds 25% score on ACT since it is one of the four major sections of testing. In comparison to the SAT, where Math section holds 50% of the exam's weightage.
- While ACT gives applicants flexibility to change answers, SAT is not as flexible.
- ACT is both pencil and paper test and digital, whereas, SAT is only digital.
- ACT scores are not capped irrespective of the applicant's performance. But SAT can cap scores based on performance on first few questions, since it is computer adaptive.
- Finally, ACT is shorter than SAT which is even more beneficial for the test takers.
In the end, it's up to the students which exam suits them the most in terms of their previous knowledge. If the student’s Science and Maths are strong, they can think of appearing for the ACT and those who have strong points in the aptitude section can apply for the SAT exam.
Q: Â Is ACT easier than SAT?
Q: Â Is Digital SAT harder than SAT?
Irrespective of the version of SAT exam, the difficulty level is more or less the same. So Digital SAT is not harder or less challenging than the previous SAT exam format. The new SAT online exam has definitely seen positive changes becasue of which it is being considered easier than previous SAT version. Some of the reasons are:
- Timing has reduced for SAT Digital by 46 minutes.
- There are no different Reading and Writing tests, it is a combined section.
- Use of calculators is permitted for all Maths questions.
- Since SAT has gone digital, SAT online exam is now comouter adaptive, which was impossible previously on pen-paper format.
Thus, these are some of the key takeaways which make SAT Digital slightly easier than previous version of the SAT exam.
Q: Â What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?
The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:
Ranking Body | Ranking |
---|---|
The Guardian University Guide 2024 | #101 |
The Complete University Guide 2024 | #117 |
Q: Â Which one is better- SAT or ACT?
While both SAT and ACT solve a similar purpose of understanding an undergraduate's readiness for college admissions, both are designed differently and tested differently. Understand the key difference to know which one is easier - SAT or ACT from the section below:
- SAT is a digital exam, whereas ACT is tested on paper plus availability of digital format is meagre.
- SAT is 2 hours 14 minutes, ACT is 2 hours 55 minutes long.
- There are just two sections on SAT - Reading + Writing & Maths, ACT on the other hand has four sections - English, Reading, Science and Maths.
- There is an optional writing paper on ACT, while SAT has scrapped the essay paper.
- There is an inbuilt calculator for Digital SAT, however, there is no such provision on ACT.
- Free prep is available for SAT applicants, but not for ACT applicants.
Thus, it is up to the applicants to choose which one is a more suitable option for them - SAT or ACT and apply and prepare accordingly. For more details check - Which one is easier - SAT or ACT?
Q: Â Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?
The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.
Q: Â Is Hertfordshire University hard to get into?
With a 70% acceptance rate, the University of Hertfordshire is not hard to get into and follows easy selection criteria during admissions. This does not mean the university accepts all the students applying for different programs. The selection is based on academic performance, English language requirements, references, and many more. Some of the programs at Hertfordshire even demand an experience of 4-5 years. Students must fulfill the eligibility criteria to enroll in any programme at Hertfordshire University. In addition, students with average performance can showcase their relevant experience or extracurricular activities participation to increase their selection probability.
Q: Â Does the University of Essex require IELTS?
International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:
English Language Test | Score |
---|---|
IELTS | Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section |
The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:
English Language Test | Score |
TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 72 to 114 |
PTE | Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section |
Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities
Q: Â How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?
The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses:
The Undergraduate Application Process:
Step 1: You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.
Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.
Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
The Postgraduate application process:
Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
Step 5: If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
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Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
There is no such comparison that can be drawn between ACT or SAT difficulty levels. While ACT focuses more on Maths section plus Reading and Writing with an analytical bend, SAT on the other hand is more about understanding and then answering the questions of Math & Reading + Writing. The difficulty of the exams depends upon the applicant's preparation and what choice they make between ACT or SAT. It is all about the applicant's knowledge and how he/she perceives the test they wish to take.