Should I Take the ACT or the SAT? What’s the Difference?

Getting ready for college can be tough enough without having to worry about whether or not you should take the SAT, the ACT or both. While both tests are standardized to evaluate candidates for college admission, there are major differences between the two tests, and how you score on either test can vary significantly.

The good thing is that most colleges will accept either score from the SAT or ACT. So, which test should you take? Here is what you should know.

SAT and ACT Basics

These two tests are significantly different in many ways:

• The ACT, which is more common in the Midwest and the South, is an achievement test that focuses on school curriculum-based skills including English, mathematics, reading, and science.
• The SAT, which is more popular in Eastern colleges, is an aptitude test that measures literacy, writing skills, and assesses how well a student can analyze and solve problems.

Key Differences between the ACT and the SAT

While the results of both the ACT and the SAT tend to be similar, the actual content and style are not so comparable. Here are some major differences:

1. Vocabulary Emphasis

• SAT has a stronger emphasis on vocabulary
• If you are an enthusiastic wordsmith, SAT may be good for you
• If you have good language skills but not so great vocabulary, ACT might be a better option

2. Science Section

• ACT tests for science in areas such as chemistry, biology, and physics
• You do not need to be a science genius to tackle the ACT science questions
• The ACT science section is only meant to assess your reading and reasoning skills
• If you are a real science whiz, the ACT will likely be easier for you

3. Guessing Penalty

• Unlike ACT, which does not penalize candidates for guessing, SAT deducts points for wrong answers
• This could hurt your overall score
• Most candidates find the guessing penalty stressful
• Note: The new SAT coming March 2016 has no penalty for wrong answers

4. Essay Requirements

• The essay option on SAT is compulsory
• While the ACT essay option is not obligatory, the SAT essay is unavoidable and is factored into your composite score
• Most colleges may require your ACT essay scores before admitting you
• Note: Changes to the new SAT will mean the essay becomes optional once again

5. Overall Score Focus

• The ACT is more of an exam on the “bigger picture”
• College admission officers are most concerned with your overall score
• This is different from the SAT where they check how you did on each section
• If you are weak in one area but strong in others, you could end up with a good ACT score

6. Grammar Testing

• The ACT tests English grammar while the SAT does not
• The ACT is typically a better choice for ESL students

The New SAT

If you are preparing to take the SAT test after March 2016, some of the differences that you are reading here will no longer apply, thanks to the New SAT. The new expected changes will include:

• No penalty for incorrect answers
• No more difficult-to-understand vocabulary
• Fewer answer choices (4 instead of 5)
• The essay section will be optional

So, Which Test Should You Take?

While there is no test that is superior to the other, the decision on which test to take is dependent on:

• Your strengths and weaknesses
• The admission criteria laid out by your college of choice
• Your preference and familiarity with each test’s individual structure

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