Compare the New SAT to the ACT
This information is from https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/compare-new-sat-act
Test Snapshot
Features |
New SAT |
ACT |
Widely accepted |
All U.S. colleges |
Almost all U.S. colleges |
Major redesign |
2016 SAT is based on the latest research on the skills colleges value most. |
No recent significant revisions. |
Tests the vocabulary you’ll use |
Yes |
Yes |
Everyday math formulas provided |
Yes |
No |
Essay is optional |
Yes |
Yes |
Penalty for guessing |
No |
No |
Cost |
$54.50 ($43 without essay) |
$56.50 ($39.50 without essay) |
Free Practice
Resources |
New SAT |
ACT |
Free daily practice questions |
Yes, the free mobile app, Daily Practice for the New SAT. |
Yes |
Free comprehensive test practice |
Yes, through Khan Academy®, with over 4,000 questions and video lessons. |
No |
Free, downloadable practice tests |
Yes |
No |
Mobile app that instantly scores paper tests |
Yes, Daily Practice for the New SAT. |
No |
Flexibility
Schedule |
New SAT |
ACT |
Test days |
7 times a year |
6 times a year |
Regular registration deadline |
About 4 weeks before test day. You pay a late fee for registering later. |
About 5 weeks before test day. You pay a late fee for registering later. |
Late registration closes |
About 11 days before test day |
20+ days before test day |
Fee Waivers
Benefits and Rules |
New SAT |
ACT |
Test fees waived for eligible students |
Yes |
Yes |
Waivers cover late fees |
Yes |
No |
Four college application fee waivers sent directly to eligible students |
Yes |
No |
Test Format
Structure and Timing |
New SAT |
ACT |
Testing time |
3 hours
+ 50-minute essay (optional) |
2 hours 55 minutes
+ 40-minute essay (optional) |
Structure |
3 tests + optional essay |
4 tests + optional writing test |
Number of questions |
154 |
215 |
Time per question |
1 minute, 10 seconds |
49 seconds |
Score range |
Composite 400–1600 (SAT Essay: reported in 3 dimensions, each 2–8) |
Composite 1–36 (writing domain scores: 2–12) |
Test length and timing |
Reading Test
65 minutes
52 questions
Writing and Language Test
35 minutes
44 questions
Math Test
80 minutes
58 questions
|
Reading Test
35 minutes
40 questions
English Test
45 minutes
75 questions
Math Test
60 minutes
60 questions
Science Test
35 minutes
40 questions
|
This information from:
Study Point
Difficulty Levels |
Questions increase in difficulty as you move through that question type in a section |
Difficulty level in questions
is random |
Math Levels |
arithmetic, problem-solving & data analysis, heart of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry; formulas provided.
|
arithmetic, algebra I and II, functions, geometry, trigonometry; no formulas are provided |
Test Style
|
questions are evidence and
context-based in an effort to focus on real-world
situations and multi-step problem-solving |
straightforward, questions may be long but are usually less difficult to decipher |