SAT vs. ACT: Navigating the Duopoly

Feb 9

Written By Lex

Like two sentinels guarding the gates to the kingdom of higher education, the SAT and ACT stand before us. So which do you choose to prove your intellectual mettle? Here’s a guide to help you decide. Most of what follows compares the tests’ formats. I have included a bit of my own impressions gleaned from years of teaching and tutoring both.

Overall Format

  
      Feature
      New SAT (2025)
      New ACT (2025)
    
      Format
      Fully digital, adaptive test
      Digital option begins April 2025; paper option continues (shortened format from Sept 2025 onward)
    
      Length
      ~2 hours 14 minutes
      ~2 hours 5 minutes
    
      Number of Questions
      98 questions
      131 questions
    
      Sections
      Reading & Writing (combined), Math
      English, Math, Reading; optional Science; optional Writing
    
      Science Section
      None (science reasoning embedded in reading/math)
      Optional starting April 2025; not included in composite unless taken
    
      Math Weight
      ~50% of score
      ~25% of score
    
      Scoring Scale
      400–1600
      1–36 composite (average of sections)
    
      Adaptive Design
      Multistage adaptive—difficulty adjusts based on performance
      Traditional linear test (shortened ACT still non-adaptive)
    
      Pace
      More time per question
      Faster pace, less time per question
    
      Best Fit
      Strategic thinkers, strong math students, comfort with adaptive testing
      Quick processors, STEM-oriented students, comfort with fast pacing and science reasoning

Math Section Differences

SAT Math

Weight: Roughly half of the total score (very math‑heavy).
Content: Algebra, advanced math (functions, polynomials), problem‑solving/data analysis, geometry, trigonometry.
Calculator Policy: Calculator allowed throughout (digital platform includes built‑in Desmos).
Style: More multi‑step problems; often word problems requiring translation into equations.
Adaptive Design: Later modules adjust difficulty based on earlier performance.
Difficulty: Problems often require conceptual reasoning and algebraic manipulation; fewer straightforward computation questions.
Emphasis: Depth of understanding, quantitative literacy, and problem‑solving stamina.

ACT Math

Weight: About one‑quarter of the composite score.
Content: Broader but shallower—algebra, geometry, trigonometry, some statistics/probability. Less emphasis on advanced math.
Calculator Policy: Calculator allowed throughout, but no built‑in Desmos.
Style: More straightforward, single‑step problems; faster pace.
Adaptive Design: None—linear test.
Difficulty: Questions are generally less complex but must be solved quickly; breadth of topics can challenge students who haven’t reviewed geometry or trig recently.
Emphasis: Speed and accuracy across a wide range of topics rather than depth.

Key Difference: The SAT math section is heavier, deeper, and adaptive; the ACT math section is lighter, faster, and broader. Students strong in algebra and multi‑step reasoning often prefer the SAT; students who are quick with a wide range of math topics may prefer the ACT.

Verbal Section Differences

SAT Reading & Writing (combined)

Format: One integrated section combining reading comprehension and grammar/writing.
Passages: Shorter passages (25–150 words), each tied to a single question. This reduces fatigue and allows adaptive difficulty.
Difficulty Level: Passages are concise but often dense, requiring close reading of academic, historical, or scientific texts. Vocabulary is more advanced, with emphasis on words in context. Syntax can be complex, with questions asking students to interpret nuanced phrasing.
Vocabulary: Tested through context clues rather than isolated definitions. Students must infer meaning from usage.
Grammar Questions: Focus on sentence structure, punctuation, concision, and rhetorical effectiveness. Often embedded in short passages rather than standalone sentences.
Adaptive Design: Later modules adjust difficulty based on earlier performance, so stronger readers face more challenging texts.
Emphasis: Precision, close reading, editing skills, and ability to handle sophisticated vocabulary and syntax.

ACT English & Reading

English Section: Tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical skills. Questions are more mechanical—identify errors, improve clarity, adjust tone. Syntax is simpler, and vocabulary demands are lighter than SAT.
Reading Section: Longer passages (prose, humanities, social science, natural science) with multiple questions per passage. Passages are less dense than SAT but require stamina to process quickly.
Difficulty Level: Reading passages are more straightforward but the challenge lies in pacing—students must answer more questions in less time. Vocabulary is less advanced, with fewer context‑based inference questions. Syntax is simpler, focusing on comprehension rather than subtle interpretation.
Grammar Questions: More direct than SAT—identify subject‑verb agreement, pronoun use, punctuation errors. Less emphasis on rhetorical nuance.
Adaptive Design: None—linear test.
Emphasis: Speed, comprehension of longer texts, and editing under time pressure.

Key Difference:

SAT verbal emphasizes short, dense passages, advanced vocabulary in context, and nuanced grammar/editing.
ACT verbal emphasizes longer, more straightforward passages, simpler syntax, and mechanical grammar corrections.
Students who prefer careful, close reading and handling sophisticated language may lean toward the SAT; students who process longer texts quickly and prefer direct grammar rules may lean toward the ACT.

Science Section (ACT Only)

Optional starting April 2025.
Tests data interpretation, experimental design, and scientific reasoning.
Not included in composite unless taken.
SAT embeds science reasoning into math/reading but has no dedicated section.

Highlights for Students

SAT: Digital‑only, adaptive, fewer questions, math‑heavy, shorter but denser verbal passages.
ACT: Paper or digital, faster pace, optional science, broader math but less weight, longer but simpler verbal passages.
Both: Accepted equally by colleges; choice depends on your strengths and test‑taking style.

Teaching Tip

Frame the choice as “Which test amplifies your strengths?”

SAT favors methodical problem‑solvers and strong math students who can handle dense reading.
ACT favors fast processors who thrive in STEM and can manage rapid pacing with longer texts.

Conclusion

Both tests are valid pathways to college admission. The SAT rewards depth, adaptability, and nuanced reading; the ACT rewards speed, breadth, and stamina. Students would do well to choose the test that aligns with their natural strengths in math and verbal reasoning. Still, the best way to decide is to take a practice test of each.

One last consideration: The SAT currently has much more available College Board-endorsed practice material, including a bank of several thousand questions, eleven practice tests, and a partnership with Khan Academy. The ACT, having more recently reformatted, currently offers fewer resources. However, old ACTs, though longer than the current iteration, present exactly the same kinds of questions as does the new version. This is not true of the SAT, for which preparation requires students to use only the updated material.

Lex