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Mbbs 21 Aug, 2024
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ACT vs. SAT: Two of the most popular examinations for admission to undergraduate programs at prestigious universities in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, and other well-liked study abroad locations are the SAT and ACT.
Colleges use the results of the SAT and ACT to assess a student's aptitude and preparedness for enrolment in an undergraduate program. At some of the best colleges, admission committees take ACT and SAT scores into account in addition to merit-based scholarships.
Internationally acknowledged standardised examinations, the SAT and ACT are usually necessary for entrance to universities overseas. The majority of elite colleges need an ACT or SAT score, particularly in the USA and the UK.
However, what distinguishes an ACT from a SAT? When, why, and where is one needed? While selecting the appropriate test for your study abroad plan, you may have a lot of questions. Allow us to contrast and compare so you may choose the best option.
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ACT vs SAT Overview |
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Detail |
ACT |
SAT |
|
Full Form |
American College Testing |
Scholastic Assessment Test |
|
Introduced In |
1959 |
1926 |
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Administered By |
ACT |
College Board |
|
Annual Test Takers |
1.38 million |
1.9 million |
|
Duration |
– 2 hours 55 minutes without Writing – 3 hours and 35 minutes with Writing |
3 hours |
|
Band Score |
1-36 |
400-1600 |
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Sections |
– English – Mathematics – Reading – Science – Writing (optional) |
– Reading – Writing and Language – Maths |
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Test Fee |
– $181.50 (INR 15,097) without Writing – $206.50 (INR 1,717) with Writing |
– $103 (INR 8,562), including registration and regional fee |
|
Frequency of Test |
– 7 times a year in the US – 5 times a year internationally |
– 7 times a year |
The goal of the ACT and SAT tests is the same, however there are some differences between them. The fundamental components of both exams may be compared to help you select the best one for your study abroad program.
The following are the main differences between the SAT and ACT.
Types of Questions
Since there are fewer questions on the SAT exam, each question is given more time. Both grid-in and multiple-choice questions are included in the examinations.
There are more questions on the ACT exam, but each question is given less time. The provided text is the basis for the ACT questions. Except for the optional essay, all of the ACT's questions are multiple-choice.
Cost
The SAT registration price is $60 (INR 4,988) plus a regional charge of $43 (INR 3,574). It comes to a total of $103 (INR 8,562). The SAT exam has a $30 (INR 2,494) late charge.
The registration price for the ACT is $206.50 (INR 1,717) if the writing component is included, and $181.50 (INR 15,097) if it is not.
Reading
The reading portion assesses a candidate's comprehension and vocabulary. There are five reading sections on the SAT exam, compared to four on the ACT.
Science Section
There is no part on the SAT to evaluate a candidate's scientific ability. Science is covered in full in the ACT. There are forty questions in the science portion of the SAT. The part lasts for thirty-five minutes.
Questions about Command of Evidence
Both the ACT and SAT examinations have a section that evaluates a candidate's reading comprehension. There are more "command of evidence" questions on the SAT exam. The solutions to the earlier questions are necessary for these SAT problems.
Essay Requirement
For both the SAT and ACT, essay requirements are optional. An essay requirement from the ACT or SAT is often imposed by prestigious universities on applicants. These two tests unequivocally evaluate the candidate's linguistic proficiency.
Maths Section
There are two subsections in the maths portion of the SAT: one for calculator use and the other without. It accounts for around 50% of the SAT score. Arithmetic, geometry, algebra I and II, trigonometry, and data analysis are all included on the SAT test.
There is just one maths portion on the ACT, and you can try it using a calculator. It accounts for a mere 25% of the total ACT score. Arithmetic, algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry, probability, and statistics are all included in ACT maths problems.
Test Results
There are two distinct scoring systems used for the SAT and ACT tests. The ACT has a score range of 1 to 36, whereas the SAT has a range of 400 to 1600. The average of each section's points makes up the total score.
The best institutions overseas often require an ACT score of between 27 and 32, while a decent SAT total score is typically between 1200 and 1600. You may compare your results in the following ways with the use of ACT Vs. SAT score conversion:
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ACT |
SAT Composite Score |
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36 ACT Score |
1570 to 1600 SAT Score |
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35 ACT Score |
1530 to 1560 SAT Score |
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34 ACT Score |
1490 to 1520 SAT Score |
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33 ACT Score |
1450 to 1480 SAT Score |
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32 ACT Score |
1420 to 1440 SAT Score |
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31 ACT Score |
1390 to 1410 SAT Score |
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30 ACT Score |
1360 to 1380 SAT Score |
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29 ACT Score |
1330 to 1350 SAT Score |
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28 ACT Score |
1300 to 1320 SAT Score |
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27 ACT Score |
1260 to 1290 SAT Score |
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26 ACT Score |
1230 to 1250 SAT Score |
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25 ACT Score |
1200 to 1220 SAT Score |
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24 ACT Score |
1160 to 1190 SAT Score |
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23 ACT Score |
1130 to 1150 SAT Score |
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22 ACT Score |
1100 to 1120 SAT Score |
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21 ACT Score |
1060 to 1090 SAT Score |
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20 ACT Score |
1030 to 1050 SAT Score |
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19 ACT Score |
990 to 1020 SAT Score |
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18 ACT Score |
960 to 980 SAT Score |
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17 ACT Score |
920 to 950 SAT Score |
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16 ACT Score |
880 to 910 SAT Score |
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15 ACT Score |
830 to 870 SAT Score |
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14 ACT Score |
780 to 820 SAT Score |
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13 ACT Score |
730 to 770 SAT Score |
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12 ACT Score |
690 to 720 SAT Score |
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11 ACT Score |
650 to 680 SAT Score |
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10 ACT Score |
620 to 640 SAT Score |
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9 ACT Score |
590 to 610 SAT Score |
The candidates must pursue separate paths in order to register for any of the provided standardised examinations for undergraduate admissions. For further information, see the details below:
To register for the ACT exam, follow these steps:
Visit the official ACT website and log in.
Fill out the necessary information and finish all the processes.
Select the day and location for your ACT exam, then finish the registration process.
Pay the required amount and submit the registration to finish it.
The following procedures should be performed in order to register for the SAT exam:
Candidates must visit the College Board website and log in.
Start the SAT registration process and fill out all the required information one step at a time.
Before candidates reach the SAT test centre and the SAT test day selection process, there will be a few tasks to complete.
Applicants will be sent to the fee payment page after choosing the exam venue and date.
The SAT registration process is finished after the cost is paid.
Both SAT and ACT exams have very comparable study materials, fees, formats, and lengths of time. To improve their chances of getting into prestigious universities, many students choose to take both exams.
Exams like the SAT and ACT are very important. The student's personal preference will determine which exam they take—the ACT or the SAT. But more universities are realising that they require different entry periods. Over 1,900 four-year institutions have said that they would be test-blind or test-optional starting in the autumn of 2024, according to the National Centre for Fair and Open Testing. This is to guarantee that qualified students are accommodated appropriately.
Try not to waste any more time if you are still unsure about your entrance tests, the institutions you want, and other issues. Leap Scholar can assist you with the admissions process and offer advice on competitive examinations to help you get into international universities.
Q.1. Is the ACT or SAT exam easier?
For candidates who are not very engaged in science, the SAT may be simpler. There's a simpler reading portion on the SAT as well. For those who possess strong algebraic and data analytic skills, the SAT may be a suitable choice. The ACT is a great option if trigonometry, logs, and matrices are your strong suits.
Q.2. For Harvard, should I take the SAT or the ACT?
As part of the thorough application process that employs a whole-student approach, Harvard College will need candidates to submit their standardised test results. To fulfil the criteria for standardised testing, the College will accept either the SAT or the ACT.
Q.3. What distinguishes the ACT from the SAT?
While evaluating your preparedness to enrol in an undergraduate program is the goal of both exams, there are differences between them in terms of length, question count, sections, cost, and other fundamental components. While the ACT consists of English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing, the SAT consists of three components: Reading, Writing, Language, and Math. Although there isn't a dedicated scientific part on the SAT, there are questions about science in the reading and writing sections.
Q.4. Which test is longer, the ACT or the SAT?
Both the SAT exam and the ACT exam with a writing element are lengthier when the writing section is included. The SAT lasts for three hours. When the writing portion is included, the ACT exam lasts 3 hours and 35 minutes, as opposed to 2 hours and 55 minutes without it. English (45 minutes), Math (60 minutes), Science (35 minutes), Reading (35 minutes), and Writing (40 minutes) are the ACT sessions. Reading (65 minutes), Writing and Language (35 minutes), and Math (80 minutes) make up the SAT components.
Q.5. Do the SAT and ACT have negative scoring?
The SAT and ACT exams do not carry negative marks. Thus, it is preferable to respond to as many enquiries as you can. Don't, however, spend your time on just one query. Go to the next question and skip the ones that you find difficult to answer. Finally, if you still have time, try responding to it.
Q.6. Do all of the questions on the SAT and ACT have multiple-choice answers?
Only multiple-choice questions are available on the ACT, but both grid-in and multiple-choice questions are included on the SAT. Multiple-choice questions make up the bulk of the SAT's question type. Grid-ins occur in a few mathematics issues. Grid-in questions are ones that need you to apply formulas and answer them.
