How is ACT Different from SAT?

ACT and SAT are both standardized tests which are conducted to assess the knowledge and understanding of high school pass-outs applying for admissions abroad. Since most US universities and even Canadian universities prefer assessing international undergrads through ACT or SAT scores, it makes it mandatory for students to choose between ACT and SAT.  

ACT and SAT are very different from each other in terms of scoring, pattern, syllabus, testing modules and even mode of conduction. While ACT is a longer duration test, SAT has shortened its testing duration only recently in 2023 and has switched from offline mode to digital mode of testing. Check out New SAT Format 2023: Difference Between Old and New SAT Format 

ACT vs SAT Highlights 

What are ACT & SAT	Standardized Tests
Accepted for	Undergraduate admissions abroad
Accepted in Countries of	USA, Canada, Australia and the UK
Tests	High school knowledge
Major Subjects Tested	Math & English
How many attempts for ACT annually?	12
Total attempts for SAT annually	7
Assessments at universities	Made unbiased despite ACT or SAT score submission

How is ACT Different from SAT? 

Though both ACT and SAT are standardized tests aiming to assess high school student’s knowledge in various subjects of Maths and English, yet ACT varies greatly with the new Digital SAT exam which is set to conduct its first exam on March 11. Check out how ACT differs from SAT: 

• ACT assesses students in not just English and Maths like SAT, there are also sections of Sciences and an optional essay writing section as well. 
• ACT is conducted in offline mode while the new Digital SAT is going digital in March 2023, there are no more offline exams happening. 
• The ACT exam is conducted on paper while SAT Digital will be conducted on students’ own laptops, Chromebooks or iPads but with an internet connection at the  SAT’s test centre. 
• Though SAT Digital has reduced its test hour by an hour, ACT still has a longer duration of testing in comparison to SATs. 
• ACT has lesser 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.  
• While the ACT MCQs are marked on OMR sheets, there is meagre scope for making changes multiple times, in comparison to SAT Digital where responses can be altered. 
• 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 SAT moreover tests the student’s aptitude. 

So those international students who have confidence in the ACT syllabus more than SAT syllabus can opt for appearing for the ACT exam.  

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: 

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 INR 4,835.25 (without writing)  INR INR 6,754 (with writing)	SAT Registration Fee: INR 8,608.38
Exam Duration	3 hours 35 minutes	2 hours 14 minutes
Mode of Conduction	Pen and paper	Digital
Exam Syllabus	English Math Science Reading Writing (Optional)	Reading & Writing (RW) Maths
Overall Score	1 - 36	400 - 1600
Scores Released	Within 2 weeks	Within 10 - 13 days

Read more about: 

• ACT Prep Tips 
• SAT Prep Tips 

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 test 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 ACT is considered equivalent to 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 

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.