High school students are often perplexed with the question: Which is better, SAT or ACT? Both the SAT and ACT serve as measures for colleges and universities to assess aspiring students, despite the resemblances, a few critical variations exist between them.
There's a significant difference between SAT and ACT test format. The SAT is split into two parts: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, along with Math. Conversely, the ACT is divided into English, Math, Reading, and Science sections.
Students' strengths and weaknesses determine which test is easier, the SAT or ACT. The SAT may be more suitable for students with strong reading and writing skills. On the other hand, students with a knack for science may perform better on the ACT.
The SAT and ACT also diverge in terms of scoring scales. The SAT scoring scale stretches from 400 to 1600, whereas the ACT scores ranges from 1 to 36.
SAT and ACT test subjects also noticeably diverge. Reasoning, problem-solving and data analysis are the focus of the SAT math section, whereas the ACT math section spans a wide range ACT test format of topics from pre-algebra to trigonometry.
Deciding which test to take - SAT or ACT - is ultimately a matter of personal choice. Both tests are accepted by most colleges and universities, so pick the exam that best represents your abilities. In the end, what matters most is not which test students take, but how well they do on it.