[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-266751-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-266751-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","act-vs-sat-whats-good-for-you","ACT vs. SAT - What’s Good for YOU?","","A practical comparison guide helps students choose between two major U.S. college entrance exams by weighing structure, timing, sections, content demands, and scoring. It highlights key differences in reading and writing complexity, emphasis on foundational math versus science knowledge, and the presence or absence of a science section. The guide also contrasts offered test dates, optional essay duration and requirements, and penalty policies, encouraging students to take sample practice tests to determine best fit.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/act-vs-sat-whats-good-for-you/266751/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/act-vs-sat-whats-good-for-you/266751.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Ben Jamin","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-14",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"How can a student decide whether to take the ACT or the SAT?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Colleges accept both, so the guide recommends taking a practice test of each to see which one leads to better results for the individual student.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What are the main differences in test sections and content?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"SAT has three sections plus an optional essay, focusing on reading, writing/language, and math, with complex reading structure and foundational math emphasized. ACT has four sections including a Science section, plus an optional writing component, and questions tend to be more straightforward while assessing content knowledge.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How do scoring and penalties work for the SAT and ACT?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"SAT uses an aggregate 400–1600 score based on two 200–800 sections. ACT uses a composite 1–36 based on the four sections, with an optional essay scored 0–12. Both tests state there are no penalties for wrong answers.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},266751,1789411204,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":22,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":30},2336478466772,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","ACT vs. SAT  \nWhat’s Good for YOU?  \nHow do you determine which college entrance exam to take? Colleges will accept both, but which will YOU be more successful in taking? Try a practice test of each to determine which option would be better for YOU.  \nPractice Tests  \nhttp://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-­‐practice-­‐test  [http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/index.html](http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/index.html)  \nGeneral information about each test  \n[http://www.collegeboard.org](http://www.collegeboard.org)   [http://www.actstudent.org](http://www.actstudent.org)  \n\n|  | SAT\u003Cbr>(Scholastic Aptitude Test)\u003Cbr>(new structure – Spring 2016) | ACT\u003Cbr>(American College Test) |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Length | 3 hours (+ instructions & breaks) | 2 hours 55 minutes (+ instructions & breaks) |\n| Sections | Three sections:\u003Cbr>-­‐ Reading\u003Cbr>-­‐ Writing & Language\u003Cbr>-­‐ Math\u003Cbr>-­‐ Writing/Essay (optional; adds 50 minutes)\u003Cbr>Can take just SUBJECT tests | Four sections:\u003Cbr>-­‐ English\u003Cbr>-­‐ Math (some Trig)\u003Cbr>-­‐ Reading\u003Cbr>-­‐ Science\u003Cbr>-­‐ Writing (optional, adds 30 minutes) |\n| Content | -­‐Questions will require multiple steps to get an answer.\u003Cbr>-­‐The reading passages will include complex structure & vocabulary.\u003Cbr>-­‐Foundational math skills will be more important.\u003Cbr>-­‐Reasoning and critical thinking skills will be paramount. | -­‐Assesses content knowledge\u003Cbr>-­‐Contains Science section (SAT does not)\u003Cbr>-­‐Questions tend to be more straightforward |\n| Scoring | Aggregate score 400-­‐1600\u003Cbr>2 sections (200-­‐800 each) | Composite score 1-­‐36 based on average of 4 sections (English , Math, Reading, Science)\u003Cbr>Score 0-­‐12 for optional essay |\n| Penalties | No penalties for wrong answers | No penalties for wrong answers |\n| When It Is Offered | Seven times per year:\u003Cbr>January March May June October November December | Six times per year:\u003Cbr>February April June September October December |\n| Should I do\u003Cbr>writing/essay\u003Cbr>portion? | List of colleges that require essay portion of test -­‐-­‐ [https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/](https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/)[ ](https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register/)college-­‐essay-­‐policies | See if YOUR college requires Writing\u003Cbr>[https://actapps.act.org/writPrefRM/](https://actapps.act.org/writPrefRM/) |\n| 2015-­‐16 Cost | $43 (+$11.50 for optional writing) | $39.50 (+$17 for optional writing) |","cbCaivKEKlsqLPlM","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaivKEKlsqLPlM","pdf",61414,"English","# Practice Tests\n## General information about each test\n## Side-by-side comparison (SAT vs. ACT)\n## Test dates and cost\n## Optional writing/essay decision","[{\"question\":\"How can a student decide whether to take the ACT or the SAT?\",\"answer\":\"Colleges accept both, so the guide recommends taking a practice test of each to see which one leads to better results for the individual student.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the main differences in test sections and content?\",\"answer\":\"SAT has three sections plus an optional essay, focusing on reading, writing/language, and math, with complex reading structure and foundational math emphasized. ACT has four sections including a Science section, plus an optional writing component, and questions tend to be more straightforward while assessing content knowledge.\"},{\"question\":\"How do scoring and penalties work for the SAT and ACT?\",\"answer\":\"SAT uses an aggregate 400–1600 score based on two 200–800 sections. ACT uses a composite 1–36 based on the four sections, with an optional essay scored 0–12. Both tests state there are no penalties for wrong answers.\"}]","ACT vs. SAT - What’s Good for YOU? | PDF"]