Both the ACT and SAT Tests are used for college admissions. Here are a few facts on each to help you compare and contrast them...
| The ACT Test |
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The SAT Test |
| » Administered 6 times per year. |
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» Administered 7 times per year. |
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| » English, Math, Science, and Reading Sections. |
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» Critical Reading, Math and Writing Sections (+ one experimental section). |
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| » Math is up to Trigonometry. |
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» Math does not cover Trigonometry, no Science section. |
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| » An essay is optional. |
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» An essay is mandatory. |
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| » No penalty for wrong answers. |
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» There is a penalty for wrong answers. |
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| » Considered more of a curiculum based test. |
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» Considered more of a critical-thinking test & there is more emphasis on vocabulary and sentence completion questions. |
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| » The ACT is scored from 1-36 per subject. An average score is calculated for a composite score. 36 is the highest composite score. |
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» The SAT is scored from 200-800 with 800 being the highest score. The essay is scored from 2-12 and the writing section is scored from 20-80. |
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| » You may choose which schools receive your score and if you've taken the test more than once, which score(s) the school will see. |
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» The score report includes all SAT scores for the student. |