Taking the SAT is the best way to show colleges you have the skills and knowledge they want most.
And because you have seven chances each year to test, more time for each question, and access to free practice tools, you'll see that the SAT offers advantages the ACT doesn't.
Find out other ways the SAT compares to the ACT* before taking your next step to plan for college.
Learn about the skills and knowledge tested on the SAT.
Features | SAT | ACT |
---|---|---|
Widely accepted | All U.S. colleges | All U.S. colleges |
Measures |
What students learn in high school What they need to succeed in college |
What students learn in high school |
Everyday math formulas provided | Yes | No |
Tests the vocabulary you’ll use | Yes | Yes |
Essay is optional | Yes | Yes |
Penalty for guessing | No | No |
Resources | SAT | ACT |
---|---|---|
Free daily practice questions | Yes, through the free Daily Practice for the SAT mobile app. | Yes |
Free personalized test practice | Yes, through Khan Academy®, with over 4,000 questions and video lessons. | No |
Multiple free practice tests | Yes, 8 downloadable practice tests with instant scoring. | No, only 1 practice test |
Mobile app that instantly scores paper tests | Yes, Daily Practice for the SAT. | No |
Schedule | SAT | ACT |
---|---|---|
Future test administration dates | 3 years | 2 years |
Regular registration deadline | About 4 weeks before test day. You pay a late fee for registering later. | About 5 weeks before test day. You pay a late fee for registering later. |
Late registration closes | About 11 days before test day | 20+ days before test day |
Test days | 7 times a year | 7 times a year |
Benefits and Rules | SAT | ACT |
---|---|---|
Test fees waived for eligible students | Yes | Yes |
Automatically unlocks all fee waiver benefits after one-time use | Yes | No |
Waivers cover late fees | Yes | No |
Score reports | Unlimited | 20 score reports |
Waived application fees at participating colleges | Yes | No |
Score services | Yes, either Question-and-Answer Service (QAS) or Student Answer Service (SAS) for SAT administrations | Yes, Test Information Release for 3 administrations |
A fee reduction for multiple-choice score verification or essay score verification | Yes | No |
Free applications to apply for financial aid from participating schools | Yes, students can use CSS Profile to apply for financial aid | No |
Expiration date | No | Expire end of August each year |
Structure and Timing | SAT | ACT |
---|---|---|
Testing time | 3 hours + 50-minute essay (optional) |
2 hours 55 minutes + 40-minute essay (optional) |
Structure | 3 tests + optional essay | 4 tests + optional writing test |
Number of questions | 154 | 215 |
Time per question | 1 minute, 10 seconds | 49 seconds |
Score range | Composite 400–1600 (SAT Essay: reported in 3 dimensions, each 2–8) | Composite 1–36 (writing domain scores: 2–12) |
Test components |
Reading Test Writing and Language Test Math Test |
Reading Test English Test Math Test Science Test |
*Based on publicly released ACT information as of September 26, 2018.