The SAT* and ACT are two distinctly different college entrance exams, both of which are accepted by every college and university in the United States. Therefore, it is up to each student to choose the test that he/she feels will best represent his/her skills in the college admissions process. The following information will help students understand the differences between the two tests and further clarify the structure and content of each test.
SAT/ACT ONE-HOUR DIAGNOSTIC
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INFORMATION SHEETS
SAT vs. ACT - This will describe the differences in the two most popular college entrance exams.
SAT/ACT Score Conversion Chart - This will convert a SAT score to an ACT score and vice versa.
SAT/ACT Calendar - This calendar has all of the dates of the upcoming tests along with registration deadlines.
SAT LAYOUT
The SAT has 10 sections in it: 3 Math, 3 Reading, 3 Writing and 1 Experimental. The following chart helps you understand the timing on the SAT:
Within the 3 scored sections of the Math part you will see the following:
- One 25 minute section with 20 Multiple Choice questions
- One 25 minute section with 18 questions:
- 8 Multiple Choice questions
- 10 Grid-In questions
- One 20 minute section with 16 Multiple Choice questions
Within the 3 scored sections of the Reading part you will see the following:
- One 25 minute section with 24 questions:
- 8 Sentence Completions
- 4 Short Critical Reading Passage questions
- 12 Critical Reading questions from 1 passage
- One 25 minute section with 24 questions:
- 5 Sentence Completions
- 4 Short Critical Reading Passage questions
- 15 Critical Reading questions from 2 distinct passages
- One 20 minute section with 19 questions:
- 6 Sentence Completions
- 13 Critical Reading questions from 2 related passage
- 4-5 questions relating to Passage 1
- 4-5 questions relating to Passage 2
- 2-4 questions asking you to compare/contrast the two passages
Within the 3 scored sections of the Writing part you will see the following:
- One 25 minute section with 1 Essay
- One 25 minute section with 35 questions:
- 11 Improving Sentences questions
- 18 Identifying Sentence Errors questions
- 6 Improving Paragraphs questions
- One 10 minute section with 14 Improving Sentences questions
ACT LAYOUT
The ACT has 4 sections in it: 1 Math, 1 Reading, 1 English and 1 Science and an optional Writing Section. The following chart helps you understand the timing on the ACT:
Within the English section you will see the following:
- One 45 minute section
- 75 Multiple Choice questions
- 50% Content
- 50% Rhetorical Skills
- Punctuation, Grammar and Usage, and Sentence Structure are tested
- 75 Multiple Choice questions
Within the Math section you will see the following:
- One 60 minute section
- 60 Multiple Choice questions
- 7% Trigonometry
- 23% Geometry
- 30% Intermediate Algebra, Coordinate Geometry
- 40% Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra
- 60 Multiple Choice questions
Within the Science part you will see the following:
- One 35 minute section
- 40 Multiple Choice questions
- 7 Science Passages
- 5-7 questions following each passage
- 40 Multiple Choice questions
Within the Reading section you will see the following:
- One 35 minute section
- 40 Multiple Choice questions
- 4 Passages with 10 questions each
- 1 Social Science
- 1 Natural Science
- 1 Humanities
- 1 Prose/Narration
- 40 Multiple Choice questions
Within the optional Writing section you will see the following:
- One 30 minute section with 1 Essay
