Students, if you are preparing to study for the SAT and ACT near Dallas in 2024, reach out to Total College Prep. We can help you prepare for success sitting for both tests, including helping you determine whether you have sound reasons to choose to take one over the other.
Despite what you may have heard from your peers or mentors, no colleges within the USA prefer that applicants have taken the ACT over the SAT or vice versa. With this information in mind, it is wise to choose the test that will give you the best opportunity to demonstrate your strengths.
First, you should know that the ACT and SAT are not held on the same date. The SAT will be digital beginning in March of this year, which may be enough of a reason to focus your preparations on this test. If you struggle with testing on paper (even if only due to issues with the legibility of your handwriting), opting for digital testing makes sense.
Secondly, you can choose to study and sit for both exams, wait for your scores, then submit the results that are higher.
Composition, Timing, and Duration of the SAT vs the ACT
The SAT lasts two hours and permits students 2/3 more time to answer each question compared to the ACT. The SAT may also be taken during the SAT School Day, at which time students may be asked to complete an optional essay section of the test.
The SAT is divided into two sections: a reading test containing 54 questions and a mathematics test containing 44 questions. While science is not measured in a separate test, students will have to rely on scientific logic and analysis throughout the test.
The ACT lasts three hours, and it is divided into a reading test containing 40 questions, an English section containing 75 questions, a mathematics test containing 60 questions, and a science test containing 40 questions. The ACT may likewise contain one additional essay section.
Because the SAT only asks students to answer 98 questions while the ACT asks them to answer 215, your speed of completion and mental fortitude are key aspects of your abilities to understand before you fully dive into your college prep studies.
Are You a “Great Test-Taker?”
If you are, then you are aware of your strength. You either enjoy test days or find them mentally invigorating. The ACT focuses on a student’s ability to recall information and complete a test rapidly. If you are a naturally great test-taker, the ACT may be the best opportunity for you to achieve a higher score.
If instead you prefer to demonstrate your ability to successfully tackle college classes and your upcoming career, the SAT will give you this opportunity. Because it does not focus on quizzing students on a litany of facts they have memorized, the SAT gives students a built-in graphing calculator and common math formulas to use as they take the test.
Your goal will be to show that you know how to use all the included information to solve problems rather than showing that you can absorb and recall facts, dates, and formulas.
The Takeaway
We have only begun to share the nuances of the SAT vs the ACT. To obtain guidance for your specific academic situation, personality, and cognitive strengths, please contact Total College Prep today. We will guide you in your test preparation, help you choose whether to focus on the ACT, SAT, or both, and equip you with the strategies you need to succeed in 2024.