testing and prep

SAT v. ACT

The SAT and ACT are quintessential parts of the college application process and it's important to know the nature of both to choose the test that's best for you. Below is a comparative chart of the two tests and some other notable information.

SAT

ACT

Consists of reading, grammar, math and optional essay sections

Math section includes algebra 1 and 2, trigonometry, and geometry
Essays tests comprehension of source text

3 hours without essay, 3 hours and 50 min with essay
5 reading passages
Calculator only allowed on one math section
Graded on scale of 400-1600

Consists of English, math, science reasoning*, and optional essay sections

Math section includes algebra 1 and 2, geometry, trigonometry, and data analysis
Essay tests evaluation and analysis of issues

2 hours 55 min without essay, 3 hours 40 min with essay
4 reading passages
Calculator allowed on all sections
Graded on scale of 1-36

*Tests critical thinking skills, not specific scientific knowledge

Prep Resources

There are tons of test prep resources available online, including practice tests and testing tips by the official college board. Below is a collection of links to some helpful and informative test prep supplies.

Official SAT Practice Test (College Board, 2015)

Official ACT Practice Test (2015-2016)

5 official ACT practice tests (PDFs)

Some book companies to check out, all within a $15-30:

Barron's
Kaplan
The College Board's official SAT study guide
Kallis's SAT Pattern