Does the ACT or SAT Suit You Best?

The ACT and the SAT are the two major college admissions exams for U.S colleges and universities. If you are interested in pursuing a college degree, you will likely need to take one of these exams. So which one should you take?

Most colleges and universities accept either one, but the ACT may be slightly more accepted by the majority of 4-year programs. The major differences between the two exams include; the number of times they are administered per year, the topics they cover, and whether or not there is a penalty for right or wrong answers.

Let's get into the specifics of these three major differences.

As to the number of times they are administered per year, the SAT is usually administered a little more often than the ACT. In the 2006-2007 test year, the SAT will be offered 7 times while the ACT will only be offered 6. Clearly, this difference is really not much of a reason to choose one over the other. With a little planning, you should be able to fit taking either the ACT or SAT into your schedule.

The test topics between the ACT and SAT, however, are quite different. The tests are different enough that this may be the determining point for you.

The ACT covers trigonometry in the math section, while the SAT does not. The major sections of the ACT include the English, math, science, and reading sections with an optional essay. The SAT includes a critical reading, math, and writing section. An essay is mandatory with the SAT. However, the SAT does not include a science section. Therefore, if you are stronger in writing essays than in science, the SAT may be the test for you. Alternately, if science and more advanced math are your strong suits, then the ACT test may be a better fit for you.

Lastly, the SAT will give you a penalty for wrong answers. This means if you do not know the answer to a question, you may be better off leaving it blank than guessing. In contrast, you will not be penalized for wrong answers in the ACT.

As you can see, there are a number of differences between the ACT and SAT exams. It is best to analyze your strengths and weaknesses before deciding which of these college admission exams you plan to tackle. In addition, make sure to check the requirements of the colleges you are planning to apply to.