ACT
GENERAL LAYOUT
~Four sections: English, Math, Reading, Science (but Science is optional and not required by the vast majority of colleges)
~Can be taken online or on paper
~171 questions in 2 hours 55 minutes
~Scores are determined by the number of questions answered correctly in each section
MATH
~Only multiple-choice questions
~Calculator allowed on all questions
~Desmos is available for the online version of the test
~Covers a wider range of content than the SAT, including advanced topics such as logarithms, graphs of trig functions, combinations and permutations
READING
~Passages tend to be more engaging and easier to understand
~Students will answer several questions on each of four multi-paragraph passages
~Does not include difficult vocabulary
ENGLISH
~Tests grammar, punctuation, diction, writing conventions, clarity and efficiency of expression
SCIENCE
~Tests the ability to understand experiments and interpret graphs and tables
~Mostly a test of a student's ability to think logically in a scientific context but does contain a few questions about a student's outside knowledge (such as about the pH scale or which planet is the biggest)
SAT
GENERAL LAYOUT
~Four sections: Two Reading/Writing Modules and two Math Modules
~online format only
~98 questions in 2 hours 24 minutes
~"weighted" scoring (all questions are not worth the same number of points)
MATH
~Has both multiple-choice and non-multiple-choice questions
~Personal calculator and/or Desmos allowed on all questions
~Covers a narrower range of content, with more emphasis on algebra
READING & WRITING
~Reading passages tend to be more difficult and less engaging to the average student
~Passages can be very dense, but they're also quite short (perhaps two to four sentences)
~Also tests grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary
SCIENCE
~Does not contain a dedicated Science section but will require the student to interpret charts and graphs on the science-themed passages in the Reading/Writing modules