SAT
vs
ACT
SAT vs ACT: what is different, and which is harder?
Side by side
SAT vs ACT
| SAT | ACT | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Digital SAT (computer-based, adaptive) | Computer, at a test centre (outside the U.S.) |
| Duration | ~2 hours 14 minutes | 2 hours 5 minutes (+ optional Science, Writing) |
| Sections | Reading & Writing · Math | English · Math · Reading (+ optional Science) |
| Score range | 400 – 1600 | 1 – 36 (Composite from English, Math, Reading) |
| Test administered by | College Board | ACT, Inc. |
| Best suited to | High-school students (grades 10–12) applying to U.S. undergraduate programmes. | High-school students targeting U.S. universities who are quick thinkers and strong in science. |
Which one fits you?
The honest answer
SAT Choose SAT if…
- You want more time per question: about 71 seconds in Reading & Writing and 95 seconds in Math.
- You are strong at close reading and reasoning from evidence and dislike being hurried.
- You are comfortable with an adaptive digital test, where the second module depends on how the first went.
- You want the built-in Desmos calculator throughout Math.
ACT Choose ACT if…
- You work quickly and decisively: about 42 seconds per English question, 67 seconds in Math and Reading.
- You prefer a linear, non-adaptive test where every question carries the same weight and the pace is predictable.
- You are strong in science and reading charts: add the optional Science section for a STEM score.
- You are comfortable with a wider maths range (the ACT adds basic trigonometry).
Neither is “easier” for everyone: SAT questions demand deeper reasoning, the ACT demands speed. The reliable way to choose is to sit one timed paper of each, put both scores on one scale with the official table below, and go with the higher one.
Official concordance
Convert ACT ↔ SAT scores
From the 2018 ACT/SAT Concordance Tables published jointly by ACT and College Board, still the only official tables.
Read it as equal rank, not a prediction: a concorded score does not tell you what you would score on the other test. Do not combine section scores from the two tests into one superscore. ACT and College Board have not published separate tables for the Digital SAT or the enhanced ACT; the 2018 tables remain the official reference.
Full table
| ACT | SAT | SAT range |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1590 | 1570–1600 |
| 35 | 1540 | 1530–1560 |
| 34 | 1500 | 1490–1520 |
| 33 | 1460 | 1450–1480 |
| 32 | 1430 | 1420–1440 |
| 31 | 1400 | 1390–1410 |
| 30 | 1370 | 1360–1380 |
| 29 | 1340 | 1330–1350 |
| 28 | 1310 | 1300–1320 |
| 27 | 1280 | 1260–1290 |
| 26 | 1240 | 1230–1250 |
| 25 | 1210 | 1200–1220 |
| 24 | 1180 | 1160–1190 |
| 23 | 1140 | 1130–1150 |
| 22 | 1110 | 1100–1120 |
| 21 | 1080 | 1060–1090 |
| 20 | 1040 | 1030–1050 |
| 19 | 1010 | 990–1020 |
| 18 | 970 | 960–980 |
| 17 | 930 | 920–950 |
| 16 | 890 | 880–910 |
| 15 | 850 | 830–870 |
| 14 | 800 | 780–820 |
| 13 | 760 | 730–770 |
| 12 | 710 | 690–720 |
| 11 | 670 | 650–680 |
| 10 | 630 | 620–640 |
| 9 | 590 | 590–610 |
Source: ACT/SAT Concordance Tables (ACT, Inc. and College Board, 2018)
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Frequently asked
SAT vs ACT
Is the ACT or the SAT harder?
It depends on how you work. The ACT gives much less time (about 42 seconds per English question against about 71 in SAT Reading & Writing), so slower test-takers find it harder. The SAT is adaptive with more multi-step reasoning, so fast but careless test-takers can find it harder. Taking both and comparing concorded scores is the only way to know.
Do US universities prefer the SAT over the ACT?
No. Universities state explicitly that they accept both equally. What matters is your percentile, not which test it came from.
Can I take both and submit the higher score?
Yes. But preparing for both at once usually leaves you mediocre at each: diagnose both, then commit to one. College Board also advises against combining ACT and SAT section scores into one superscore.
How do ACT scores convert to SAT?
Use the official 2018 ACT/College Board concordance, in the conversion section on this page. For example, ACT 32 corresponds to SAT 1430 (range 1420–1440). It shows equal rank, not a prediction of what you would score on the other test.
Where should I start?
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