SAT vs. ACT At a Glance Comparison
| Features | SAT | ACT * |
| Format | Digital everywhere for everyone (paper for students with related accommodations) | National testing is paper in most places with limited availability of the online version. |
| Length | About 2 hours (23% shorter than traditional ACT) | Traditional ACT: About 3 hours Updated ACT (without the Science section): About 2 hours. Available for National testers starting in spring 2025 and state and district testers starting in fall 2025. |
| Timing | 98 questions/134 minutes (1 minute 22 seconds per question—67% more time per question) | Traditional ACT: 215 questions/175 minutes (49 seconds per question) Updated ACT (without the Science section): information is unavailable |
| Reading Passages | Always short, with one question each | Traditional ACT: Always long, with 10 questions each Updated ACT (without the Science section): information is unavailable |
| Separate science section | No (science reasoning is measured across test sections) | Traditional ACT: Yes Updated ACT: the Science section is optional |
| Built-in math reference sheet | Yes | Traditional ACT: No Updated ACT: information is unavailable |
| Built-in graphing calculator | Yes | Paper ACT: No Online ACT: Yes |
| Registration fee | $68 | Traditional ACT: $69 (no essay) Updated ACT: information is unavailable |
| Additional score reports | $14 for each recipient, including your choice of scores | $19 for each recipient and each score |
| Official practice | FREE in partnership with Khan Academy®—a not-for-profit. 6 free digital SAT practice tests directly in our testing app, Bluebook. | $159– $849 in partnership with Kaplan—a for-profit. 1 free downloadable practice test. ACT has yet to release their plans for official practice for the upcoming changes to the online test or for the updated ACT test format. |
Here’s what else you should know about the ACT*
Based on a recent announcement, by fall 2025 the ACT will have twelve different formats.
ACT announced their changes as enhancements that offer students flexibility and choice—online or paper, with or without science, with or without writing. Choice may sound appealing, but it might be hard to know which version to choose, which version will be preferred by which colleges, and which version will be available in your area, not to mention how to practice and prepare for an exam that has so many variations. Students who may have previously preferred the ACT because science was a particular area of strength and the science section counted toward the composite score will now be able to choose an optional science test to show what they know, but that science test will be scored separately and will not count towards the composite ACT score.
So, what’s the bottom line?
There’s a lot that’s true of both the SAT and ACT—both can help you stand out on college applications, access scholarships, and plan for your future. When comparing the two, many students find that the SAT is their best test. If you’re still not sure it’s right for you, consider taking a free digital SAT practice test to try it out.
*Based on publicly released ACT information as of August 2024.
