In my last article, I mentioned that the SAT and ACT are fundamentally very similar, but they do have some small (and potentially important) differences. Last time I discussed the difference in the material covered. This time I’ll talk about the different formats.

Format on the SAT vs the ACT

The ACT format is as follows:

• English: 75 questions, 45 minutes
• Math: 60 questions, 60 minutes
• A short break
• Reading: 40 questions, 35 minutes
• Science: 40 questions, 35 minutes
• [OPTIONAL] Essay: 1 essay, 30 minutes

Total test time (not including breaks): 2 hours and 55 minutes without essay, 3 hours and 25 minutes with essay

Average total time for testing process (including breaks, time between sections, instructions at the beginning of the test, etc): 4 hours and 15 minutes without essay, 5 hours with essay

The sections are always in that exact order. The essay is optional (I discussed that in the last article).

This is the SAT format: 

• Reading: One 20-minute section, two 25-minute sections (total test time: 70 minutes)
• Math: One 20-minute section, two 25-minute sections (total test time: 70 minutes)
• Writing: One 10-minute multiple choice section, one 25-minute multiple choice section, one 25-minute essay section (total time: 60 minutes)
• Other: One 25-minute section with experimental questions that is ungraded
• Breaks: Three timed breaks, total time 11 minutes

Total test time: 3 hours and 45 minutes

Average total time for testing process: 4 hours and 30 minutes

The essay section is always the first section of the test. And the 10-minute writing section is always the last section. (Marathon runners always talk about how the worst part of the 26.2-mile race is the last 0.2 miles. That’s how I felt during the last 10-minute section of the SAT.)

Besides that, there’s no consistency or predictability to it. The sections are jumbled up in different orders every time you take the test. Actually, even different test-takers in the same room will be taking different sections at the same time.

Which is better?

I don’t know about you. But I sure prefer the ACT format. Look at the differences:

• The SAT has more test time.
• The SAT has an experimental section that they don’t even grade you on (it’s just to try out questions for future SATs). Sure, it’s a level playing field because everyone has to do it, but I don’t want to be in that room for extra time doing the College Board a favor.
• The sections are shorter–in my opinion, when you’re changing subjects that quickly, it’s harder to “get into a groove.”
• The ACT is predictable–you know when you’ll take each section. In the SAT, not only are the sections in jumbled up order, they’re also all different lengths. It’s disorienting.
• The essay for the ACT is optional. If you’re not good at writing essays, you don’t have to do it.

So I have to hand it to the ACT for having a more student-friendly format.

I’ll be continuing this series with more differences between the SAT and ACT, so come back to learn more.

Links to other articles:

SAT or ACT? Part 1