The age-old debate for high school students. Choosing between the SAT and the ACT is like trying to decide whether you want pizza or pasta. Both are delicious of course, but one might have a little extra something that makes it stand out to you. The ACT is quick, efficient, and all about speed. But in a world that often feels like it is in overdrive, maybe a little extra time to breathe and think is not such a bad thing when it comes to testing; and if you feel that way, perhaps the SAT is for you.
The Reading Comprehension Section:
The ACT throws a series of passages and poems at you with rapid fire questions, almost like you are in a literary hunger games. You’ll be speed reading and answering questions as if the clock is chasing you down with a knife. There’s little time to stop or second guess yourself, or wonder what the author might have meant with that metaphor about the moon. It’s all about racing through and getting those answers down as fast as you can.
On the flip side, the SAT seems to take a more measured approach. You’ve got more time to read and analyze passages which, compared to the ACT, feels almost luxurious (I mean, as much as an exam can at least). You get time to understand what you’re reading, consider the message, and maybe even reflect on why that poem about the moon even exists.
The Math Section:
The ACT math section can feel like someone blended every math concept you’ve learned since middle school into a smoothie and handed it to you with a stopwatch. There is zero time for deep contemplation, just solve the problem quickly and keep moving.
The SAT, on the other hand, allows you to work through problems with the kind of thoughtfulness you’d bring to a math final or midterm. It allows for a careful analysis of each question, making you feel more confident in your answers.
The Science Section:
If the ACT did not make you feel rushed already, try adding in an extra section. The science section is unique to the ACT, though in recent years it has become optional. It tests your ability to use scientific reasoning to analyze many different types of data, not specific to a certain field of science.
The Grammar Section:
The ACT version feels a bit like someone handed you a list of basic grammar rules and asked you to apply them as quickly as possible. You’ll be editing sentences and fixing punctuation under pressure like David Bowie. However, it can sometimes feel like you’re in a race against time when trying to decide where the comma goes.
Meanwhile, the SAT is like a friendly grammar quiz from your favorite English teacher at the end of the quarter designed to boost your grade. It doesn’t judge you for knowing the difference between “its” and “it’s.” The questions are framed in more real-world contexts, like editing an important research paper, because who doesn’t feel academic when they’re fixing arguments about whether cereal or milk goes in first?
In the grand scheme of things, the SAT is more like sitting down for a nice cup of coffee at your favorite cafe, rather than chugging an energy drink while trying to dodge traffic. The SAT gives you a little more time to think and a little less pressure to speed through it. Both will get you where you need to go, but one does it with a little more time and a lot less stress. When it comes down to it, if you’re looking for a test that allows you to show off your intellect at a comfortable pace, you might find that the SAT is the more relaxed, right choice.
