2. WHAT’S THE SAME? WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
The SAT & ACT are both standardized college entrance exams administered throughout the school year. They both test substantially the same skills and content.
WHAT’S THE SAME?
 Colleges accept both equally.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 Students can score better on one or the other, despite the major similarities between the two tests.

3. READING WHAT’S THE SAME? WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 Both test passage-based reading skills.
 Vocabulary is less important than ever.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 The ACT tests advanced graphical literacy through the Science section, while the SAT includes less complex graphs and tables throughout all sections.

4. GRAMMAR WHAT’S THE SAME? WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 The ACT English and SAT Writing sections test conventions of standard written English.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 Hardly anything, unless you count the SAT graphs.

5. MATH WHAT’S THE SAME? WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 Both test an array of concepts from arithmetic, algebra, statistics, geometry, and trigonometry.
 Problem solving and conceptual understanding matter most.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 The SAT includes a No-Calculator section.
 Each test emphasizes different topics at the upper range of difficulty.

6. ESSAY WHAT’S THE SAME? WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 Each test provides a timed assignment graded on different aspects of writing and analysis.
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 The ACT essay is persuasive, while the SAT essay is analytical in nature.

7. SCORING WHAT’S THE SAME? WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 Both calculate raw scores, which are converted to scaled scores based on the testing population.
 No penalties for wrong answers on either test!
WHAT’S DIFFERENT?
 Each test uses a different scale for scores.
 Colleges may consider superscores for one or both tests.

8. ACT SCORING

9. SAT SCORING

10. SCORE POLICIES ALL SCORES REQUIRED FOR REVIEW SCORE CHOICE SUPERSCORE
 Only send the SAT or ACT scores you want schools to see. Send by test date, not by section.
SUPERSCORE
Best E + M + R + S
Best EBRW + M

11. PSAT SCORING

12. NMS SELECTION INDEX

13. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?
 More emphasis on reading speed, science reasoning, and graphical literacy.
 Reading contributes more than 50% to total score.
 More emphasis on mental math and problem solving, and critical reasoning.
 Math contributes 50% to total score.

14. WHY DO THEY MATTER?

15.  College admissions
 College scholarship
 College choice
 NCAA eligibility

16. WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT THEM?
 Commit to the form of test preparation that works best for you.
 Arrive ready to earn your best scores when it counts!
 Take the highest quality practice tests you can, and learn from each one.

17. July** August September October October November December December
PLANNING
July**
August
September
October
October
November
December
December
February
March
April
May
June
June