1. PSAT, SAT, and ACT
Information and More

2. The PSAT Structure 4 Sections Testing Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Evidence-Based Reading
60 Minutes – 47 MC Questions
Writing (Part of the Reading Score)
35 Minutes – 44 MC Questions
2 Sections of Math
25 Minute: No Calculator – 17 Questions
45 Minute: Calculator – 31 Questions
Testing Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Test Date: October 16th 2019
Score Range: 320 – 1520 (160 – 760 for each category)
For a Free PSAT: Search for PSAT Practice Test and find one that links to College Board

3. SAT Structure Testing Time: 5 Sections
Evidence-Based Reading
65 Minutes – 52 MC Questions
Writing (Part of the Reading Score)
35 Minutes – 44 MC Questions
2 Sections of Math
25 Minute: No Calculator – 20 Questions
55 Minute: Calculator – 38 Questions
Essay (Optional)
50 Minutes
Testing Time:
3 hours 20 minutes (with Experimental Section)
4 hours 10 minutes (with Essay and Experimental Section)

4. SAT Scoring No Penalty for Incorrect Answers Score Range: 400 - 1600
By Sections
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing:
Math:
Essay: 2 - 8
Now scored independently
3 Subscores
Reading: 2 -8
Analysis: 2 – 8
Writing: 2 - 8
No Penalty for Incorrect Answers

5. The ACT Structure 5 Sections Scoring Composite: 1 – 36
English – 45 Minutes – 75 Questions
Math – 60 Minutes – 60 Questions
Reading – 35 Minutes – 40 Questions
Science – 35 Minutes – 40 Questions
Experimental Section – 30 Minutes
Essay (Optional) – 40 Minutes
Scoring
Composite: 1 – 36
Each section is scored 1 – 36
English, Math, Reading, and Science scores are added together and then divided by 4 (the average of the 4 sections)
Essay does not factor into the composite score
No Penalty for an Incorrect Question

6. The ACT and the SAT
In 2012, the ACT began having more test takers than the SAT. Over the past 6 the ACT has only increased the margin. In 2015, the College Board in response redesigned their test to be more competitive with the ACT.
The first redesigned was the PSAT in 2015 with the first SAT in 2016.
ACT also changed the ACT in 2015 with a complete overall to the Writing portion as well as other changes across all sections.
Both the College Board and the ACT Company are competing for a chance to be educational standard for K – 12.
The College Board changed the SAT to be similar to the ACT. Essentially focusing on more high school related information rather than “testing tricks”.

7. The Essay (Should I take it?)
List of Colleges Requiring the Essay (First up SAT and ACT)
Soka University of America (CA)
ACT Only
VanderCook College of Music (IL)
Berry College (CA)
University of Mary Hardin Baylor (TX)
Martin Luther College (MN)
University of California:
Rhode Island College (RI)
Davis
United States Military Academy (NY)
Irvine
University of Evansville (IN)
Los Angeles
University of Montana Western (MT)
Merced
Riverside
San Diego
Santa Barbara
Santa Cruz

8. Want to look up scores for colleges?
Go to bigfuture.collegeboard.org
For Comparing 3 Schools at once
bigfuture.collegeboard.org/compare-colleges

9. Contact Information
Phone:
SAT: collegeboard.org
ACT: actstudent.org

10. Questions