SAT vs ACT
Digital SAT versus ACT
SAT Structure
2 hours 14 minutes
98 questions
Reading and Writing Module 1
27 questions | 32 min
Reading and Writing Module 2
27 questions | 32 min
— 10 min break —
Math Module 1
22 questions | 35 min
Math Module 2
22 questions | 35 min
SAT Specifics
Format
Computer
Section Adaptive
Performance on Module 1 determines the difficulty level of Module 2
Question Format
- Multiple Choice: 4 answer choices
- Student Produced Responses: Math Section only
Time Per Question
- Reading & Writing – 71 seconds
- Math – 95 seconds
Scoring – 1600
- Reading and Writing: 200 – 800
- Math: 200 – 800
- Total Score: 400 – 1600
No Essay Test
ACT Structure - effective 9/2025
2 hours 5 minutes
131 questions (without Science)
English
50 questions | 35 min
Math
45 questions | 50 min
Reading
36 questions | 40 min
— Short break between each of the above sections–
Science – OPTIONAL*
Additional 40 questions | 40 min.
*May be required by some colleges/programs
ACT Specifics
Enhanced Format
Paper/Pencil or Computer testing
*We strongly recommend the paper and pencil test!
Increasing Question Difficulty
For Math Section only
Question Format
Multiple Choice:
- 4 answer choices on every section
Time Per Question
- English – 42 seconds
- Math – 66 seconds
- Reading – 66 seconds
- Science (optional) – 60 seconds
Scoring – 36
- English 1 – 36
- Math 1 – 36
- Reading 1 – 36
- Composite Score 1 – 36 (average of first 3 sections)
- Science (optional) 1 – 36
Optional Writing Test – not required by most colleges
- 1 Essay Prompt with 3 Perspectives
- 40 minutes / Scoring 2 – 12
Check out the approved ACT/SAT Concordance Tables to compare your scores!
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