Students across the country, particularly high school juniors, stress about whether the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing (ACT) is the best standardized test to take to achieve their goals as they seek college opportunities. These tests play a key role in college admissions and qualifying for merit-based scholarships, according to princetonreview.com. With so much at stake, students often question whether one test is “better” than the other. In reality, each student learns differently, and the best test is individual to the test-taker, according to huntingtonhelps.com.
Understanding the structure of both tests helps students select the exam that best suits their learning style. The SAT consists of a Math section, a Reading section, and a Writing section. The test allows students 64 minutes to complete the 54 questions in the Reading and Writing sections, and 70 minutes to answer the 44 questions in the Math section. The SAT divides the Math and English sections into two equal-length modules, according to satsuite.collegeboard.org. Additionally, the second module is adaptive, and the difficulty of its questions depends on performance in the first module. There are only two possible second modules, including an easy module and a hard module. The test caps the potential for a high score if a student receives the easy second module, even if they score perfectly on it, according to test-ninjas.com. The SAT scale is from 400 to 1600, and the test is completely digital, according to satsuite.collegeboard.org. Jane Westbrook ’27 shared why the SAT best fits her learning style.
“I liked the SAT because I am comfortable with the digital format and timing,” Jane said. “I can use my scrap paper to work out problems and then choose my final answer digitally, allowing me to stay organized.”
In contrast, the ACT offers optional Science and Writing sections in addition to the required English, Math, and Reading sections. The ACT permits 35 minutes to answer 50 question the English section, 50 minutes for the 45 questions in the math section, and 40 minutes to answer the 36 questions in the Reading section. The optional Science section contains 40 questions and an allotted time of 40 minutes to complete the questions. Finally, the optional writing portion allows students 40 minutes to write one essay in response to a given prompt, analyzing a complex social issue and developing their own argument. The optional sections allow students to showcase their strengths, according to act.org. ACT scores range from 1 to 36, and students can choose to take the test digitally or on paper, according to citizensbank.com. Callie Zisson ’27 spoke about her experience choosing to take the ACT.
“I found that the ACT made me feel more comfortable, particularly because I can take it on paper, simulating a school environment that is helpful to me,” Callie said. “I am also able to display my strength in English skills because there is both an English and a Reading section.”
These tests give students opportunities to showcase their strengths in different ways to colleges. Notably, these exams put immense pressure on students, causing serious health issues. During exams, cortisol levels, a chemical marker of stress, rise by an average of 15 percent. This spike in cortisol, combined with heightened anxiety, can affect exam performance, according to edutopia.org. Mr. Scott Johns, a Peterson’s product manager, offered recommendations for finding the right test for individual students, according to The New York Times.
“Take each test in as realistic conditions as possible, with no distractions, timing yourself,” Mr. Johns said, according to The New York Times. “Your score is a benchmark, but also think about how you felt about taking each test. Did you understand the format? Did one experience cause more stress than the other?”
Featured Image by Liv Hegarty ’27
