SAT vs ACT
While most colleges will accept scores from either the SAT or the ACT, the tests have different designs and, in some ways, measure different skills. All HPA juniors take both tests to gain first- hand knowledge and decide which test to continue taking as a senior. The first chart compares the major differences between the tests and the second chart compares the scores.
|
SAT (without Writing section) |
ACT (without Writing section) |
|
No science section |
Science reasoning section |
|
No trigonometry section |
Math sections include trigonometry |
|
Vocabulary emphasized |
Vocabulary less important |
|
Non multiple-choice questions included |
Entirely multiple choice |
|
Guessing penalty |
No guessing penalty |
|
No English grammar |
English grammar tested |
|
Math accounts for 50% of your score |
Math accounts for 25% of your scores |
|
Questions go from easy to hard in most sections |
Easy and hard questions mixed within sections |
|
Students must send all of their SAT scores to colleges |
Student may choose which ACT scores to send to colleges |
|
ACT Score |
Approximate Old SAT Score |
Approximate New SAT Score |
|
36 |
1600 |
2400 |
|
35 |
1560-1590 |
2340 |
|
34 |
1510-1550 |
2260 |
|
33 |
1460-1500 |
2190 |
|
32 |
1410-1450 |
2130 |
|
31 |
1360-1400 |
2040 |
|
30 |
1320-1350 |
1980 |
|
29 |
1280-1310 |
1920 |
|
28 |
1240-1270 |
1860 |
|
27 |
1210-1230 |
1820 |
|
26 |
1170-1200 |
1760 |
|
25 |
1130-1160 |
1700 |
|
24 |
1090-1120 |
1650 |
|
23 |
1060-1080 |
1590 |
|
22 |
1020-1050 |
1530 |
|
21 |
980-1010 |
1500 |
|
20 |
940-970 |
1410 |
|
19 |
900-930 |
1350 |
|
18 |
860-890 |
1290 |
|
17 |
810-850 |
1210 |
|
16 |
760-800 |
1140 |
|
15 |
710-750 |
1060 |
|
14 |
660-700 |
1000 |
|
13 |
590-650 |
900 |
|
12 |
520-580 |
780 |
|
11 |
500-510 |
750 |