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Naperville, Bolingbrook & Plainfield

WSEA Tutoring - Tutoring for K-12 Students

ACT or SAT? Which test is right for you?

Students in exam hall

Many Colleges and Universities are accepting both the SAT and ACT for College Applications. Choose which test is best for you. 

Use the table below to compare the two tests.

SAT ACT
Why Take It Colleges use SAT scores for admissions and merit-based scholarships. Colleges use ACT scores for admissions and merit-based scholarships.
Test Structure
  • Math
  • Reading
  • Writing and Language

Essay (Optional)

  • Math
  • Reading
  • English
  • Science

Essay (Optional)

Length
  • 3 hours (without essay)
  • 3 hours, 50 minutes (with essay)
  • 2 hours, 55 minutes (without essay)
  • 3 hours, 40 minutes (with essay)
Reading 5 reading passages 4 reading passages
Science None 1 science section testing your critical thinking skills (not your specific science knowledge)
Math Covers:

  • Arithmetic
  • Algebra I & II
  • Geometry, Trigonometry and Data Analysis
Covers:

  • Arithmetic
  • Algebra I & II
  • Geometry and Trigonometry
Tools Some math questions don’t allow you to use a calculator. You can use a calculator on all math questions.
Essays Optional. The essay will test your comprehension of a source text. Optional. The essay will test how well you evaluate and analyze complex issues.
How It’s Scored Scored on a scale of 400–1600 Scored on a scale of 1–36



North Naperville Tutoring

(corner of Ogden and Iroquois)
1260 Iroquois Ave
Unit 306
Naperville, IL 60563

Call us at 630-922-8100