ACT vs SAT: When it comes to studying abroad, primarily taking admission in the universities of the United States of America, students appear in the two most popular tests that are SAT and ACT. Both of the examinations are accredited and used by the Universities and colleges to select eligible candidates for UG courses.  However, still, there are several students having doubts about which examination to appear? Should they apply for SAT or ACT? Or which is better: SAT Or ACT? To answer all these questions, we, the team of grade up, have designed this article. Here, you will get the answers to all your questions and choose the right for you. So lets’ get started.  ACT vs SAT: How to Decide Which Test to Take Students are faced with many confusing decisions when they are applying to college. One of these decisions is between taking the SAT Or ACT exam. The majority of colleges accept either one, but some have their preferences. The ACT exam is designed for students in the US and Canada. It has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. It measures how well students have learned what they were taught in school. The SAT exam is also for US and Canadian students. Still, it is more global than the ACT as it is accepted by more universities outside of North America, such as Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the UK and universities in Australia and New Zealand. Comparing the ACT VS SAT: Which one is best?  The science section is included in the ACT exam.  In the SAT exam, one additional Maths section is included. For the Math section, the use of calculators is prohibited.  ACT VS SAT comparison Difference Between SAT And ACT   SAT ACT Why appear in the exam? The colleges and universities consider the SAT scores to give candidates admissions and merit-based scholarships. The colleges and universities consider the ACT scores to give candidates admissions and merit-based scholarships. Exam pattern  Reading Writing & Language Math English Math Reading Science Reasoning Essay (Optional In nature) Duration of the examination 3 hours 2 hours, 55 minutes (without Essay) 3 hours, 40 minutes (with Essay) Reading 5 reading passages 4 reading passages Science Not included, however, candidates will face science-related questions throughout the examination.  A separate Science section will be included. The primary motive is to test the critical thinking skills of students (not specific science knowledge) Math Covers: Arithmetic Algebra I & II Geometry, Trigonometry and Data Analysis Covers: Arithmetic Algebra I & II Geometry, Trigonometry, and Probability & Statistics Calculator Policy Not allowed to use the calculator for solving the questions.  You can use a calculator on all math questions. Essays None Optional. The essay will test how well you evaluate and analyze complex issues. How It’s Scored On a scale of 400–1600 On a scale of 1–36   Eligibility criteria of both SAT and ACT exams: There is no age limit for candidates willing to appear in the examination. At the same time, the minimum age of a candidate to appear in the SAT exam is 17 years.  ACT VS SAT Timing and Exam Pattern: The duration of SAT exam is of 3 hours, and  The ACT exam is 2 hours and 55 minutes.  The ACT’s 40-minute optional writing test can be a little longer for more than 3 hours 30 minutes.  There are a total of 154 questions asked in the SAT examination. On the other hand, in the ACT exam, there are 215 questions.  Breaking the Test Components: SAT Or ACT In the SAT exam,  The reading test takes 65 minutes Writing and language test takes 35 minutes The math section takes 80 minutes  In the ACT exam: The reading test takes 35 minutes English test takes 45 minutes The science test takes 35 minutes The math section takes 60 minutes  In the SAT exam, there is no separate section of Science. However, students will get science-related questions throughout the examination.  The scoring criteria of both examinations are also different from each other.  For the SAT, total scores range from 400-1600; for the ACT, the composite score runs from 1-36. The optional ACT writing test does not include this score. It will be scored separately.  States require ACT VS SAT exam scores: Before appearing in the examination, it is also essential for you to check which state you want to take admission to. Here is the list.  Following are the 11 states that require the ACT: Alabama Hawaii Kentucky Mississippi Montana Nebraska Nevada North Carolina Utah Wisconsin Wyoming Following are the ten states/regions that require the SAT: Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Illinois Maine Michigan New Hampshire Rhode Island West Virginia   ACT VS SAT Costs The cost of each exam differs from the other.  Amount to be paid SAT ACT Registration  fees without Essay part  $52 $55 Registration fees with Essay $68 $70 Fees for test centre change   $0 from Essay to No Essay,  $16 from No Essay to Essay $0 from Writing to No Writing (Writing fee refundable upon request),  $15 from No Essay to Essay Fee for Late Registration $30 $35 Test date or exam centre Change Fee  $30 $35 Waiting list/Standby Fee  $53 $56 Report of First 4 Score  $0 $0 Additional Score Reports $12 each $13 each   If any candidate cannot afford the exam fees, the state support or fee waivers prove a great help.  ACT VS SAT CONTENT BREAKDOWN Some students think that both the SAT and ACT exam are pretty similar. However, some significant differences are required to consider before choosing anyone. Here we are giving the content-wise differentiation between both.  Topics Covered ACT SAT Reading Section  Key Ideas and Details Craft and Structure Integration of Knowledge and Ideas Command of Evidence Words in Context Analysis in History/Social Studies and Science Math Section Number and Quantity Algebra Functions Geometry Statistics and Probability Integrating Essential Skills Modelling Heart of Algebra Problem Solving and Data Analysis Passport to Advanced Math Some additional