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ACT vs EST vs SAT - Everything you need to know
EST RESOURCES:
ACT Resources:
ACT Exam: The Ultimate Guide for 2023 and Beyond
Are you planning to take the ACT exam in 2022? If so, you might have a lot of questions about this test, such as:
- What is the ACT used for?
- How many times can you take the ACT?
- What is the difference between the ACT and the SAT/EST?
- What sections are on the ACT?
- How is the ACT scored?
- How should you prepare for the ACT?
Don't worry, we have got you covered. In this ultimate guide, we will answer all these questions and more. We will also share some tips and resources to help you ace the ACT exam and get into your dream college.
What is the ACT used for?
The ACT is a standardized test that measures your college readiness by testing your skills in English, math, reading, and science. The ACT is an important part of applications to many U.S./Egyptian colleges and universities. However, keep in mind that some colleges now have Test Optional or Test Blind admissions policies, meaning they do not require ACT or SAT/EST scores to apply.
Admissions testing policies are often updated, so be sure to verify specific testing requirements on the official website of any college to which you are applying and make sure the information you're looking at is current. If you can't find the information you need online, you can always call or email the college's admissions office.
How many times can you take the ACT?
As of fall 2020, there is no limit on the number of times you can take the ACT. Depending on the policies of the colleges and universities to which you are applying, we generally recommend that you take the ACT as many times as you need to in order to achieve your goal.
Many students plan to take the ACT for the first time in the spring of their junior year. With this schedule, we recommend starting preparation in the second semester of your sophomore year, and no later than the beginning of your junior year.
What is the difference between the ACT and the SAT/EST?
The ACT and the SAT/EST are admissions tests accepted by most U.S./Egyptian colleges and universities; colleges do not prefer one test over the other.
Scoring
- ACT: 1-- 36 composite scale
- SAT/EST: 400-- 1600 composite scale
Test Length
- ACT: 2 hours and 55 minutes + 40-minute optional essay
- SAT/EST: 3 hours + 50-minute optional essay
Reading
- ACT: 40 questions in 35 minutes; passage-based reading comprehension; informational graphics included
- SAT/EST: 52 questions in 65 minutes; passage-based reading comprehension; informational graphics included
English
- ACT: 75 questions in 45 minutes; passage-based testing of grammar, usage, syntax, rhetoric, and punctuation
- SAT/EST: 44 questions in 35 minutes; passage-based testing of grammar, usage, syntax, rhetoric, and punctuation; informational graphics included
Math
- ACT: 60 questions in 60 minutes; can use approved calculator; all multiple choice; arithmetic, algebra I and II, planar and coordinate geometry, trigonometry and precalculus including functions, conic sections, combinations and permutations, logarithms, and matrices
- SAT/EST: no calculator section: 20 questions in 25 minutes (including 5 grid-in questions); calculator section: 38 questions in 55 minutes (including 8 grid-in questions); arithmetic, algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry and precalculus including functions, complex numbers, radians, volumes; emphasis on algebra, problem solving and data analysis, and some advanced math topics
Science Section
- ACT: 40 questions in 35 minutes; interpretation and application of scientific information presented in tables, graphs, charts, scatter plots, etc.
- SAT/EST: no science section; science questions throughout the Reading, Writing and Language, and Math Tests
Which test is harder, the ACT or the SAT/EST?
The ACT and SAT/EST have many similarities-- they both test your college readiness by testing skills in Math, Reading, and Writing. Neither test is objectively "harder" than the other. Some students perform better on the ACT, others do better on the SAT/EST, and many students find their performance on either test to be about the same.
If you are deciding between preparing for the ACT or SAT/EST, we suggest that you take both a timed, full-length practice ACT and a timed, full-length practice SAT/EST. Compare your scores and your overall comfort level with each test. You should prepare for and take the test on which you feel that you will ultimately perform your best.
What sections are on the ACT?
The ACT consists of four required multiple-choice Tests on the following subjects:
- English Test: 5 passages, with questions covering Mechanics of Writing (Topic Development and Organization, Unity, and Cohesion), Understanding of Language, and Conventions of Standard English (Syntax and Formation, Punctuation, and Usage).
- Math Test: questions covering Preparing for Higher Mathematics (Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability), Integrating Essential Skills, and Modeling.
- Reading Test: 4 passages (Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science), with questions covering Key Ideas and Details, Craft and Structure, and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas.
- Science Test: 6 passages (in the format of Data Representation, Research Summaries, and Conflicting Viewpoints), with questions covering Interpretation of Data, Scientific Investigation, and Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results.
What is the question format of the ACT test?
The ACT consists of four multiple-choice sections.
- English Test: 75 multiple-choice questions spread over five passages.
- Math Test: 60 multiple-choice questions.
- Reading Test: 40 multiple-choice questions spread over four passages.
- Science Test: 40 multiple-choice questions spread over six passages.
Do you have to take the ACT?
If you are applying to U.S./Egyptian colleges and universities, you should strongly consider taking the ACT or the EST. Either the ACT or the EST can be used for admission to most colleges and universities, and colleges do not prefer one test over the other. Keep in mind that many colleges now have Test Optional or Test Blind admissions policies, meaning they do not require ACT or SAT/EST scores to apply.
If you are concerned about your test performance, remember that test scores are not the only way to demonstrate your qualifications on a college application. Colleges evaluate all aspects of your application when making their admissions decisions. Your GPA and the rigor of the courses you take in high school, your application essays, your recommendation letters, and all of your extracurricular activities will play a role in college admissions decisions. While your test scores may provide a quantitative measure of comparison, these other factors can also help you stand out as a candidate.
What should I bring to an ACT administration?
When you take an official ACT at a test center, you must bring:
- Your ticket.
- Photo identification.
- Masks or other cloth face covering.
- Number 2 pencils.
- A watch (but not a smartwatch).
- An approved calculator (view the official ACT Calculator Policy here).
- Snacks.
You should not bring:
- Books.
- Notes.
- Scratch paper.
- Highlighters.
- Pens.
- Any electronic device, other than an approved calculator.
- Any nicotine products.
You can view more information about what you can and cannot bring on the ACT Test Day checklist.
Preparation and Practice for the ACT
How should I prepare for the ACT test?
When preparing for the test, make sure to study the underlying concepts on all of the sections of the test (not just the sections that you like best) and then practice what you have learned by taking timed, full-length practice tests. Practice tests are a key component to any preparation plan because you need to expose yourself to the tested material and be able to complete the test within the given time limit. Practice tests will also help you grow familiar with the logistics of the official test and develop the stamina necessary to maintain your focus throughout a full test.
Please use our real ACT practice tests under computer-based tests on our website.
When should you take the ACT for the first time?
The ACT is designed to assess your college readiness by evaluating your understanding of the core concepts of a standard high school curriculum. Most students take the ACT for the first time in the second half of their junior year, leaving plenty of time to retake the test the following summer and fall. We recommend that you start studying for the AC T toward the end of your sophomore year. This timeline will give you plenty of time to learn all of the tested math, science, reading comprehension, and grammar concepts and allow you enough opportunities to practice applying them on timed practice tests.
However, some students take the test earlier or later; take the ACT when you feel ready and confident in your ability to achieve your best score. Refer to our college admissions timeline for more information.
How long should I study for the ACT?
The ACT is designed to assess your college readiness by testing your knowledge of the core concepts of a high school curriculum. It takes a significant amount of time to learn all of the tested math, science, reading comprehension, and grammar concepts and to practice applying them.
With this in mind, most students should plan to study for the ACT for at least a year. Such a timeline will allow you to master the material in manageable tasks over the long term. We have found that most students achieve their best scores when they start preparing for the ACT toward the end of their 10th grade years to prepare to take the ACT for the first time in the spring of their junior year. This schedule will leave time to retake the test, if needed, the following summer and fall. You can refer to our college admissions timeline for more detailed information.
How can I increase my ACT score quickly?
Studying for the ACT is usually not a quick process because the ACT is designed to test your knowledge of the core concepts of a high school curriculum. If you do not have much time to prepare, focus on taking full-length practice tests and reviewing the topics related to any questions that you miss.
We recommend studying for the ACT for about a year, starting in the second half of your sophomore year of high school [10th grade]. Long-term preparation gives you time to learn the underlying concepts and to practice applying them on timed practice tests.
The Test Advantage has found that studying for the ACT through one-on-one tutoring produces the best results because a good tutor can provide you with a personalized program tailored to your strengths and weaknesses.
How ACT Scoring Works and Why ACT Scores Matter
What is a good ACT score? What is a bad ACT score?
What determines a "good" ACT score for you depends on your goals. Different colleges have different averages and ranges of standardized test scores, so your goal should be within the range of the colleges to which you plan to apply. Remember that everyone starts their ACT preparation at a different point, and your ideal score should also be one that is within reach.
ACT scores are scaled from 1 to 36. Over the 2020–2021 school year, the mean composite ACT score was 20.7, the mean score on the English Test was 20.1, the mean score on the Math Test was 20.4, the mean score on the Reading Test was 21.2, and the mean score on the Science Test was 20.6.
Selective colleges often have average scores that are significantly higher than these national averages (e.g., the average composite ACT score of students admitted to Brown University is 34). To determine the score you will need to be a competitive applicant, check the websites of the colleges to which you plan to apply or other college-ranking websites to find out the range of ACT scores of admitted students.
Remember that your ACT score is only one part of your college application. Colleges also consider your high school GPA, coursework, application essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities.
What is the average ACT score?
In the 2020–2021 school year, the average composite ACT score was 20.7 on a scale from 1 to 36. The average score on the English Test was 20.1, the average score on the Math Test was 20.4, the average score on the Reading Test was 21.2, and the average score on the Science Test was 20.6.
Keep in mind that the average scores of students admitted to schools with highly selective admissions are usually much higher than these national average scores (e.g., the average ACT score of students admitted to Yale is 34). When you are trying to determine your goal, look up the average and 75th percentile scores of students at the schools to which you plan to apply.
What is an average ACT score for the first time taking the test?
The ACT does not publish data about the first time each student takes the ACT. From more than 10 years of experience, we have found that most students do not achieve their best score the first time they take the ACT.
After long-term preparation, many students perform better when they retake the official ACT because they are less anxious and have had more practice and experience with the test content and format.
What is a good ACT score for a freshman or sophomore?
What defines a "good" ACT score depends on your own goals. As a freshman or sophomore, you probably have not been exposed to all of the core academic concepts tested on the ACT, so your score would likely be lower than it would be as a junior or senior.
As you define your goal, keep in mind that everyone starts at a different point, and your goal should be one that you can achieve with hard work and consistent study. Also note that the averages, means, and ranges of ACT scores vary greatly among schools, so ideally your goal is within the range of the schools to which you plan to apply.
For most students, we recommend starting ACT preparation in the second semester of your sophomore year. You should then be ready to take the ACT for the first time in the spring of your junior year, leaving time to retake the test, if needed, the following summer or fall. However, some students take the test earlier or later. It's always best to take the ACT when you feel ready and confident in your ability to achieve your best score.
Is 17 a good score on the ACT?
For the 2020–2021 school year, a score of 17 was below the threshold "College Readiness Benchmark Scores" for all sections of the ACT. A composite score of 17 was at the 35th cumulative percent (on the English Test, a 17 was at the 41st cumulative percent; on the Math Test, the 42nd cumulative percent; on the Reading Test, the 34th cumulative percent; on the Science Test, the 32nd cumulative percent).
Thus, for most students, 17 is not a good score. ACT scores, however, should always be evaluated within the context of individual goals. Remember that many students do not achieve their goal the first time they take the test, and that extensive practice and long-term study of the tested concepts can help students significantly improve their scores.
Is a 30 on the ACT good enough for Ivy League schools?
For the 2020–2021 school year, a composite score of 30 was at the 93rd cumulative percent. On the English Test, a 30 was at the 89th cumulative percent; on the Math Test, the 94th cumulative percent; on the Reading Test, the 86th cumulative percent; on the Science Test, the 93rd cumulative percent.
While a 30 is an excellent score, Ivy League schools are extremely competitive, and their admitted students often have even higher scores. For example, the middle 50% range of ACT scores for admitted students at Harvard is 33-35. This means that 25% of admitted students scored below 33, and 25% scored above 35.
Remember that standardized test scores are just one part of your application. Ivy League schools look for well-rounded students who excel not only academically but also in extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and personal achievements.
