Comparing the Digital SAT® and ACT®: Key Factors to Consider
Last week, we reported Yale’s policy update from test-optional to test-flexible, a mandate that requires prospective students to submit their test scores from either the ACT®, SAT®, AP, or IB exams. As you well know, this is just the latest school to make the post-pandemic switch back to testing requirements for college admission. And also highlights the main point of standardized testing: test scores are the most reliable predictor of a student’s college readiness and future academic success.
In conjunction with these school policy changes, we’ve also seen the massive shift from paper-and-pencil to digital testing. While the ACT has offered a computer-based version since 2018, the College Board’s digital SAT® launch is happening this month!
Digital testing is no longer a distant future—it’s our present reality. This shift has compelled us to revolutionize our approach to test prep. Computer-based tests offer speed, accuracy in scoring, rapid score reporting, and heightened security—the change is unequivocally for the better!
So, with these major shifts to a more intuitive, user-friendly, and efficient testing format, how do students choose which test to take? Let’s take a look at the key differences between the digital SAT® and the digital ACT®: format and structure, content coverage, difficulty levels, timing and pacing, scoring, and test access—all important factors for students to consider when choosing which test is right for them.
Test Format and Structure
Digital SAT®:
The digital SAT® introduces significant changes to enhance the testing experience. Gone are the lengthy reading passages; each question within the combined Reading & Writing section features its own short text. Additionally, the Math section is divided into two modules, each lasting 35 minutes, with a calculator allowed. These adjustments aim to provide a more focused and efficient test-taking process for students.
Digital ACT®:
The digital ACT® closely mirrors its traditional paper-and-pencil counterpart, maintaining the same section divisions. The Reading and English sections retain their length, featuring lengthy passages. Test takers still have the choice to take the Writing section.
Content Coverage
Digital SAT®:
The content covered on the digital SAT® is divided into domains.
The Reading & Writing section has four domains:
Information and Ideas (Reading): Test takers use comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills to locate, interpret, evaluate, and use information from a variety of texts and infographics.
Craft and Structure (Reading): Test takers use vocabulary, comprehension, analysis, and reasoning skills to identify and/or interpret the meaning of high-utility words and phrases in context, rhetorically examine texts, and make cross-text connections.
Expression of Ideas (Writing): Test takers use revision skills and effective language use to improve written expression to achieve specified rhetorical goals.
Standard English Conventions (Writing): Test takers use editing skills to complete the texts to conform to the conventions of Standard English; this includes sentence structure, conventions of usage, and punctuation.
The digital SAT® Reading & Writing sections have been trimmed of excess fat: two-part questions and answers, sentence placement, pronoun ambiguity, combining sentences, wordiness and redundancy, idioms and diction, parallelism within lists, homophones, and historical documents.
The Math section remains relatively the same but is also divided into four domains:
Algebra: Test takers analyze, fluently solve, and create linear equations and inequalities as well as analyze and fluently solve equations and systems of equations using multiple techniques.
Advanced Math: Test takers will demonstrate the ability to progress to more advanced math courses, including demonstrating an understanding of absolute value, quadratic, exponential, polynomial, rational, radical, and other nonlinear equations.
Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: Test takers will apply quantitative reasoning about ratios, rates, and proportional relationships; understand and apply unit rate; and analyze and interpret one- and two-variable data.
Geometry and Trigonometry: Test takers will solve problems that focus on area and volume; angles, triangles, trigonometry; and circles.
Digital ACT®:
The digital ACT® maintains identical content to its paper-and-pencil counterpart. Subjects covered include English, Math, Reading, and Science with the option to take the Writing section. While questions are straightforward, they are complex.
Difficulty Levels
This is where you’ll find the key difference between the digital ACT® and digital SAT®: adaptive testing. At this time, only the digital SAT® has an adaptive multi-stage design.
Digital SAT®:
The digital SAT® employs an adaptive multi-stage design. Here’s how it works:
Module 1: This initial module presents a mix of easy, medium, and hard prompts across various domains (Reading & Writing and Math).
Based on the test taker’s performance in Module 1, they progress to:
Module 2: In this second module, the difficulty levels differ from Module 1—either higher or lower. The adaptive design ensures tailored questions for each student, optimizing accuracy and efficiency.
Digital ACT®:
In the digital ACT®, all test takers encounter the same set of questions within each section. The difficulty level remains consistent across sections, following a non-adaptive, fixed format. Unlike the digital SAT®, the digital ACT®’s content’s difficulty does not adjust based on individual performance as students progress through the exam.
Timing and Pacing
Digital SAT®:
The digital SAT®, with a total duration of approximately 2 hours, maintains a faster pace compared to its paper-and-pencil counterpart. Here’s how it’s structured:
Section Divisions:
Each test section (Reading & Writing and Math) is divided into two equal-length, separately timed modules.
The Reading & Writing section allows 32 minutes for each module.
The Math section consists of two modules, each lasting 35 minutes, and both permit calculator use.
Breaks and Flexibility:
A 10-minute break separates the Reading & Writing and Math sections.
Test takers can navigate freely between questions within a module, optimizing their approach.
Digital ACT®:
The digital ACT®, with an overall duration of 2 hours and 55 minutes, maintains a faster pace—approximately 49 seconds per question. Here’s how it’s structured:
Section Durations:
Reading: 35 minutes
Math: 60 minutes
Science: 35 minutes
English: 45 minutes
Breaks and Flexibility:
A 15-minute break separates the Math and Science sections.
Students can take the Writing section, which lasts for 40 minutes.
Scoring
Digital SAT®:
Each section score is calculated based on your performance across all questions in both modules.
Math and Evidence-Based Reading & Writing scored on a scale of 200-800.
Composite SAT® score (sum of section scores) ranges from 400-1600.
No penalty for guessing, so it’s best to answer every question.
Digital ACT®:
English, math, reading, and science scores range from 1-36.
Composite ACT® score (average of section scores) also ranges from 1-36.
No penalty for wrong answers.
Test Access
Digital SAT®:
The digital SAT® has become the primary version of the test, and all districts, schools, and testing centers that provide the SAT® now offer the digital format.
Digital ACT®:
At present, the digital ACT® is exclusively available if selected by districts and schools. However, it is not currently offered at testing centers.
Considerations for Students
The most effective method for assisting clients in choosing between the ACT® and SAT® is to have them take a practice test for each. This firsthand experience allows them to determine which test aligns better with their academic strengths.
Strengths and Preferences
Some students may find one test format more suitable based on their strengths.
Students should choose the test that best focuses on the skills they will need for college and career success. For example, the ACT® includes an entire Science section that tests science reasoning along with math, which may be better suited for students with strong math and science skills.
Taking Both Tests
There are advantages for students who prepare for and take both the digital SAT® and ACT® exams:
Comprehensive Skill Assessment: By taking both tests, students receive a holistic assessment of their skills, covering different subject areas. The ACT® emphasizes science reasoning, while the SAT® focuses on evidence-based reading and writing.
Maximized Opportunities: Most colleges accept either the ACT® or SAT® scores, and many accept both. Students who perform better on one test can submit that score, maximizing their chances of admission.
Build Testing Confidence: Students gain confidence by experiencing adaptive and non-adaptive testing.
Targeted Preparation: Preparing for both tests can help students better identify their strengths and weaknesses.
Enhanced Time Management: Taking both tests improves time management skills. Students can learn to better allocate time more effectively.
As standardized testing continues to evolve, students and educators must consider the testing options carefully. While both exams have distinct features, the adaptive nature of the digital SAT® sets it apart from the fixed ACT® format. Ultimately, students should choose based on their academic strengths and college and career goals. Whether they opt for one or tackle both, valuable insights and improved confidence await. In this new era, adaptability and strategic preparation are key to academic success.
Preparing students for the digital SAT® and ACT® is crucial. Using computer-based test-prep software allows students to practice in the same format they’ll encounter during the actual exams.
To help your students put their best foot forward, Clear Choice Prep offers fully digital SAT®-aligned materials, including adaptive practice tests, assignable coursework, and custom-branded score reports. Additionally, CCP’s ACT®-prep curriculum features computer-based ACT®-aligned practice tests and comprehensive score reports.
Are you ready to go digital? We are!
As the SAT® and ACT® transition to all-digital testing, we are ready to support your tutoring business with the first and best white-label, fully digital test-prep courses. Promote your brand (and not your competitors') with test-prep materials that include: full-length, fully-digital, adaptive practice tests; assignable coursework; branded score reports; and more—all featuring your company’s name and branding.
Looking to supercharge your test prep? Contact us or schedule a free demo and find out how Clear Choice can give your business and clients the tools and support they need to take their test prep and scores to the next level.