The SAT tests students in the areas of critical reading and writing. During the SAT critical reading sections, students must read short and long passages and answer questions about what they have just read. This is truly a test of reading comprehension and information retention. This section also asks students to complete a sentence with the correct word, testing one's vocabulary. Students will have 70 minutes to complete 67 questions in this section. The writing section, on the other hand, requires students to answer multiple-choice questions pertaining to grammar and to provide a writing sample.
The ACT English section tests punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, strategy, organization and skill. Students must read five prose passages and answer multiple-choice questions about the best alternate means of structuring a sentence or paragraph. Unlike the SAT, vocabulary is not tested in this section. For the reading section, students must read four passages and answer questions about what was directly or indirectly stated in the passage. Furthermore, students will be asked to identify main ideas as well as details and generalizations about the passage they have read. Students may opt to take the ACT writing section, which is an optional 30-minute writing sample. Doing so will allow universities to better view how well you write.
Students taking the SAT will be asked questions pertaining to basic arithmetic, algebra I and II and geometry, and must complete the section in 70 minutes. Trigonometry will not be included on the SAT math section. Students will also be tested on concepts of sets, absolute value, radical equations, exponents and functions. Those taking the ACT will be tested on pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry and trigonometry. The ACT math section must be completed in 60 minutes.
The ACT requires students to take a section that tests their knowledge in science, unlike the SAT, which is limited to language and math. The ACT science section tests students' knowledge with the assumption that they have completed an earth science and/or physical science course, as well as a biology course. Students will be asked to evaluate seven sets of scientific data and evaluate it using their knowledge of scientific processes, concepts and theories.
Colleges and universities may require that students take up to two SAT subject tests in areas in which they are strongest. Students can take subject tests in areas ranging from history to foreign languages.