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SAT or ACT?
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, for the first time, the majority of Georgia's 2012 grads took the ACT, either instead of or in addition to the SAT. Some see the ACT as an easier alternative to the SAT. However, the SAT remains the dominate test for college bound seniors from Georgia and throughout the eastern U.S. More from the AJC.
Description: ACT measures what a student has learned in particular subject areas. SAT is more of an aptitude test that measures a student's verbal and reasoning skills.
Sections: ACT has five components - English, math, reading, science and an optional writing test. SAT has three components - critical reading, math and writing.
Cost: The ACT costs $35 without the optional writing test and $50.50 with the writing test. The SAT costs $50.
Length: ACT takes two hours and 55 minutes without the writing test and three hours and 25 minutes with the writing test. SAT takes three hours and 45 minutes.
Top score: A 36 is the top score on the ACT. A 2400 is the top score on the SAT, though because many colleges and universities do not require that students submit their writing score, 1600 is commonly held to be the top score.
Guessing: ACT does not penalize for guessing. SAT does penalize wrong answers.
Which schools want which test? In general, schools east of the Mississippi River request the SAT, and schools west of the river often request the ACT. However, many colleges and universities throughout the country accept scores from either test.
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