Difference Wiki

ACT vs. SAT

ACT and SAT are two performance measure test, generally conduct to evaluate the skills and abilities of a student for admission in higher stage/class/program. The main difference between ACT and SAT is that ACT is conducted to check what student has learned in his school classes in order to securing admission in a college. On other side SAT is a critical thinking and problem solving test that usually contains the more math portion and is conducted to check the concepts of a student.

Key Differences

ACT has 4 sections while SAT contains 10 sections.
Janet White
Nov 15, 2015
There is no penalty in answering wrong in ACT. However, there is penalty for wrong answer in SAT that is deduction of ¼ of a point for each incorrect answers (except for Math Grid-ins).
ACT contains a complete science section comprising analysis, interpretation, evaluation, basic content, and problem solving while science is totally not applicable in SAT.
Samantha Walker
Nov 15, 2015
ACT us a content-based test while SAT is a reasoning-based test.
Duration of ACT is 3 hours, 25 minutes (with writing test). Duration of SAT test is 3hours, 45 minutes.
SAT is conducted seven times in a year in the month of January, March/April, May, June, October, November and December. ACT is held six times in a year in the month of February, April, June, September, October, and December.
Janet White
Nov 15, 2015
ADVERTISEMENT
ACT is an achievement test that measures the high school performance of student while SAT is an aptitude test that is more focused on testing, reasoning, and verbal abilities.
Harlon Moss
Nov 15, 2015

ACT and SAT Definitions

Act

The process of doing or performing something
The act of thinking.

Sat

Past tense and past participle of sit.

Act

Something done or performed; a deed
A charitable act.

Sat

Seated; sitting (down).

Act

(Law) Something done that has legal significance
A criminal act.
ADVERTISEMENT

Sat

Abbreviation of satisfactory

Act

A statute or other law formally adopted by a legislative body
An act of Congress.

Sat

Abbreviation of satisfied

Act

A formal written record of proceedings or transactions.

Sat

Simple past tense and past participle of sit
I sat in the middle of the park.

Act

One of the major divisions of a play, opera, or film.
ADVERTISEMENT

Sat

Abbreviation of satellite

Act

A performance or entertainment usually forming part of a longer presentation
A juggling act.
A magic act.

Sat

Abbreviation of satoshi

Act

The actor or actors presenting such a performance
Joined the act in Phoenix.

Sat

Level of saturation (especially of oxygen in the blood).

Act

A manifestation of intentional or unintentional insincerity; a pose
Put on an act.

Sat

The seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

Act

To play the part of; assume the dramatic role of
She plans to act Ophelia in summer stock.

Act

To perform (a role) on the stage
Act the part of the villain.

Act

To behave like or pose as; impersonate
Don't act the fool.

Act

To behave in a manner suitable for
Act your age.

Act

To behave or comport oneself
She acts like a born leader.

Act

To perform in a dramatic role or roles.

Act

To be suitable for theatrical performance
This scene acts well.

Act

To behave affectedly or unnaturally; pretend.

Act

To appear or seem to be
The dog acted ferocious.

Act

To carry out an action
We acted immediately. The governor has not yet acted on the bill.

Act

To operate or function in a specific way
His mind acts quickly.

Act

To serve or function as a substitute for another
A coin can act as a screwdriver.

Act

To produce an effect
Waited five minutes for the anesthetic to act.

Act

(countable) Something done, a deed.
An act of goodwill

Act

Actuality.

Act

(theology) Something done once and for all, as distinguished from a work.

Act

A product of a legislative body, a statute.

Act

The process of doing something.
He was caught in the act of stealing.

Act

(countable) A formal or official record of something done.

Act

A division of a theatrical performance.
The pivotal moment in the play was in the first scene of the second act.

Act

(countable) A performer or performers in a show.
Which act did you prefer? The soloist or the band?

Act

(countable) Any organized activity.

Act

(countable) A display of behaviour.

Act

A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities, by a candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student.

Act

(countable) A display of behaviour meant to deceive.
To put on an act

Act

Senseid|en|act of parliament}} (law) {{ellipsis of act of parliament

Act

(intransitive) To do something.
If you don't act soon, you will be in trouble.

Act

To do (something); to perform.

Act

(intransitive) To perform a theatrical role.
I started acting at the age of eleven in my local theatre.

Act

(intransitive) Of a play: to be acted out (well or badly).

Act

(intransitive) To behave in a certain manner for an indefinite length of time.
A dog which acts aggressively is likely to bite.
I believe that Bill's stuck-up because of the way that he acts.
He's acting strangely - I think there's something wrong with him.

Act

(copulative) To convey an appearance of being.
He acted unconcerned so the others wouldn't worry.

Act

(intransitive) To do something that causes a change binding on the doer.
Act on behalf of John

Act

To have an effect (on).
High-pressure oxygen acts on the central nervous system and may cause convulsions or death.
Gravitational force acts on heavy bodies.

Act

(transitive) To play (a role).
He's been acting Shakespearean leads since he was twelve.

Act

(transitive) To feign.
He acted the angry parent, but was secretly amused.

Act

To map via a homomorphism to a group of automorphisms (of).
This group acts on the circle, so it can't be left-orderable!

Act

To move to action; to actuate; to animate.

Act

To enact; to decree.

Act

That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect, of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed.
That best portion of a good man's life,His little, nameless, unremembered actsOf kindness and of love.

Act

A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a possibility or possible existence.
The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in possibility, what they afterward grow to be.

Act

Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the point of (doing).
This woman was taken . . . in the very act.

Act

To move to action; to actuate; to animate.
Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul.

Act

To perform; to execute; to do.
That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our necessity.
Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting things expedient for us to do.
Uplifted hands that at convenient timesCould act extortion and the worst of crimes.

Act

To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the stage.

Act

To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as, to act the hero.

Act

To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.
With acted fear the villain thus pursued.

Act

To exert power; to produce an effect; as, the stomach acts upon food.

Act

To perform actions; to fulfill functions; to put forth energy; to move, as opposed to remaining at rest; to carry into effect a determination of the will.
He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest.

Act

To behave or conduct, as in morals, private duties, or public offices; to bear or deport one's self; as, we know not why he has acted so.

Act

To perform on the stage; to represent a character.
To show the world how Garrick did not act.

Act

A legal document codifying the result of deliberations of a committee or society or legislative body

Act

Something that people do or cause to happen

Act

A subdivision of a play or opera or ballet

Act

A short theatrical performance that is part of a longer program;
He did his act three times every evening
She had a catchy little routine
It was one of the best numbers he ever did

Act

A manifestation of insincerity;
He put on quite an act for her benefit

Act

Perform an action, or work out or perform (an action);
Think before you act
We must move quickly
The governor should act on the new energy bill
The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel

Act

Behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself;
You should act like an adult
Don't behave like a fool
What makes her do this way?
The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people

Act

Play a role or part;
Gielgud played Hamlet
She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role
She played the servant to her husband's master

Act

Discharge one's duties;
She acts as the chair
In what capacity are you acting?

Act

Pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind;
He acted the idiot
She plays deaf when the news are bad

Act

Be suitable for theatrical performance;
This scene acts well

Act

Have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected;
The voting process doesn't work as well as people thought
How does your idea work in practice?
This method doesn't work
The breaks of my new car act quickly
The medicine works only if you take it with a lot of water

Act

Be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure

Act

Behave unnaturally or affectedly;
She's just acting

Act

Perform on a stage or theater;
She acts in this play
He acted in `Julius Caesar'
I played in `A Christmas Carol'

What is ACT?

ACT stands for American College Test that is an assessment test conducted for admission in college by checking the achievements of high school. It was came into being in November 1959 by Everett Franklin in completion with College Board’s Scholastic Aptitude Test that is now simply called SAT. ACT comprises four tests namely English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Natural Sciences. However, in 1989, Social Studies was replaces by Reading section and now Social Studies is the sub-section of Reading. Test duration of ACT is 3 hours, 25 minutes (with Writing Test). Score system of ACT is composite of 1-36 based on average scores from the four test sections. Four scores for 1-36 each test. Optional writing test score of 0-12 that is not included in the overall score. Moreover, there is no penalty for wrong answers.

What is SAT?

SAT is also a college admission test and stands for Scholastic Assessment Test. IT was came introduced in 1926. It is conducted by the Educational Testing Service on behalf of the College Board. It is a paper-based standardized test. The test is conducted to assess a student’s readiness for college. SAT is totally a reasoning based test. SAT test comprise 10 sections that are: 3 critical reading, 3 Mathematics, 3 writing, and 1 experimental that is unscored. Current total SAT score range from 600 to 2400 based on adding score form three subjects. There is penalty of wrong answer in SAT, 1/4 point will be subtracted from the raw score for each wrong answer (except for Math Grid-ins). Current test duration of SAT is 3 hours, 45 minutes.

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons