How is the SAT different from the ACT?

Both the SAT and ACT are accepted by most colleges in the U.S., and no preference is given to either test. The SAT is run by College Board, a not-for-profit organization. The ACT is now managed by a new for-profit company called ACT Education Corporation. More students (1.9 million in the class of 2023) take the SAT than any other admissions exam. Here are some of the major differences:

• The SAT is given digitally everywhere, while the ACT is still offered on paper in most places with limited availability of a digital test.
• The SAT is shorter (2 hours and 14 minutes for the SAT vs. 2 hours and 55 minutes for the ACT).
• The SAT Math section has a built-in Desmos graphing calculator. The ACT doesn't.
• The SAT Reading and Writing section has reading passages that are short with only one question per passage. The reading passages on the ACT are always long with 10 questions each.
• The SAT is the only test to offer free, world-class practice tools to all students with Bluebook and Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy ® .