ACT
The ACT is a standardized college admissions test accepted by all US universities, offering an alternative to the SAT with slightly different structure and content.
Key Facts
- • Four sections: English, Math, Reading, Science. Optional Writing section.
- • Scored 1-36, with a composite score averaged across the four mandatory sections.
- • The Science section is the main structural difference from the SAT.
- • US universities accept ACT and SAT equally — pick whichever you score higher on.
- • Test center availability in Korea is significantly thinner than SAT.
How ACT differs from SAT
The biggest structural difference is the Science section — 40 questions in 35 minutes, testing data interpretation and reasoning rather than raw science knowledge. Students who are comfortable with graphs, tables, and quick pattern recognition often score higher on the ACT's Science section than they would on equivalent SAT material.
The Math section allows calculators throughout and covers similar content to SAT Math but with a faster pace. Reading passages are traditional-length (not the short single-question passages of the Digital SAT).
Which one should Korean students take
Most Korean international school students take the SAT, not because it's easier but because test-center availability in Korea is much better for SAT. ACT testing sometimes requires traveling to a neighboring country or waiting months for a local administration.
If you're naturally fast and confident under time pressure — especially with dense Science-style data questions — ACT can be a better fit. Take a full-length diagnostic of each and compare concordance scores before committing to one.
Reviewed by Sprint Admissions Team · Updated April 2026
Related terms
SAT (Digital)
The SAT is a standardized college admissions test administered by the College Board; since March 2024 it has been fully digital, shorter, and adaptive.
Superscore
Superscoring is a college admissions practice in which the school combines a student's highest section scores across multiple SAT or ACT sittings to form one composite 'super' score — rewarding students who retake the test and improve different sections at different times.
Test-Optional
Test-optional is an admissions policy under which a college does not require SAT or ACT scores, but will still consider them if submitted.