ACT ®	SAT ® redesigned March 2016
Sections
Sections	English Math Reading Science Optional Essay	Math Evidence-based Reading and Writing Reading Writing and Language Optional Essay
Scoring
Scoring	Composite score: 1–36 4 section scores in English, Math, Reading and Science (1–36 each)	Total score: 400–1600 2 section scores for Math and Evidence-based Reading and Writing: 200–800
Length
Length	2 hours, 55 minutes (without essay) 3 hours, 35 minutes (with essay)	3 hours (without essay) 3 hours, 50 minutes (with essay)
Penalty for Wrong Answers
Penalty for Wrong Answers	None	None
Reading and Writing
Reading and Writing	2 sections (English, Reading) Passage-based grammar—including punctuation Reading passages drawn from Fiction, Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences	2 sections (Reading test, Writing and Language test) No more sentence completions; focus on multiple-meaning words Reading passages will draw from significant historical or scientific documents—may include informational graphics, such as charts Passages will include complex structure and vocabulary Passage-based grammar—including punctuation
Math
Math	Arithmetic Algebra I & II Geometry Trigonometry	Arithmetic  Algebra I & II  Geometry  Trigonometry
Essay
Essay	The essay is optional (40 minutes, timed, at the end of test) Students will evaluate and analyze multiple perspectives on a complex issue Essay scores in 4 areas: ideas and analysis, development and support, organization and language use	The essay is optional (50 minutes, timed, at the end of test) Students will be provided with a substantial passage (600–700 words) and asked to analyze how the author built his or her argument; students will need to understand the techniques the author used to write persuasively. Essay scores are based on comprehension of the provided passage, analysis of arguments and use of evidence by the author, and providing support for an argument.