ACT vs SAT vs TSI: Key Differences Between the ACT, SAT, and TSI
SAT
ACT
TSI
Why Take It
Colleges and universities use SAT scores
for admissions and merit-based
scholarships
Colleges and universities use SAT scores
for admissions and merit-based
scholarships
Colleges and universities in Texas use TSI
scores to determine if students must take
developmental Math or English courses
Type of Test
Content-based test
Content-based test
Content-based test that is administered
online
Test Format
Reading: 1, 65-min section (5 Passages)
Math: 1, 25-min section (no calculator) &
1, 55-min section (w/ calculator)
Writing & Language: 1, 35-min section
Total Testing Time- 3 hours (no essay) and
3 hours, 50 minutes (plus essay)
English: 1, 45-min section
Math: 1, 60-min section
Reading: 1, 35-min section (4 Passages)
Science: 1, 35-min section
Writing: 1, 40-min essay (optional)
Total Testing Time- 2 hours, 55 minutes
(no essay) and 3 hours, 40 minutes (plus
essay)
Math: 20 multiple choice questions and 48
questions in the diagnostic test (if required)
ELAR (English Language Arts and
Reading): Includes 30 multiple choice
questions and 48 questions in the
diagnostic test (if required)
Essay: The Essay test requires students to
provide a 300-600 word essay in a
response to one randomly selected
response.
Total Testing Time- The TSI is an untimed
assessment
Content Covered
Reading, relevant words in context, math,
grammar & usage, analytical writing
(optional)
Grammar & usage, math, reading, science
reasoning, and writing (optional)
Reading, grammar & usage, math and
writing
Test Style
Questions are evidence and context-based
in an effort to focus on real-world
situations and multi-step problem-solving
Straightforward, questions may be long but
are usually less difficult to decipher
Computer adaptive test- designed to adjust
their level of difficulty to match the
knowledge and ability of the test taker
Scoring
Math and Evidence-Based Reading &
Writing are each scored on a scale of 200-
800.
Composite SAT score is the sum of the two
section scores and ranged from 400-1600.
English, Math, Reading, and Science
scores will each range between 1-36.
Composite ACT score is the average of
your scores on the four sections; ranges
between 1-36
To achieve college ready standards
students must score: 945-990 the multiple-
choice portions of the ELAR and Math
tests. Also score a 5 or higher on the Essay
test.
ACT vs SAT vs TSI: Key Differences Between the ACT, SAT, and TSI
SAT
ACT
TSI
Penalty for Wrong
Answers?
No – you do not lose points for incorrect
answers
No – you do not lose points for incorrect
answers
No – you do not lose points for incorrect
answers
Score Choice?
Yes – you can choose which set(s) of SAT
scores to submit to colleges
Yes – you can choose which set(s) of ACT
scores to submit to colleges
Yes – you can choose which TSI scores to
submit to colleges
Difficulty Levels
Questions increase in difficulty level as
you move through that question type in a
section (except reading passage questions,
which progress chronologically through the
passage)
Difficulty level of the questions is random
Computer-adaptive testing: if a student
gives a wrong answer, the computer
follows up with an easier question; if the
student answers correctly, the next
question will be more difficult.
Math Levels
Arithmetic, problem-solving & data
analysis, heart of algebra, geometry, and
trigonometry; formulas provided.
Some math questions do not allow you to
use a calculator.
Arithmetic, algebra I and II, functions,
geometry, trigonometry; no formulas are
provided
Test takers may use a calculator on all
math questions.
Elementary algebra and functions
Intermediate algebra and functions
Geometry and measurement
Data analysis, statistics and probability
The test has a built in calculator function in
the online interface. No other calculator
may be used.
Tends to be more
popular?
With private schools and schools on the
east and west coasts; however, every four-
year college in the US accepts SAT scores
With public schools and schools in the
Midwest and south; however, every four-
year college in the US accepts ACT scores
All Texas public colleges and universities
require students to meet the TSI thresholds
before placement into Math/English
courses. There are a number of ways in
which a student can be TSI exempt.
Offered when?
Seven times per year: January, March,
May, June, October, November, December
Seven times per year: February, April,
June, July, September, October, December
Varies by institution- many colleges and
universities offer it daily and high schools
at selected times
Registration deadline?
Typically about four weeks before the test
date
Typically about five to six weeks before
the test date
Varies by institution
