TEA SAT vs ACT vs TSIA Comparison Chart
SAT
ACT
TSIA
Definition
• Created and
administered by the
College Board
• College preparation
assessment
• Created and
administered by ACT,
Inc.
• College preparation
assessment
•
Developed by College
Board (ACCUPLACER)
College preparation
assessment
• Used to determine
college readiness
Subjects
• Evidence-Based
Reading and Writing
• Math
• Optional essay
• English
• Math
• Reading
• Science
• Optional essay/writing
• Reading
• Writing with required
essay
• Math
Length
• 3 hours
• 50 minute essay
• 80 seconds/question
• 2 hours, 55 minutes
• 40 minute essay/writing
• 49 seconds/question
• Untimed
• Subjects can be taken
separately
Cost
• Spring 11
th
graders or
12
th
graders can take
one SAT, ACT, TSIA for
FREE!
• Or $35 for school day
administration
• Spring 11
th
graders or
12
th
graders can take
one SAT, ACT, TSIA for
FREE!
• Or $35 for school day
administration
• Spring 11
th
graders or
12
th
graders can take
one SAT, ACT, TSIA
for FREE!
• Or $35 for school day
administration
Scoring
• Score range: 400-1600
• No penalty for guessing
• Score range: 1-36
• No penalty for guessing
• Minimum scores for
college-readiness are
the following:
• Reading: 351
• Writing: 340/4+ or
<340/5+
• Math: 350
Preparation
• Free, personalized
practice through Khan
Academy
• Free Daily Practice
through the mobile app
• Free ACT Academy
including 1200+
resources
• Free Daily Practice
through MyACT.org
• Free official College
Board TSIA web-
based app with
practice questions and
answer key
Decision
• College admission
• Scholarship
consideration
• College and career goal
discovery
• College admission
• Scholarship
consideration
• College and career goal
discovery
• Determines readiness
for college-level
coursework
