The SAT is rooted in aptitude testing and is known for its “trickiness,”
as educators say, like partly correct or plausible but wrong choices on
answers. It long dominated college admissions on the East and West Coasts,
while the ACT dominated in the Midwest.
The ACT, created by the company of the same name, is based on surveys of
curriculum across the country and is over all considered more
straightforward. But it gives less time for more questions, and has a
science section.
Competition for market share has been growing, and in 2012, the ACT
surpassed the SAT.
