AP
Advancement Placement tests are college-level exams on specific subjects and are administered in May upon the completion of an AP course taken at a student’s high school. At many colleges and universities, a high enough score will earn the student college credit. In some instances, earning college credit can mean an overall lower college tuition bill.
SAT and ACT
The Scholastic Assessment Test and the American College Testing are (American) entrance exams used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. The tests are a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered by the College Board and by ACT, Inc.
The purpose of the SAT and ACT is to measure a high school student’s readiness for college and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants.