How to Choose the SAT or ACT

Joshua White

June 29, 2026

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min read

How to Decide: Should You Take the SAT or the ACT?

One of the earliest forks on your student’s road to college admissions is choosing between the SAT and the ACT. Though both tests serve a similar purpose (and sound the same if you say them five times fast), deciding which to take is a crucial step in the test-prep process and helps ensure that your student is showcasing their academic potential in the best light possible.

We know this decision is confusing for a lot of students and their parents. How to choose between the SAT and ACT is probably one of the most common questions we get asked! Though the considerations will vary depending on each student’s particular situation and goals, there are step-by-step guidelines that can help any student make the choice that best suits them:

Step 1: Try out the tests. Complete a full-length, proctored practice test of each. Emulate real test-taking conditions as much as you can. Prioritize the most recent official SAT and ACT practice tests, as some official sources may be outdated and most unofficial practice tests are inaccurate. Record your impressions: How did each test feel? Did you have enough time to finish each section? Where did you feel most confident, and where did you struggle?

Step 2: Compare your results. Typically, one score will be higher, one test will present an easier road to improvement, or you’ll prefer the experience of taking one of the tests more than the other. You can compare your scores with official concordance data to see if you scored significantly better on SAT or ACT; generally, if the scores differ by 70 or more SAT points, that’s enough to confidently guide your decision.

Step 3: If scores are close, consider your experience, potential, and schedule. For most students, SAT and ACT scores will be close enough that they alone aren’t enough to choose which to focus on. In these cases, if you didn’t have a very strong personal preference for one of the tests, the SAT/ACT decision will be nuanced. Consider where you lost points on each test: How difficult would it be to build those necessary skills? Also consider when the official test administrations will be held and how those dates fit into your calendar.

There is no universally "better" or “easier” test. The best choice depends on each individual student’s strengths and preferences. By understanding the differences between the SAT and ACT and comparing results from each, families can make a confident, informed decision and focus their preparation on the test that offers the greatest opportunity for success. There are a lot of factors to weigh, so let’s dig into them further and address some common questions.

Head-to-Head Breakdown: What Are the Biggest Differences Between the SAT and ACT?

At a glance, the SAT and the ACT appear quite similar, but a closer look reveals multiple differences in their content, presentation, and scoring. While most students score comparably on the SAT and ACT, these differences can impact which is the better fit for your student’s improvement potential or personal preferences.

The most common feedback we get from students about their SAT and ACT experiences is related to question complexity and timing. With significantly less time per question, the ACT requires a steady, efficient pace to finish on time. On the other hand, the SAT has a greater number of complicated questions, which can take a long time to solve. Do you like to slow down and deeply concentrate on a problem? If so, maybe SAT Math suits you better. Would you rather memorize a large set of skills and terms and then use these to work quickly? If so, ACT Math is likely a better fit. If you’ve scored similarly on practice tests, these considerations can be critical for your choice of SAT or ACT.

While the majority of skills needed on these tests will overlap, there are a few skills that are unique to one test or the other. The SAT tests more vocabulary, deeper knowledge of Algebra II skills, and logical analysis of reading. The ACT tests many more math skills (including matrices, vectors, and statistics) and requires focused reading of longer texts (up to 750 words, which is about 3 pages in a typical book). Depending on a student’s knowledge and ability, these content differences can determine which test feels more comfortable and where they have more potential to improve scores.

Finally, the two tests also differ in their scoring. Most significantly, the SAT Math score is worth 1/2 of the SAT Total score, whereas the ACT Math score is worth only 1/3 of the ACT Composite. For students with relatively strong or weak math abilities, this scoring can lead to large differences in overall scores and the potential for improvement. Also, zooming in to the finer details, let’s take a look at how individual questions are scored. On the ACT, this is simple, as each question is worth the same amount. On the SAT, however, some questions are worth more than others; in particular, the SAT is more punishing of missed easy questions, so SAT students cannot afford to make careless mistakes (for a deep dive into SAT question weighting, check out our expert overview).

All of these factors should inform your student’s choice of which test should be the focus of test preparation. It’s a complex, nuanced decision, and it’s important to make it confidently.

SAT-ACT Test Comparison
Feature	Digital SAT	ACT (Core)
Total Test Length	2 hours and 14 minutes	2 hours and 5 minutes
Adaptive Layout	Yes (computer-adaptive modules vary in difficulty based on performance)	No (linear format)
Core Sections Included	Reading & Writing, Math	English, Math, Reading (Science is optional)
Time Per Question	More generous, but more complex questions 71 sec per Reading/Writing question 95 sec per Math question	Less time, but more straightforward questions 42 sec per English question 67 sec per Math question 67 sec per Reading question
English & Reading Content	Many short passages, emphasis on logical analysis	Few longer passages, emphasis on comprehension and speed
Math Content	Heavy focus on algebra skills (~70% of questions) and solving multi-step problems	Wider distribution of skills tested (including matrices, vectors, and statistics)

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In the past, one of the most significant differences between the tests was the ACT’s Science section, but this section is now optional and not required for most colleges. Students who decide to focus on the ACT will need to determine whether they should dedicate prep time to the optional ACT Science section (check here for detailed guidance).

When Is the Best Time to Choose Between the SAT and ACT?

Junior and senior years of high school are especially busy. Your class grades, AP scores, and extracurriculars during these years are vitally important to your college applications, and it can be challenging to dedicate enough time to each of these. When you add SAT or ACT prep into the mix, the pressure increases. That’s why the ideal time for making the SAT/ACT decision is during the summer, when you have less mental strain and more flexibility with your time.

If it works with your schedule, try to take a practice test for both the SAT and ACT during the summer before your junior year or before your senior year. By knocking out this stage of test preparation before the school year, you’ll prevent a lot of potential stress.

Later, when you have a few months to dedicate to studying one of the exams, you’ll already be on your ideal path. By planning ahead, you can coordinate test preparation with your other commitments. This will help you perform your best and avoid burnout during this critical time.

What Scores Do I Need for My Goal Schools?

The SAT or ACT scores that are considered “competitive” will vary at each school. Generally, you should aim for test scores that at least reach the 50th percentile for accepted students. These scores demonstrate that you are prepared for the academic rigor of that school’s classes. Higher scores give your application a greater competitive advantage. Also, keep in mind that many students are admitted with lower scores (or with no test scores at “test-optional” schools) because other aspects of their applications are especially strong.

25th-75th Percentile Score Ranges for Accepted Applicants at Colleges
School	SAT Scores	ACT Scores
Boston University	1430–1510	32–34
Brown University	1510–1560	34–35
Colorado College	1240–1440	29–33
Columbia University	1510–1560	34–36
Cornell University	1510–1560	33–35
DePaul University	1090–1300	24–30
Duke University	1500–1570	34–35
Emory University	1480–1540	32–35
Harvard University	1510–1580	34–36
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	1520–1580	35–36
Michigan State University	1100–1310	24–30
Ohio State University	1280–1430	26–32
Princeton University	1500–1560	34–35
Texas A & M University	1160–1390	25–31
University of Georgia	1120–1400	26–32
University of Southern California	1450–1530	32–35
Yale University	1480–1560	33–35

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This set of schools shows a range of competitiveness, and includes many of the schools that our students are most interested in applying to.

Should I Try to Prep for Both the SAT and ACT?

After making an informed decision, stick with one test—either the SAT or the ACT—all the way through. Leave the other behind in the dust. There is no benefit to submitting both tests’ scores to colleges. Your application will benefit much more from taking the time you would spend on a second test type and dedicating it to your school classes, AP exams, or extracurriculars instead. Focus on one test and maximize your score increase potential while considering the overall strength of your college application.

Do Colleges Prefer the SAT or the ACT?

Colleges show absolutely zero preference between the two tests. From the perspective of admissions offices, there is no advantage to choosing the SAT or ACT. As all colleges consider these test scores equally, the only benefit one test has over the other is how well it suits you. Pick the best test for you and stick with it.

What Do I Need to Know for Prep and Test-Taking?

Choosing between the SAT and ACT is important, but it’s only the beginning. Once you’ve decided on your testing path, there are still many decisions to make and questions to answer:

When is the ideal time to take the official SAT or ACT? Statistically, students score best in the spring of junior year and fall of senior year. We generally dissuade students from testing too early.
How long does it take to fully prepare? Typical SAT or ACT preparation begins 12–16 weeks before your first official test.
How many times should you take the official test? We recommend taking the test twice. The first test will build confidence for the second. At the same time, knowing you have a second chance eases the pressure during the first test. Assume a third test may be advisable to hit goal scores or reach your full potential.
Are some test dates easier or harder than others? No, both the SAT and ACT scoring scales are aligned with standardized performance metrics. They are not “curved” based on student performance on each test date, and the scoring is adjusted to compensate for any variation in difficulty among test forms.
Has the SAT or ACT changed? Yes, the ACT fully rolled out its new “Enhanced” version in September 2025, and the SAT rolled out its revised “Digital” version in March 2024.