Are you confused about the difference between the SAT and ACT? Are you trying to decide if you should take one or both? Read below to find out more!
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Standardized testing has long been a part of the college admissions process. Understanding these tests and their evolving importance can help you decide how they fit into your college application strategy. Below, you’ll find an overview of the SAT and ACT and what you should do to prepare if you decide to take them.
SAT: Taken in Junior and Senior year of high school, it is a 2 hour 14 minute test broken up into two sections, Reading/Writing and Math, with 98 total questions. As of 2024 the SAT is taken on a computer, not with pencil and paper. As of 2024 it is also now “adaptive”, which means the difficulty of the test changes based on how well a student has done on previous questions. Students can get as high as an 800 on each section, for a total high score of 1600.
ACT: Taken in Junior and Senior year of high school, it is a 2 hour 55 minute test broken up into four sections, English, Math, Reading and Science, with 215 total questions. There is also an optional Writing section. Starting in mid 2025, however, major changes are coming to the ACT. The ACT has announced the Science section will be optional, the total number of questions will drop to 171, the total length of the test will decrease to 2 hours and 5 minutes, and the test will be able to be taken on the computer or with pencil and paper. Regardless of the type of test taken, however, students can get a total high score of 36.
Should you take the SAT or ACT?
There are very few schools that still require a student to take the SAT/ACT and submit scores.
For the most part, they are Ivy League schools and some schools in the southern US. If you’re not applying to any of those schools, then taking the SAT/ACT can’t really hurt, since it’s your choice to submit your scores or not. You can typically take the tests as many times as you want and only submit your highest score.
For the SAT, most colleges accept your “superscore” (some, but not all colleges, also accept a superscore for the ACT). Your superscore is your highest total score when adding the Reading/Writing and Math sections together. So, for example, if you took the SAT test twice and got a 550 on the Reading/Writing and 600 on the Math on your first test (for a total score of 1150) and a 610 on the Reading/Writing and a 570 on the Math on your second test (for a total score of 1180), you could combine your highest Reading/Writing and Math scores, in this case 610 and 600, for a total superscore of 1210. As noted above, there are major changes coming to the ACT in 2025. It's unclear exactly how these changes may affect the difficulty of the test, comparability of the scores with previous years' tests, how colleges may view the scores, etc.
I want to take the SAT/ACT. What do I need to know? How should I prepare?
If you decide to take the SAT or ACT, here’s what you should know. Each test is offered on different dates, and they are each offered about once a month. You can find a calendar of the dates and locations (usually, but not always, given at your local high school) they are offered online. The SAT has a reputation for being a bit more like a logic test, while the ACT has a reputation of being more similar to a test you might get in high school. The ACT also has a reputation for being a bit easier for some students who have learning differences. It’s usually best to take each test once to see which one you prefer, and then take your preferred test a second or third time.
Test preparation can also be quite helpful. There are a wide range of test prep resources available, including practice tests, test prep books, tutors and test prep centers. Most SAT/ACT tutors recommend studying about 2-3 months in advance of taking your first test. Make sure you take at least one (if not more!) full, timed practice tests in that time, as that is the best way to simulate what it will be like taking the SAT or ACT.
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