Which test should I take? The ACT or SAT?
Table of Contents
What are the SAT and ACT, and why do I need them?
The SAT and ACT are standardized tests that colleges use as objective tools to assess your academic preparedness. At least, that's what colleges will say. But they open doors through scholarships and admissions to selective colleges. Yes, there has been a movement towards test-free and test-optional colleges. However, for the more selective colleges and moving forward in a post-pandemic world, not submitting your SAT and ACT scores will be seen as a more declarative statement.
So, when should you take the SAT or ACT, and when does it make sense to skip it? Well, it depends on you, your personal history with academics, and where you plan on attending (so make sure to check in with your college counselor). But, a strong SAT or ACT score will never close any doors. In fact can help you gain access to great scholarships, select universities, and, more importantly, differentiate yourself from the crowd of applicants.
We've decided to put together a resource to help you with the basics. In this guide, you'll learn the differences between the two tests, when you should start studying, and tips that have helped hundreds of students (just like you) get better test scores with less stress.
Covid's impact on SAT/ACT scores
The value of a high SAT or ACT score lands differently in 2021. While some colleges still require SAT/ACT scores as part of their admissions decisions, other colleges have gone either "test-optional" or "test-blind." However, just because a college may not consider your SAT/ACT score for admissions purposes, they may still use your test scores to assess how much free money they might offer you to attend their college (called merit-based aid). Unfortunately, each college has different policies on what they will do with SAT/ACT scores, so you'll want to do some research before deciding to opt-out.
General Guideline
If you're ok doing standardized tests and don't struggle with severe test anxiety, we recommend taking the test, just in case.
Differences between the SAT and ACT
Although the SAT was designed to initially test aptitude whereas the ACT-tested achievements, over the years, both tests have converged to try for the same thing: "college readiness" - but in somewhat different ways.
Each test is structurally different in terms of content, pacing, and the types of problem-solving skills it requires. And we've found that students often emerge from their diagnostic SAT and ACT with a strong preference for one test over the other.
| ACT | SAT | |
Format | 4 Sections English, Math, Reading, Science OPTIONAL 5TH SECTION: ESSAY 2:55 HOURS (3:40 HOURS W/ESSAY) | 4 Sections Writing & Language, Reading, 2 Math, NO ESSAY OPTION 3 HOURS | |
Pacing | QUICKER AT 0:49 MIN/QUESTION | SLOWER AT 1:10 MIN /QUESTION | |
SCORING | Total: 1-36 Average of all 4 sections Each section out of 1-36 NOTE: MATH = 25% OF SCORE | TOTAL: 400-1600 ADD UP TWO MAIN SCORES W&L + R: 200-800 + MATH: 200-800 NOTE: MATH = 50% OF SCORE | |
APPROACH | FEELS MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD | MORE INFERENCE & LOGIC | |
CAVEAT | ~400 COLLEGES SUPERSCORE | ~900 COLLEGES SUPERSCORE | |
ENGLISH/ WRITING & LANGUAGE | GRAMMAR & USAGE, PUNCTUATION, STRUCTURE, RHETORIC SLIGHTLY LESS COMPLEX PASSAGES MUCH FASTER PACED 75 QUESTIONS IN 45 MINUTES | GRAMMAR & USAGE, PUNCTUATION, STRUCTURE, RHETORIC SOME DATA GRAPHS INCLUDED 33% MORE TIME PER QUESTION 44 QUESTIONS IN 35 MINUTES | |
MATH | PRE-ALGEBRA THROUGH BASIC TRIG STRONG EMPHASIS ON GEOMETRY BROADER RANGE OF CONCEPTS NO FORMULAS GIVEN CALCULATOR ON ALL QUESTIONS 60 QUESTIONS IN 60 MINUTES | PRE-ALGEBRA THROUGH BASIC TRIG STRONG EMPHASIS ON ALGEBRA DEEPER ON FEWER CONCEPTS BASIC GEOMETRY FORMULAS GIVEN CALCULATOR ON ONLY 1 SECTION 58 QUESTIONS IN 80 MINUTES OF THESE, 13 ARE OPEN ANSWER | |
READING | 4 PASSAGES, 10 QUESTIONS EACH FOCUS ON READING COMPREHENSION UNDER TIME CONSTRAINT 40 QUESTIONS IN 35 MINUTES | 5 PASSAGES, 10-11 QUESTIONS EACH FOCUS ON VOCABULARY, AUTHOR'S ROLE, TEXTUAL EVIDENCE 52 QUESTIONS IN 65 MINUTES | |
SCIENCE | LOTS OF GRAPHS & DATA BUT NO SPECIFIC SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED 40 QUESTIONS IN 35 MINUTES | NO SCIENCE SECTION: 21 QUESTIONS ABOUT GRAPHS & DATA IN OTHER SPACES | |
ESSAY | OPTIONAL 50 MINUTE ESSAY SECTION | NO ESSAY SECTION | |
...and these differences are just the beginning.
How to decide which test to take?
The most common mistake students make when choosing which test to take is basing their choice on advice from Reddit, rumors, or what their best friend says. However, these tests weigh different sets of skills uniquely! Therefore the easiest way to get a better score is to pick the test that leans in YOUR favor. So before you swear allegiance to any particular difficulty, take a full-length practice version of each test and see which one feels better! Trust me; you'll thank us later.
Don't:
Pick the ACT because you love math & science
Base your decision on what your friend is doing
Do:
Take a free diagnostic SAT & ACT
Get your scores evaluated (for free) by one of our academic advisors
Main Differences
Find that you are strong in math? SAT
Rely heavily on your calculator? ACT
Find yourself re-reading passages? SAT
Like straightforward questions? ACT
Decipher tables and graphs quickly? ACT
Love geometry? ACT
Love algebra? SAT
Struggle with timing? ACT