ACT or SAT: What Should I Take?

After the COVID-19 pandemic briefly took standardized testing out of the picture for college admissions, testing has taken back its place as one of a student’s most important stats.

The college admissions landscape can be daunting, and many students and families find themselves out of the loop when it comes to today’s discussion around standardized testing. There are two primary extracurricular standardized tests that are used in the college admissions process: the ACT, or American College Testing, and the SAT, or Scholastic Assessment Test. Both exams play crucial roles in evaluating prospective students, but understanding their unique features can help maximize a student’s potential.

The ACT is split into four sections on Math, Reading, and Science, plus an optional Writing Test. The SAT, on the other hand, has 2 sections, Reading and Writing, and Math. Unlike the ACT, which can be taken both online and on paper, the SAT is offered only in a digital format, where each section is split into two modules. The second module’s difficulty adjusts to your performance on the first. That means that if your second module is much harder than your first, it could be an indicator that you’re doing very well.

In addition, the structure of each exam is very different. This means students can pick the ACT or the SAT based on what they know they’re good at.

ACT Structure:

English: 75 questions in 45 minutes — grammar, sentence structure, text organization

Math: 60 questions in 60 minutes — pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry

Reading: 40 questions in 35 minutes — reading comprehension, inference skills

Science: 40 questions in 35 minutes — interpretation, analysis, evidence, and evaluation of science topics

SAT Structure:

Reading Module 1: 27 questions in 32 minutes — mixed reading comprehension, vocabulary, use of evidence, grammar, interpretation of scientific topics

Reading Module 2: 27 questions in 32 minutes

Math Module 1: 22 questions in 35 minutes — problem solving, data analysis, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus

Math Module 2: 22 questions in 35 minutes

Several large differences stand out. First, the ACT generally requires a brisker pace when you answer questions. This necessarily means that the ACT on average asks less difficult questions. Also, because the ACT format is the same both on paper and digitally, its difficulty doesn’t adapt to how well you are performing on the exam. Therefore, students might find the SAT more challenging in terms of the complexity of questions asked. Second, the ACT includes a science section that expects students to know skills like dimensional analysis and equation balancing. The SAT’s science content is merely about comprehending readings that are about scientific topics. Finally, the SAT is a shorter exam — suitable for students who struggle with staying focused.

To excel on these tests, students must harness different academic and strategic strengths. Success on the ACT often requires solid analytical skills and a strong foundation in math and science concepts, while the SAT tends to favor those with strong reading comprehension and writing abilities, along with familiarity with math concepts up to pre-calculus. Understanding which exam aligns better with a student’s strengths can significantly impact their performance. It’s usually said that students who find themselves performing consistently better in math and science and lower with grammar, reading, and writing should take the ACT, while students who know a wide range of math and consistently do better in reading and writing should take the SAT. The ACT requires deeper knowledge of a more limited range of math topics.

No matter which exam you take, college admissions offices can sort them into categories that correspond to roughly equal levels of excellence. The chart officially used by the CollegeBoard, the institution that administers these exams, is pictured below.

ACT and SAT conversions for overall scores.

Another critical aspect to consider is the breakdown of scores. Certain colleges, like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), may scrutinize specific section scores. For instance, a perfect composite ACT score of 36 could be viewed unfavorably if the score for the Math section is 35 or less. For elite colleges such as MIT, which prioritizes its mathematics and other STEM programs, perfecting your Math score on the SAT and Math and Science scores on the ACT is important in terms of your admission.

Ultimately, while standardized test scores can influence admissions decisions, they do not define a student’s worth or potential. Colleges consider a holistic view of applicants, weighing factors such as extracurricular activities, personal essays, and letters of recommendation. However, strong test scores can help a student stand out in a crowded field. For students and families aiming towards the best of the best universities, your student should aspire to the 1500 to 1600 range on the SAT and the 34 to 36 range on the ACT. 

Most importantly, prioritize your well-being. Testing can become a cause of some of the biggest stresses in a student’s life, whether it's from your parents’ expectations, the successes of your peers, or the demands of elite colleges. If you try your hardest to get top scores and just aren’t there, always remember that ACT and SAT scores are just one part of the application, and other test scores like AP and IB exams can make up the difference.

We hope this article helps students and families better understand the tests available to them and how to pick between the two. PrepPages wishes you the very best of luck in your studies!

Best,

Rittik Bhattacharya

PrepPages Director of Programs