The ACT and the SAT are both college admissions exams that offer schools a way to academically compare students from around the world. Most colleges and universities will require students to include test scores from one of the two exams with their college applications. But which one should students take? Most schools will accept either test, but does that mean students are expected to take both? Here, we’ll walk you through our recommendation for which test to choose and how to determine if one is a better fit for your student than the other.

The ACT and SAT are both standardized exams that students often are required to include with their college applications. Both exams test students in areas of language arts, math, and writing, and the ACT also has an emphasis on science. Both tests also have an optional writing section where students write an essay on a specific topic to evaluate their writing skills.

Since the exams are so similar and have the same overall use, how do you know which one to take? This is a great question. The answer: it depends. There are some instances where it can be smart for students to take both the ACT and the SAT, but generally students need to only take one or the other.

Before you decide which test is right for you, make sure you understand what they are and what they test.

What are the ACT and SAT used for?

Both the ACT and the SAT are nationally recognized standardized college admissions exams and are universally accepted by American colleges and universities.

What makes the ACT and SAT helpful to colleges is that it gives them a common datapoint to use to compare students from throughout the country and even throughout the world. Where a 3.8 GPA does not always mean the same thing from one school to the next, an ACT score of 28 certainly does.

Yet, the ACT and the SAT are not the only things that college weigh when they review your college application package. In fact, many schools have made these exams optional or simply give them less weight during the admissions process. Other important factors that get included with a college application often include an official transcript, a student resume of activities and extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and written personal statements.

Even if admissions exams are optional for a certain school, it can be a good idea to include test scores with an application if they will be helpful to increasing your chances of getting into a specific school.

Throughout the country, 2.1 million members of the class of 2018 took the SAT, and 1.9 million took the ACT. Many of these student did, in fact, take both exams, but many did not.

So, we’re back to the key question: How do you decide if you should take the ACT or the SAT?

Neither test is easy, so there’s not a clear “easier” option to pick from. Each examines students on information and concepts from various subject areas, including English/language arts and math, and each test requires students to work at a certain pace in order to complete all of the questions in the given time constraint. Both tests require a significant amount of preparation and practice in order for students to expect to perform to their full potential on test day.

There are some things that the tests do differently. For instance, there is a decreased emphasis on math on the ACT and the SAT has slightly more generous time constraints. We’re going to take a deeper dive into the differences of the two exams below. Perhaps these differences will help you to determine which test might be the better choice for you.

How are the ACT and SAT different?

Structure: The overall structure of the exams is actually pretty similar, but there are some key differences. Both exams are broken up into sections based on the topic. The SAT is composed of a reading section, a writing and language section, and a long math section. In contrast, the ACT is broken into four sections: English, math, reading, and science. Both exams are multiple choice tests, and both tests have an optional fifth section: Writing.

Timing: In terms of the total time that it takes to complete the exams, the SAT is a slightly longer test, lasting 3 hours, whereas the ACT takes 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete. The SAT has significantly fewer questions, totaling 154 across the different sections. The ACT consists of 215 questions. That means the time constraint is slightly less intense for the SAT, meaning students can work at a slightly slower pace on the SAT than on the ACT. 

Content: This is where the tests begin to have some more key differences. While the tests may seem to examine students on the same concepts, the actual question types and concepts tested can vary quite a bit.

For example, the ACT has an “English” section, whereas the SAT has a “Writing and Language” section.

The English section of the ACT focuses largely on conventions of standard English—or English GRAMMAR. Grammar questions make up 40 of the 75 questions in the ACT English section. In contrast, the SAT focuses more on development of language and writing and word choice, with a smaller emphasis on grammar.

Similarly, there are quite a few important differences to note between the math exams of the ACT and the SAT. Where the ACT has one math section, the SAT has two: one 25-minute section that permits students to use a calculator and one 55-minute section that does not. The ACT allows students to use their calculator throughout the entire 60-minute math section.

Both tests examine students heavily on mathematic concepts of algebra, but the ACT has a heavier focus on geometry than the SAT.

Another important difference to note is how important the math score is in calculating the overall test score on the SAT compared to the ACT. On the ACT, each of the four sections makes up 25% of your composite score. Since there is just the one math section, math will make up just 25% of your total score.

Since 2 of the 4 sections on the SAT are math sections, math makes up 50% of your final SAT score. That means that there is a much heavier focus on math on the SAT and half of your score is determined based on your math performance.

The ACT gives students 60 minutes to complete 60 math questions. That means students need to work at a pace of one minute per question to have time to complete all of the problems.

The SAT has a more generous time constraint. Students have 25 minutes to complete 20 questions in the no-calculator section of the SAT. They then have 55 minutes to complete 38 questions with the help of their calculators. This breaks down to 75 seconds per question on the no-calculator section and 87 seconds per question on the calculator section of the SAT.

The small time difference may not seem like it should make much of a difference in performance, but this extra time could allow you to complete all parts of the SAT math section, whereas many students struggle to complete the ACT math section due to its intense time constraint.

Regarding areas related to reading, on the ACT, students are given 35 minutes to read 4 stories and answer 40 questions. On the SAT, students are given 65 minutes to work through 52 questions. That means that, once again, overall time per question is a little friendlier on the SAT than it is on the ACT. In fact, the most difficult part of the ACT reading section for many students is simply moving fast enough to complete the entire section.

Additionally, the SAT is friendlier in another way: the SAT provides all questions in chronological order. That means the earlier questions will ask about early on in the story, and the later questions will ask about information from later in the story. This can be very helpful when working through the questions, as you have a good idea of where you need to be looking for your answer. In contrast, each story on the ACT is accompanied by 10 questions that are ordered randomly. Oftentimes the first question will ask about the story as a whole, and mixed into the questions will be others that ask about certain parts of the story in no particular order.

The ACT has an entire section devoted to science, so science makes up 25% of your score on the ACT. While this section is deemed the “Science” section, there is very little scientific background required for students to do well on this part of the ACT. This section mainly examines your ability to read and interpret data from charts, graphs, and tables, and analyze and understand experiments, hypotheses, and research.

In contrast, the SAT does not have a section focused solely on science. It does, however, incorporate science questions throughout the other parts of the exam.

Scoring: Despite the numerous similarities between the ACT and the SAT, the scoring could not be more different.

The SAT is scored in a range of 400 to 1600. The ACT is scored in a range between 1 and 36. This difference is not super significant when considering which test to take, but it can be interesting to compare test scores across exams to determine equivalents from the other test.

To help you determine whether you should focus on the ACT, the SAT, or if you should, in fact, take both exams, we’ve put together a short quiz below.

ACT vs SAT quiz

If you still can’t determine which test you should focus your time on, consider the ACT vs SAT quiz below. Read the statements and determine if you AGREE or DISAGREE.

• I am good at geometry and trigonometry.

• I struggle with solving math problems without a calculator.

• Science is a strength of mine.

• It’s easier for me to explain my opinion than to analyze something.

• I normally do poorly on math tests.

• I can recall math formulas easily.

• I like relying on multiple choice options for math questions.

• I have no problem moving quickly and working within tight time constraints.

• I struggle with finding evidence to back up my answers.

• I am good at reading comprehension, even if questions are asked out of chronological order.
  
  

Once you’ve gone through all the statements, count up how many times you answered AGREE and how many DISAGREE.

When is the ACT a better option?

Mostly AGREEs — Focus on the ACT
If you agreed with most of the statements above, the ACT will be more geared toward your strengths. The ACT score is less focused on math, and you’re given multiple choice options throughout all parts of the test.

Some things to consider:

• Students who excel at grammar may find the ACT English section to be pretty easy.

• Students who struggle with math may choose to take the ACT so that their test score relies less on their math performance.

• Students who find data interpretation to be easy may find the ACT science section to be an asset to their overall score; the SAT does not have a science-specific section.

When is the SAT a better option?

Mostly DISAGREEs — Focus on the SAT
If you mainly disagreed with the statements above, the SAT will be a better fit for you. The SAT gives you more time to work through each question, and, although it more focused on math, you won’t need to worry about working through a ton of geometry questions. Additionally, there is no science section to worry about.

Some things to consider:

• Students who struggle with grammar may find that they perform better on the SAT Writing and Language test than they do on the ACT English section.

• Students who struggle with geometry may find the SAT math section easier due to the heavy emphasis on geometry on the ACT.

• Students who excel in math may find the SAT to be a better fit, as the overall score relies more heavily on math ability.

• For students who prefer to read more slowly and work through the questions in-depth, the SAT may be more favorable due to a slightly more relaxed time constraint on the reading section.

• Students who dislike or have trouble with science and data may find the SAT to be a better fit since it lacks a section dedicated to science.

When would either test work fine?

Equal number of AGREEs and DISAGREEs - Either test will work
If you chose “AGREE” and “DISAGREE” an equal number of times, there will likely not be a clear divide between the two tests for you. Either test will work well for you. As a starting place, consider taking an official practice test of each exam to determine which one you want to take on and where to focus your efforts.

When should you take both the ACT and the SAT?

Many admissions officers and high school counselors actually recommend that students take BOTH the ACT and the SAT at least once, even if it’s just a practice test. If possible, it’s a good idea to start with a practice exam for each. That could give you an idea of which exam is easier for you, though many students find that they perform at a similar level on both tests.

Since the tests have a lot in common, it is possible that your original practice scores for the two tests will be pretty similar. If that’s the case, there may not be a clear “winner” right from the start. If you find yourself unsure of which path to take, consider the information we’ve discussed in this post. What areas are easy for you? Which are difficult? You can use our quiz above to help you decide what may be the better choice for you. If you end up with a similar number of AGREES and DISAGREES, maybe try each test once. It’s very possible that you will prefer one over the other, whether because of content, format, or some other factor. Additionally, make sure you know what the requirements are for the specific schools you’re hoping to apply to. This will help you know what steps you need to take to make sure you meet all of the admissions requirements.

Another Consideration: SAT Subject Tests

The SAT also offers what they call “Subject Tests.” These are tests specifically focused on certain subjects, such as physics, biology, language, etc. These subject tests are mainly used for students who are applying to very specific or competitive programs that are focused on a certain topic.

Take, for example, a student that is looking to get into a very competitive engineering school. They might consider taking the SAT subject tests for physics and mathematics to demonstrate their expertise in these areas.

Here is a full list of the SAT subject tests that are offered by The College Board:

• Mathematics Level 1

• Mathematics Level 2

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Literature

• US History

• World History

• Languages: French, German, Italian, Modern Hebrew, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean

To learn more about the SAT subject tests, you can visit The College Board website.

We mainly recommend subject tests for students looking to demonstrate their skills in a specific area in order to help them get into specific or competitive programs. There is no need for all students to consider taking SAT subject tests to include with their admissions applications.

Both tests have an optional essay writing section. Should you take it?

Our answer to this question is always YES. You should definitely consider taking the essay portion of the ACT or SAT at least one time, whether it is required to be included with your college applications or not.

Both exams include an optional writing section. While both of these sections examine a student’s ability to construct an essay, the types of essays are incredibly different.

The SAT has students read a passage and then analyze it in an essay. You’ll have to dissect the author’s argument and use evidence and reasoning in your writing to analyze the author’s viewpoint and purpose.

In stark contrast, the ACT writing section requires students to construct an argumentative essay in which they offer their own opinion of a given subject. Students are given a topic and three perspectives; you’ll select a perspective you agree with and make an argument for it, using examples and persuasion in your essay.

Although the writing portion of each test is optional, it is recommended to take the writing portion at least once on whichever exam you decide to focus on. The main reason for this is that there are many schools that require you to include your writing score with your college application package. Imagine that you skip the writing section and later find out that it is required for one of the schools you want to apply to. To avoid that disaster, plan to take the writing section at least once.

Additionally, even though the ACT and SAT writing sections are optional, they provide a beneficial opportunity for high school students to see how their writing skills measure up to what will be expected of them at the college level. There is a lot of writing at the college level, be it multiple-page essays with several references and a large presentation, or short writing pieces as homework. Regardless of the area of study a student enters into, strong writing skills will be an asset throughout their college education and beyond.