SAT vs. ACT: a parent planning guide
Get tutoring help for your child →Colleges that require or consider test scores accept either the SAT or the ACT. Neither is easier overall. Many students do noticeably better on one, so it is worth comparing before committing months of preparation.
The two tests side by side
| Digital SAT | Enhanced ACT | |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | Reading and Writing; Math | English, Math, Reading; Science is optional |
| Questions | 98 (54 Reading and Writing, 44 Math) | 131 in English, Math and Reading; 40 more if Science is taken |
| Testing time | About 2 hours 14 minutes | 2 hours 5 minutes without Science; 40 minutes more with it |
| Format | Taken on a device; adaptive by module | Online or on paper |
| Scores | 400–1600 (two sections of 200–800) | Composite 1–36, from English, Math and Reading |
| Calculator | Built-in Desmos calculator for all of Math | Allowed on the Math section |
How to choose
- Take one full official practice test of each under timed conditions, and compare the results.
- Consider pacing. The ACT asks more questions in a similar time, so it rewards speed. The SAT gives more time per question.
- Consider comfort with screens. The SAT is digital only; the ACT can still be taken on paper at many sites.
- Check each college’s policy, including whether it is test-optional and whether it wants the ACT Science score.
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A planning timeline
- Grade 10 or early grade 11: practice tests of both; the PSAT gives an early read on the SAT.
- Grade 11: two to three months of focused preparation, then a first official test.
- Late grade 11 or early grade 12: a second attempt if needed, leaving time before application deadlines.
Sources
Planning for the SAT or ACT?
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