SAT vs ACT: which test should you take?

What are the main differences between the SAT and the ACT?

The biggest differences are format and pacing: the digital SAT has two sections (Reading and Writing, and Math) in an adaptive format, while the ACT has three required sections (English, math, and reading) in a fixed, faster-paced format, plus optional Science and Writing sections.

The SAT is given digitally, in College Board's Bluebook app; paper testing is available only as an accommodation. Bluebook runs on a Windows laptop or tablet, a Mac laptop, an iPad, or a school-managed Chromebook, but not on a personal Chromebook or a phone. If you do not have a device, College Board may be able to lend you one; you must request it at least 30 days before test day.

The ACT can be taken online or on paper, depending on the test date and test center. The current version, often called the enhanced ACT, has been used for online national testing since April 2025, for all national testing since September 2025, and for state and district school-day testing since spring 2026. If you are using an older ACT prep book, check its date: ACT says the current version cut testing time by 75 minutes and has 44 fewer questions overall. The previous version also counted Science in the Composite and gave five answer choices on math questions instead of four.

The question style differs too. SAT Reading and Writing uses many short passages of 25 to 150 words, each followed by a single question. ACT English presents longer passages with questions about underlined or highlighted portions, and ACT reading uses longer prose passages and pairs of shorter passages, each followed by a set of questions.

How long is each test, and how much time do you get per question?

The digital SAT takes 2 hours 14 minutes of testing time for 98 questions, and the core ACT takes 2 hours 5 minutes for 131 questions, so the ACT gives you noticeably less time per question. College Board puts it at about 1 minute 22 seconds per question on the SAT, compared with about 57 seconds per question on the ACT.

On the SAT, Reading and Writing has 54 questions in 64 minutes (two 32-minute modules) and Math has 44 questions in 70 minutes (two 35-minute modules), with a 10-minute break between the sections. On the ACT, English has 50 questions in 35 minutes, math has 45 questions in 50 minutes, and reading has 36 questions in 40 minutes. Optional Science adds 40 questions in 40 minutes, bringing testing time to about 2 hours 45 minutes, and the optional Writing essay adds another 40 minutes. Each multiple-choice ACT section includes some unlabeled field-test questions that do not count toward your score, and the SAT includes two unscored pretest questions in each module, so treat every question as if it counts.

Pacing is often the deciding factor. If you tend to run out of time on tests, the SAT's extra time per question may suit you. If you read quickly and like a steady rhythm, the ACT's pace may feel fine. A timed practice test of each will tell you more than any general rule.

How are SAT and ACT scores calculated?

The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600, the sum of two section scores from 200 to 800 (Reading and Writing, and Math). The ACT Composite is scored from 1 to 36 and is the rounded average of your English, math, and reading scores; Science and Writing do not affect it.

If you take ACT Science, you also receive a Science score and a STEM score that combines your math and science results. If you take the ACT Writing test, you receive a writing score from 2 to 12 and an ELA score that combines English, reading, and writing. ACT says there is no penalty for guessing, and College Board advises guessing rather than leaving a question blank, so answer every question on both tests.

Superscoring works differently on each test. ACT automatically calculates a superscore for students who have tested more than once, although not every college uses it. For the SAT, superscoring is a college policy: colleges that superscore use your best section scores from different test dates, and College Board's Score Choice lets you pick which test dates to send, although some colleges require all scores.

To compare an SAT score with an ACT score, use the official ACT/SAT concordance tables that College Board and ACT publish. The current tables date from 2018, and ACT has said it expects the concordance to hold for the enhanced ACT. A concorded score is an approximate equivalent, not an exact prediction, and SAT and ACT section scores should never be combined into one superscore.

Can you use a calculator on the SAT and the ACT?

Yes, on the math sections of both tests, and on no other section. On the SAT, a Desmos calculator with graphing and scientific modes is built into Bluebook and available throughout the Math section, and you may also bring your own approved calculator. On the ACT, calculators are allowed only on the math section: students testing online have a Desmos graphing calculator built into the testing platform, and students testing on paper bring their own permitted calculator because testing staff do not supply one.

Both tests prohibit calculators with computer algebra system (CAS) features, such as the TI-89, TI-92, TI-Nspire CAS, HP Prime, and Casio ClassPad; a non-CAS TI-Nspire is allowed on both. ACT notes that every math problem can be solved without a calculator. One more practical difference: the SAT provides a math reference sheet, while the ACT assumes you know basic formulas, so ACT students should be comfortable with common algebra and geometry formulas before test day.

Should you take the optional ACT Science and Writing sections?

Take ACT Science if a college on your list requires or recommends it, or if you want a Science and STEM score to show strength in math and science; otherwise you can skip it without affecting your Composite. ACT leaves the decision to require Science to each college, and College Board has reported that some colleges updated their testing policies after Science became optional, in some cases by requiring the Science section. You can add or drop Science or Writing until the late registration deadline.

The ACT Writing test is a single 40-minute essay scored from 2 to 12. Take it only if a college or program you are applying to requires or recommends it. For school-day ACT testing, the state or district testing program decides whether Science and Writing are included, so it is not each student's choice.

The SAT has neither option. It has no separate science section, and the optional SAT Essay was discontinued on weekend test dates in 2021; it remains only in school-day testing in certain states that require it.

How do you decide whether to take the SAT or the ACT?

Take one full-length official practice test of each under real timing, then compare the results; the test where you score higher, after converting with the official concordance table, is usually the right choice. Both organizations offer free official practice tests.

1. Take a full-length SAT practice test in the Bluebook app. College Board's full-length practice tests are adaptive like the real test, and you can see your scores in My Practice when you sign in with a College Board student account.
2. Take a full-length ACT practice test from act.org, which offers four free official tests, each as an online simulation or a printable booklet. Time each section exactly, and include Science if you might take it.
3. Compare the two scores using the official ACT/SAT concordance table. If one is clearly higher, choose that test.
4. If the results are close, choose the format where you finished more comfortably, made fewer careless errors, and felt more confident.
5. Check whether your school or state gives the SAT or the ACT during the school day, since that sitting can count as one of your attempts.

When should you start preparing and take the test?

A common plan is to take your first official test in the spring of 11th grade and keep the summer and fall of 12th grade for a retake. College Board recommends taking the SAT at least twice, in the spring of junior year and the fall of senior year, and the same rhythm works well for the ACT. For prep, a reasonable starting plan is about 8 to 12 weeks of regular study before a test date, though the right amount depends on your starting point and goal.

Both tests are offered several times a year. The SAT is typically offered on weekends in August, September, October, November, December, March, May, and June. ACT's 2026-27 national test dates fall in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. On the current calendars, SAT registration closes about two weeks before test day, while the regular ACT deadline is about five weeks before, with a late deadline (and late fee) about two to three weeks before. Popular dates and test centers can fill up, so register early.

1. Fall of 10th or 11th grade: take the PSAT/NMSQT if your school offers it. For most students, the 11th-grade PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, and either sitting gives you an early SAT-style benchmark.
2. Winter of 11th grade: take one official practice test of each, choose your test, and register for a spring date.
3. About 8 to 12 weeks before your test date: start a regular study plan built on official practice material and full-length timed tests.
4. Spring of 11th grade: take your first official SAT or ACT.
5. Summer before 12th grade: review your score report, work on your weakest areas, and decide whether to retest.
6. Fall of 12th grade: retest if needed, choosing a date early enough for scores to reach colleges before your application deadlines.

Do colleges prefer the SAT or the ACT?

No. College Board states that colleges do not have a preference and that all colleges that accept or require an admission test accept the SAT, and ACT states that both tests are equally accepted at all accredited U.S. colleges and universities. A strong score on either test serves the same purpose.

What does vary is each college's testing policy. Some colleges require scores, many are test-optional, and policies can change from one admissions cycle to the next, so confirm the current policy on each college's admissions website. Scores can also matter for course placement, financial aid, and scholarships. Most students are better off focusing on one test: ACT itself notes that sending both scores usually gives no admissions advantage.

If you would like a structured plan and a matched tutor for either test, ProMed United's SAT & ACT Tutoring starts with a free consult.

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