SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Should You Take?
The standardized testing landscape has undergone seismic shifts in recent years. With many colleges going test-optional—and some even test-blind—it's easy to wonder whether the SAT or ACT still matters. The truth? For many applicants, strong test scores remain a differentiator, particularly for competitive programs, merit scholarships, and international students. While Ellipsis Writing doesn’t offer formal standardizing testing prep, our advisors work with our one-on-one college advising students to help them unlock compelling narratives that can cement acceptances. As I often say: Standardized testing doesn’t get you into college—but it can keep you out.
So, despite pandemic-era softening on test scores, crafting a standardized testing plan that aligns with your natural testing preferences remains an important component of setting yourself up for SAT or ACT success. Let’s break down which test you should take: the SAT or the ACT?
Format & Structure
Understanding the format of each exam is critical not just for familiarity, but for tailoring your preparation effectively. The SAT gives students slightly more time per question, which can benefit those who prefer to take a moment to double-check their logic. It also separates math into two sections, which requires students to demonstrate mental math and number sense. The ACT, meanwhile, moves quickly and tests endurance. The compressed timing of each section means students must answer rapidly and accurately under pressure.
SAT:
Reading: 52 questions (65 minutes)
Writing & Language: 44 questions (35 minutes)
Math (No Calculator + Calculator): 58 questions (80 minutes)
Optional Essay: Discontinued
ACT:
English: 75 questions (45 minutes)
Math: 60 questions (60 minutes)
Reading: 40 questions (35 minutes)
Science: 40 questions (35 minutes)
Optional Essay: Discontinued by most colleges
Key Insight: Students who struggle with time pressure may find the ACT more challenging due to its faster pacing. Conversely, the SAT often requires more inference-based reasoning in the reading section.
Math Section
The math sections of the SAT and ACT diverge in both content and format, which means students benefit from understanding not only the topics tested, but the logic underlying each test’s construction. The SAT Math is broken into two parts: one where calculator use is permitted, and one where it is not. It focuses heavily on algebra, data analysis, linear equations, and problem-solving, with additional questions involving geometry and trigonometry. Students who succeed on the SAT often have strong conceptual math foundations and can adapt their thinking across multi-step word problems.
The ACT Math section, on the other hand, tests a wider range of topics, including more advanced geometry, matrices, and logarithms. It allows calculators throughout and leans toward more direct problem types. Students need to work quickly, as the ACT includes 60 questions in 60 minutes. Because of this, speed and automaticity with foundational math skills are critical.
Understanding which test better highlights your quantitative strengths can inform a more strategic application approach. For example, students aiming for math-heavy majors might decide to include scores that showcase those strengths, while others might lean on coursework and extracurriculars to convey academic fit.
Science Section (ACT only)
The ACT’s science section is not a science knowledge test—it's a data analysis test dressed in scientific clothing. Students are presented with multiple passages featuring graphs, tables, experiments, or conflicting viewpoints and must quickly interpret trends, compare hypotheses, or evaluate experimental design. While a basic familiarity with biology, chemistry, and physics helps with context, the key skill being tested is the ability to draw logical conclusions from provided data.
Students aiming for careers in STEM may find this section intuitive, while humanities-focused students might be intimidated at first. Success comes from practice in reading charts critically and distinguishing between what’s implied, what’s directly stated, and what’s irrelevant. Timing is a major hurdle—students must complete 40 questions in just 35 minutes, which leaves little room for rereading.
Deciding whether to take the ACT often hinges on a student's comfort with this section. If you're already demonstrating analytical rigor through science fair research or data-driven extracurriculars, this section can reinforce that narrative. If not, your broader application may speak more clearly without testing.
Reading Section
Both the SAT and ACT Reading sections require students to read quickly and think critically, but they differ significantly in tone, question style, and timing. The SAT Reading includes five long passages and 52 questions in 65 minutes, offering a bit more time per question than the ACT. The passages often include complex historical or literary texts—one of which is typically a primary source from the U.S. Founding Documents—and require inferential reasoning and analysis of tone, rhetorical structure, and subtle textual relationships.
In contrast, the ACT Reading section includes four passages with 40 questions in 35 minutes, meaning students must move much more quickly. The ACT tends to favor more direct questions and includes passage types like prose fiction, humanities, social science, and natural science, often rotating in a fixed order. It places a premium on locating evidence efficiently and drawing basic inferences from the text without overanalyzing.
For students who write, debate, or read voraciously, performance on these sections can offer helpful confirmation of those strengths. Identifying which test best supports your reading style and cognitive rhythm can ensure your scores are not just submitted, but strategically useful.
English/Writing & Language Section
The SAT Writing and Language and ACT English sections both test grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical clarity, but their formats and emphases differ. The SAT section includes 44 questions over 35 minutes, embedded in four passages, and prioritizes logical flow, stylistic precision, and evidence-based corrections. Students are expected to recognize redundancies, strengthen transitions, and revise for clarity and tone.
The ACT English section is longer—75 questions in 45 minutes across five passages—and tends to lean more heavily into mechanical skills like punctuation rules, parallel structure, and usage. It also features some rhetorical strategy questions, but the speed requirement makes mastery of grammar fundamentals crucial.
For many students, these sections confirm strong language instincts cultivated through schoolwork or creative writing. In your broader application, these scores can reinforce your academic narrative—particularly if you're interested in writing-heavy disciplines. Evaluating which test plays to your communication strengths can help you decide where to invest your efforts.
Essay Section (Discontinued)
While both the SAT and ACT once included optional essay components, these have now been phased out or dropped by nearly all colleges. However, strong writing skills remain critical in the admissions process—not for test performance, but for crafting compelling personal statements and supplements.
Rather than preparing for now-retired essay sections, students should focus on refining their writing through college application materials. Personal statements, supplements, and activity descriptions all offer opportunities to demonstrate voice, clarity, and purpose. Applicants with strong narrative instincts can use these written pieces to bridge academic interests, identity, and ambition—often more effectively than a standardized essay ever could.
This is where thoughtful guidance can help students turn experiences into essays that resonate. Whether you're reflecting on identity, leadership, setbacks, or intellectual curiosity, your writing becomes the lens through which admissions officers view your potential impact on campus.
What is Superscoring?
Superscoring is the practice of combining a student’s highest section scores from multiple sittings of the same test (SAT or ACT) to create a new composite “superscore.” For example, if a student scores a 700 on SAT Math (but a 690 on SAT Reading) in March and a 750 on SAT Reading (but a 680 on SAT Math) in May, many colleges will consider a composite score of 1450 using those top section scores—even though they weren’t achieved on the same day. The ACT works similarly: if a student earns a 33 in English (but a 29 in Science) on one test and a 34 in Science (but a 31 on English) on another, the superscore might average those top performances for a higher composite.
This strategy can reduce pressure on students to be perfect on a single test day and incentivizes smart, focused retesting. Many students develop targeted study plans between sittings to improve weaker sections while maintaining strength elsewhere. Superscoring is especially helpful for students with strong prep discipline or those applying to schools with holistic admissions processes that value resilience and self-awareness.
Important Caveat: Not all colleges superscore. While most private universities (including many Ivies, Duke, and Northwestern) do, some public systems (like Georgetown and the UC system) do not. It’s crucial to check each school’s policy on their admissions website.
State & School Requirements
Understanding regional testing policies can provide students and families with strategic advantages—especially when applying to public universities, considering regional merit scholarships, or comparing test score submission norms across institutions. For example, in states like Florida, Georgia, and Texas, the SAT or ACT is often part of the public education system. Students in these states may take tests during school hours; as a result, public universities in these states tend to receive significantly more of one test than the other (e.g., ACT in Florida or SAT in North Carolina).
For private and prep school students considering these or similar institutions, understanding the typical testing landscape can offer subtle admissions advantages. Aligning your submitted scores with what’s most commonly seen by a university’s admissions committee—especially if your scores are strong—can add to the feeling of “fit.”
More immediately, students should ask their schools’ college counseling offices about in-school testing options. Some private schools offer SAT School Day or on-campus ACT administrations, which can lower testing stress and simplify accommodations (like school-administered extended time). Simply put, having testing built into the school year can help reduce logistical burdens and improve performance.
In addition, many state-based and regional scholarships—particularly for public universities—still rely on SAT/ACT scores for qualification and eligibility. These include large merit awards at schools like the University of Alabama, Arizona State University, and even flagship schools in the University of California system. Early awareness of these requirements helps families avoid missed opportunities later on.
Score Release & Accessibility
Over the past few years, both the SAT and ACT have significantly modernized their testing platforms to enhance accessibility and security. The SAT, in particular, has transitioned fully to a digital adaptive format as of spring 2024 in the U.S. and internationally. This means every student now takes the SAT on a computer, and the exam adapts in difficulty based on performance in the first module of each section. The overall test time has also been reduced—from three hours to about two—without changing the scoring scale.
This has multiple implications. Students who experience test fatigue may appreciate the shorter format. The digital test also includes built-in tools like a calculator (called Desmos), answer eliminators, and time-tracking features. However, some students dislike the adaptive model, where early mistakes affect question difficulty and thus score potential. Additionally, the switch may favor students who test well on screens—something to factor in when deciding between SAT and ACT.
The ACT has begun offering online testing in some school-based or international settings, but most U.S. students still take it in its traditional paper format. If a student has a strong preference for a paper test—or a screen-based test—that preference alone might guide which exam to pursue.
Testing Timelines: Creating a Plan
Ideally, students should aim to complete their first round of SAT or ACT testing by spring of junior year at the latest, ideally by March. This allows students, parents, and counselors time to evaluate whether a second sitting is necessary, ideally scheduled for summer or early fall of senior year (between June and October). By avoiding focusing on the May his timeline keeps test prep from interfering with APs and finals. It also ensures scores are ready for Early Decision, Early Action, and Restrictive Early Action deadlines (often November 1).
Of course, some students test earlier—especially those completing advanced math in 10th grade and/or those who want to leave space for more test-optional planning. Others may need additional time to reach target scores and test in late fall of senior year, though this can compress the application process.
The best testing timeline reflects a student’s academic maturity, course load, and extracurricular bandwidth. A student taking five AP classes in junior spring may need to shift testing earlier or later to avoid burnout. The rhythm of test prep must align with the student's energy—not just the calendar.
Students at competitive boarding schools and prep schools may also feel pressured to test early, but more time can yield stronger results. It’s less about being done early than being ready when it counts.
So… Which Test Should You Take?
Choose the SAT if:
You’re strong in algebra and data analysis
You prefer more time per question
You want to leverage the digital SAT’s adaptive format
Choose the ACT if:
You’re comfortable with faster pacing
You’re confident across math topics
You excel in interpreting scientific data quickly
Final Thoughts
Neither test is inherently “better”—the best test is the one that aligns with your strengths and admissions strategy. With Ellipsis Writing’s one-on-one online college advising, you’ll strengthen the other core areas of your application, to build a compelling and distinctive college narrative that leads the right schools across the world to take notice. Our expert college advisors have helped hundreds of students translate their testing potential into real college acceptances.
The bottomline: Test scores might be optional—but a strategic advantage never is.
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