The Short Answer
Every college in the country accepts both tests, and admissions offices have no preference between them. The only question that matters is which test you score higher on. No comparison article will answer that for you, but a practice test of each will.
Test Structure: How They Compare
The SAT is fully digital now. There are two sections, Reading & Writing and Math, delivered in an adaptive format where the difficulty of the second module adjusts based on how you did on the first. Total testing time is about 2 hours and 14 minutes, which makes it the shorter of the two tests.
The ACT has three required multiple-choice sections: English (35 minutes), Math (50 minutes), and Reading (40 minutes). It also has two optional sections, Science (40 minutes) and Writing (40 minutes). Most colleges do not require ACT Science or Writing, but a small group does. Boston University, Georgetown, and the U.S. service academies all require Science, and a handful of smaller institutions require Writing. Check your target schools’ requirements rather than guessing. With just the three required sections, you are looking at about 2 hours and 20 minutes of testing. Adding Science brings that to 3 hours.
Key Differences to Know
Math
The SAT puts more weight on math, which makes up half of your composite. ACT Math is one section out of three required, and it covers algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability, and number and quantity, including rational exponents, vectors, matrices, and trig ratios. If math is your strongest subject, the SAT structure rewards that. Students whose strengths are spread more evenly across English, math, and reading often do better with the ACT structure.
Science — Now Optional on the ACT
The biggest recent change to the ACT is that Science is now optional for most students. The section is mostly about interpreting data, evaluating scientific arguments, and reading research summaries. Advanced content knowledge is not required, though having taken intro biology, chemistry, or physics helps. Take Science if you want it reflected on your score report, or if you are applying to a school that requires it.
Reading and English
Both tests demand strong reading. The difference is how they break it up. The ACT splits English (grammar, usage, rhetoric) and Reading (comprehension and analysis) into two separate sections. The SAT folds both into a single Reading & Writing section. Whether the split or the combined section feels more natural varies by student, and a practice test of each will sort that out quickly.
Writing — Also Optional on the ACT
The ACT Writing section is a 40-minute essay in which you develop your own perspective on an issue and analyze its relationship to other perspectives the prompt provides. Like Science, it is optional at almost every school, though a few still require it. The SAT no longer has an essay at all.
Timing and Pacing
The ACT is the more time-pressured test. ACT itself says the time limits are designed to give nearly everyone enough time to finish, but in practice pacing is where students lose points. Test-takers who are accurate but not particularly fast tend to do better on the SAT, while students who can move quickly without sacrificing accuracy tend to do better on the ACT.
Calculator Policy
On the SAT, the Desmos graphing calculator is built into the Bluebook testing app, with both graphing and scientific options that you can toggle between at any point during Math. You can also bring your own approved handheld.
On the digital ACT, Desmos is now embedded in the online Math section as well, and you can also bring your own approved handheld. The paper ACT is unchanged: bring your own approved calculator. Calculators are not permitted on ACT Science in either format.
Desmos is a bigger advantage on the SAT than on the ACT. The SAT leans heavily on algebra and coordinate geometry, which is precisely what Desmos handles best. ACT Math covers a broader range of topics, so Desmos helps less there.
Who Tends to Do Better on the SAT
- Strong math students, since half the composite is math
- Anyone who wants a shorter test with a slightly more forgiving pace
- Students comfortable working entirely on a computer
- Students who handle adaptive testing well, since your second module’s difficulty depends on how you did on the first
Who Tends to Do Better on the ACT
- Students whose strengths are distributed across English, math, and reading
- Students who want science on their score report
- Fast and accurate test-takers
- Students who prefer a paper-based format (digital is also available)
- Students already comfortable with Desmos who plan to take the digital version
The Best Way to Decide: Take a Practice Test of Each
Take a full-length practice test of each under realistic conditions. Your own scores will tell you more than any article can. Plenty of students expect to perform about the same on both and then discover a 10-point percentile gap in one direction or the other.
When you compare results, use percentiles rather than raw scores. The scales are different and the raw numbers are not directly comparable. Whichever test puts you in the higher percentile is your test.
A Note on Test Prep
Whichever test you choose, drilling specific question types is the fastest way to raise your score. FreeTestPrep.com has free drills for both tests, organized by section:
- SAT: SAT Math · SAT Reading & Writing · SAT Grammar Rules · SAT Vocabulary Flashcards
- ACT: ACT Math · ACT English · ACT Grammar Rules · ACT Reading · ACT Science
Which Test Should You Take?
Neither test is objectively harder, and neither is preferred by colleges. The right test is the one where you score better, and the only way to figure out which one that is is to sit for a practice test of each. Compare percentiles and go with the higher one.