SAT vs ACT: Which Test Should You Take in 2025?

College Testing Requirements in 2026

The college admissions testing landscape has undergone significant changes since 2020, with testing policies continuing to evolve in 2025 and 2026. While over 2,000 four-year institutions currently maintain test-optional or test-blind policies, many highly selective universities have reinstated standardized testing requirements.

For students applying in Fall 2026, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, and Dartmouth all require standardized test scores. Cornell will reinstate requirements for students enrolling in Fall 2026. Meanwhile, institutions such as Princeton, Columbia, Duke, the University of Virginia, Boston University, and Carnegie Mellon remain test-optional for the 2025-2026 cycle.

Under test-optional policies, students may choose whether to submit scores, and admissions officers evaluate applications holistically regardless of score submission. Test-blind policies, used by the University of California system and others, mean standardized test scores will not be considered even if submitted.

Why Both Tests Matter

All U.S. colleges and universities that accept standardized test scores accept both the SAT and ACT equally. No institution gives preference to one test over the other, meaning your choice should be based entirely on which test better showcases your individual strengths rather than perceived institutional preferences.

Both tests serve the same fundamental purpose: to provide colleges with a standardized measure of college readiness that allows comparison across different high schools, grading systems, and educational backgrounds.

Digital Adaptive Testing

The SAT has fully transitioned to a digital adaptive format administered exclusively via the Bluebook application on laptops or tablets. The test lasts 2 hours and 14 minutes and consists of two main sections: Reading and Writing, and Math.

Each section is divided into two modules. The difficulty of the second module adapts based on your performance on the first module. Students who perform well on the first module receive more challenging questions in the second module, while those who perform less strongly receive easier questions.

This adaptive structure allows the SAT to accurately measure skills in less time than the previous paper format.

Reading and Writing Section

The Reading and Writing section consists of 54 questions delivered across two 32-minute modules. Each module contains 25 scored questions plus two unscored pretest questions. All questions are multiple-choice, based on short reading passages ranging from 25 to 150 words.

The section combines reading comprehension with language conventions, assessing vocabulary in context, command of evidence, rhetorical synthesis, and standard English conventions. The score range for this section is 200-800.

Math Section

The SAT Math section consists of 44 questions across two 35-minute modules, with each module containing 22 questions (20 scored, two unscored). The score range is 200-800, accounting for half of your total SAT score.

Approximately 75% of questions are multiple-choice, while 25% are student-produced response questions where you must enter your own answer rather than selecting from choices. Calculators are permitted throughout the entire Math section.

The content focuses on four main areas: algebra (linear equations and functions), advanced math (quadratic and exponential equations), problem-solving and data analysis (ratios, percentages, statistics), and geometry and trigonometry.

Scoring Structure

The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, combining the Reading and Writing score (200-800) with the Math score (200-800). Your final score depends not only on how many questions you answer correctly but also on which second module you receive based on first-module performance.

Students who receive the harder second module have a higher scoring floor, while those who receive the easier second module face a scoring ceiling. Digital SAT scores are typically available within a few days of testing, significantly faster than the previous paper format.

Enhanced ACT Changes

The ACT has undergone significant changes beginning in 2025, with the “Enhanced ACT” becoming the standard version for all testing formats. The core test now consists of three required sections—English, Math, and Reading—with Science becoming optional beginning in September 2025 for all testing modes.

The Enhanced ACT is 44 questions shorter than the previous version (171 questions vs. 215) and provides approximately 22% more time per question. Students have 2 hours and 5 minutes to complete the core three sections. If students add the optional Science section, the test extends by 40 minutes; the optional Writing section adds another 40 minutes.

English Section

The English section contains 75 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 45 minutes. Questions are organized into five passages, each with 15 questions, testing grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. The scoring range is 1 to 36.

Students evaluate whether underlined portions of text should be changed or left alone, assessing both technical correctness and stylistic effectiveness. The section includes an argumentative essay passage among its reading selections.

Math Section

The ACT Math section consists of 60 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 60 minutes, scored on a 1-36 scale. Unlike the previous five-option format, the Enhanced ACT Math questions now feature only four answer choices per question.

The content covers algebra, functions, geometry, statistics, and probability. The ACT tests more advanced math concepts than the SAT, including matrices, logarithms, and additional trigonometry topics, though questions tend to be more straightforward. Calculators are permitted throughout the section, and no reference formulas are provided.

Reading Section

The Reading section presents 40 multiple-choice questions across four passages to be completed in 35 minutes, scored 1-36. The passages represent prose fiction, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. Some passages in the Enhanced ACT are shorter than in the previous version, contributing to more manageable pacing.

Optional Science Section

The Science section, now optional beginning in September 2025, contains 40 questions to be completed in 40 minutes when taken. The section does not test science knowledge; rather, it evaluates scientific reasoning through data interpretation, experiment evaluation, and hypothesis analysis using graphs, charts, and research summaries.

The Science score is reported separately and does not factor into the Composite score calculation. Students applying to STEM programs should carefully consider whether their target schools expect or prefer Science scores.

Optional Writing Section

The ACT Writing section remains optional, consisting of a 40-minute essay. Students read a prompt presenting three perspectives on a contemporary issue and must develop their own position while addressing at least one of the given perspectives. Essays are scored on a 2-12 scale across four domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. The Writing score is reported separately.

Composite Score Calculation

Beginning in September 2025, the ACT Composite score is calculated as the average of only the English, Math, and Reading scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. The Composite score range remains 1-36. Science and Writing scores, if taken, are reported separately and do not affect the Composite.

Students who take Science will also receive a STEM score, which averages their Math and Science section scores. Universities can superscore across different test versions, allowing students to combine their highest section scores from any ACT administration.

Test Structure and Timing

The SAT uses a modular, adaptive design in which performance on each section’s first module determines the difficulty of the second module. This means students see fewer total questions but must maintain focus on early questions to access higher-difficulty content. The ACT uses a linear format where all students receive the same questions in the same order, regardless of performance.

The SAT provides more time per question: approximately 1.4 minutes per Reading and Writing question and 1.6 minutes per Math question. The ACT’s faster pace allows roughly 36 seconds per English question, 60 seconds per Math question, 53 seconds per Reading question, and 53 seconds per Science question when taken.

Science Content

The SAT has no dedicated Science section. Instead, scientific concepts appear integrated throughout Reading and Writing passages and some Math problems, requiring students to interpret scientific data and graphs in context.

The ACT features a separate 40-question Science section (optional starting September 2025) focused entirely on scientific reasoning, data interpretation, and experimental design. Students who excel at quickly analyzing charts, graphs, and experimental procedures may find the ACT Science section an opportunity to demonstrate strengths not measured on the SAT.

Math Question Formats

The SAT Math section includes both multiple-choice questions (approximately 75%) and student-produced-response questions (approximately 25%), in which students must generate and enter their own answers. The test provides a reference sheet with common formulas.

The ACT Math section consists entirely of multiple-choice questions with four answer choices each. No formulas are provided, requiring memorization of common mathematical relationships. The ACT covers more advanced topics, including matrices and logarithms.

Reading Question Formats

The SAT presents short reading passages of 25-150 words, with each passage tied to a single question. This structure allows students to reset their focus frequently, reducing the impact of any single difficult passage.

The ACT features four longer passages with multiple questions per passage. Students must sustain comprehension across extended text and manage multiple questions based on the same reading selection.

Scoring Scales and Impact

The SAT uses a 400-1600 scale, where Math accounts for exactly 50% of the total score. Students who are weaker in math face a significant scoring challenge, as low Math scores reduce the total by half.

The ACT uses a 1-36 Composite scale calculated by averaging English, Math, and Reading scores. Because three sections contribute equally, a lower math score has a less dramatic impact on the Composite. Students with math as a relative weakness often score at higher percentiles on the ACT than on the SAT, even when comparing equivalent abilities.

SAT Registration Fees

The SAT registration fee is $68 for all U.S. test-takers beginning with the August 2025 test date. International students pay the base fee plus regional fees ranging from $43 to $58, depending on location.

Additional fees include $34 for late registration and $34 for changing test centers or dates. Additional score reports cost $15 each beyond the four free reports included with registration. Score verification requests and rush reporting options incur additional charges.

ACT Registration Fees

The base ACT registration (English, Math, Reading only) costs $68 for U.S. students. Adding the optional Science section costs an additional $4, bringing the total to $72. Adding the optional Writing section costs $25, making an ACT with all sections $93.

International students do not pay different base fees, maintaining pricing equity across all testing locations. Late registration adds $38, test date or center changes cost $44, and standby testing costs $70. Additional score reports cost $18 each beyond the four free reports.

Fee Waiver Programs

Both the College Board (SAT) and the ACT offer fee-waiver programs for eligible low-income students. Students qualify based on enrollment in federal free/reduced lunch programs, participation in programs serving low-income families, homelessness, or foster care status.

SAT fee waivers cover registration for two tests, unlimited score reports, and waive late registration fees. ACT fee waivers cover registration for two tests (with or without Writing), four additional score reports, and waive late fees. Students must apply through their school counselor, not directly through the testing organizations.

Hidden Costs and Planning Strategies

Beyond registration, test preparation represents a significant expense for many families. Private tutoring ranges from $40-$200 per hour, comprehensive prep courses cost $100-$1,500, and study materials add $20-$50 per book or subscription.

Students can save hundreds of dollars through careful planning: register early to avoid late fees, designate four free score reports during registration, take practice tests to determine which exam suits them best before committing to paid administrations, and leverage free official practice materials from the College Board and ACT rather than expensive third-party resources.

When to Take Both Tests

While most students perform similarly on both exams after preparation, approximately 20-30% of test-takers score significantly better on one test than the other. Students with time and resources may choose to take both tests once each to identify which yields higher percentile scores.

Taking both tests makes the most sense for students targeting highly selective schools where every scoring advantage matters, students whose practice tests showed similar percentiles on both exams, or students who have time for 4-6 months of prep and can space out test dates effectively.

Superscoring Policies

Many colleges practice superscoring, where they consider only your highest section scores across multiple test dates. For the SAT, this means taking your best Reading and Writing score from one date and your best Math score from another. The ACT Composite superscore now uses the best scores from English, Math, and Reading across all test administrations.

Students applying to schools with superscoring policies should plan to take their chosen test 2-3 times, focusing prep efforts on improving weak sections between attempts. Superscoring can raise composite scores by 1-3 points on the ACT or 30-90 points on the SAT.

Test-Optional Application Strategy

If attending a test-optional school, submit scores when they fall within or above the school’s middle 50% range for admitted students. Withhold scores that fall significantly below that range, instead relying on strong grades, course rigor, essays, and extracurricular activities.

Test-optional policies genuinely allow competitive applications without scores, but admissions data from some schools show that submitted scores correlate with higher acceptance rates. Students should make strategic decisions based on whether their scores strengthen or weaken their overall academic profile.

Testing Timeline Recommendations

Sophomores should take practice tests of both the SAT and ACT during the spring semester to identify which exam suits them better. Begin focused preparation during the summer before junior year.

Juniors should take their first official test in March or May, review results, and retake in June if needed. This leaves the fall of senior year available for final attempts if necessary, while keeping spring free for AP exams and other commitments.

Seniors should complete testing by December for regular decision deadlines and by October for early action/early decision applications. Allow at least 2-3 weeks between test date and score release, plus additional time for colleges to receive official score reports.

Neither Test Is Objectively Harder

Educational experts and admissions officers agree that neither the SAT nor the ACT is inherently harder than the other. Both tests have similar average difficulty levels, and questions on either exam challenge students appropriately for college-level expectations.

The question of difficulty comes down to individual fit. Students who prefer a faster pace with straightforward questions may find the ACT more natural. Those who prefer more time per question but more complex reasoning tasks may perform better on the SAT.

Colleges Truly Accept Both Equally

Despite persistent myths, all U.S. colleges that require or accept standardized tests treat SAT and ACT scores equivalently in admissions decisions. Admissions offices use concordance tables to convert scores between tests, ensuring fair comparison regardless of which exam students submit.

Your choice should be based entirely on which test better demonstrates your abilities, not on unsubstantiated beliefs about institutional preferences. Focus energy on achieving your highest possible score on whichever test suits you best, rather than worrying about perceived advantages of one test over another.

The Importance of Quality Preparation

Regardless of which test you choose, consistent preparation over several months significantly impacts scores. Students who follow structured study plans with regular practice testing, thorough review of mistakes, and targeted work on weak areas typically improve 2-4 composite points on the ACT or 60-120 total points on the SAT.

Quality preparation matters more than quantity. One fully reviewed practice test with thorough error analysis provides more value than three tests taken consecutively without reflection. Focus on understanding why correct answers work and why wrong answers fail rather than simply drilling more questions mechanically.