ACT vs. SAT: Which One Should You Take?

Short answer: Take the test that fits your strengths and your target schools’ requirements. The digital SAT is shorter (2 hours 14 minutes, 98 questions) with more time per question and a calculator for all of Math. The enhanced ACT moves faster (131 questions in 2 hours 5 minutes) and offers an optional science section.

Both the SAT and ACT (American College Testing) exams help measure a high school student’s preparedness for collegiate academics. Answers are compared across all applicants, and tests are scored according to respective SAT and ACT grading tiers.

The SAT is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600 total points, from two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. The ACT composite is scored on a 1-36 point scale, based on English, math and reading.

Key points

• SAT is shorter: 98 questions in 2 hours 14 minutes, plus one 10-minute break.
• ACT moves faster: 131 core questions in 2 hours 5 minutes, so less time per question.
• Science is optional: The ACT science section is an add-on and does not count toward the composite.
• Calculator everywhere: The SAT allows a calculator on all of Math; the ACT allows one on Math.
• Scores convert: A 1000 on the SAT corresponds to about a 19 on the ACT.
• Both are accepted: Colleges that take test scores accept the SAT and ACT equally.

Why does choosing the right test matter?

No matter the exam or exams which each high school student elects to take, the test-taking season is a difficult period for many applicants. Students are often navigating junior and senior-level final exams while learning how to handle an entirely new test format.

Stigmas behind tutoring at the high school level are quickly disappearing, as more and more high school students accept help in managing study requirements.

Many students preparing for these exams engage in academic tutoring, specifically tutoring for math, physics, and related sciences, to address in-class pursuits while they spend more time studying for SAT and ACT tests. Other high school students take advantage of SAT and ACT-specific tutoring, for expedited college exam preparation while managing high school studies.

What is the ACT?

Since 2025, students take the enhanced ACT: it became available for national online testing in April 2025 and on paper for national Saturday tests in September 2025. English, math and reading make up the core test, and each is scored on a 1-36 scale.

The composite score is based only on English, math and reading. The optional science section, if taken, is combined with math to produce a separate STEM score. There is also an optional writing section.

The ACT sections and timing are as follows:

• ACT English consists of 50 questions in 35 minutes;
• ACT Math consists of 45 questions in 50 minutes;
• ACT Reading consists of 36 questions in 40 minutes;
• ACT Science (optional) consists of 40 questions in 40 minutes;
• ACT Writing (optional) is one essay prompt in 40 minutes.

The core test takes 2 hours and 5 minutes, or 2 hours and 45 minutes with science. According to the current ACT fee page, the ACT costs $70 without science or writing, $75 with science, $95 with writing, and $100 with both.

Look to register for the ACT exam at least five weeks in advance. If you’re unsure how to do so, consult your high school counselor for help and additional testing information.

What is the SAT?

The SAT is now a digital test, taken in College Board’s Bluebook app. It has two sections, Reading and Writing, and Math, with a 10-minute break between them. There is no longer an essay.

Each section is split into two modules. Your performance on the first module decides whether the second module is easier or harder. Timing for the SAT is as follows:

• SAT Reading and Writing consists of 54 questions over 64 minutes (two 32-minute modules);
• SAT Math consists of 44 questions over 70 minutes (two 35-minute modules).

Each section is worth 200 to 800 points, for a total of 400 to 1600. The SAT registration fee is $68, and sign-up is through College Board’s online registration portal.

What’s the difference between the ACT and SAT?

There are several key differences between the SAT and ACT exams. An applicant’s natural abilities tend to better prepare them for one over the other.

The SAT went fully digital in 2024, and the ACT was shortened in 2025. Both tests are now shorter than they used to be, but they still feel different, as the table shows.

Though the SAT is graded on a 1600-point scale, and the ACT offers only scores between 1-36, each exam’s totals can be converted into the other exam’s scale. For example, a 1000 SAT score corresponds to a score of 19 on the ACT. Reference the official ACT/SAT concordance tables to convert between both exam types.

In addition, the ACT core test asks 131 questions (171 with science), while the SAT asks only 98.

How is ACT math different from SAT math?

There are several fundamental differences between math sections on the ACT and SAT exams. The ACT asks 45 math questions in 50 minutes, while the SAT asks 44 questions and gives students 70 minutes, so SAT students get noticeably more time per question.

Both tests allow a calculator on math. On the SAT, a calculator is allowed for the entire Math section, and a Desmos graphing calculator is built into the testing app.

Tutor tip: Our SAT tutors point out that each SAT Math module is 22 questions in 35 minutes, about 95 seconds a question. Move quickly through the easier questions to bank time for the hard ones.

Learning to ace the math portion of the SAT or ACT exam means more than understanding basic mathematics; it also means understanding how SAT and ACT math questions are phrased, how answers are structured, and how best to allocate your time between questions. See what math topics are covered on the ACT and what math subjects to expect on the SAT.

That’s why many applicants participate in pre-exam math tutoring, to develop a better grasp of the subject matter while learning what the upcoming exam expects of them. Intensive math tutoring sessions during the summer are also offered to students, packaging similar instruction into a smaller time window.

How is ACT English and reading different from SAT reading and writing?

Small distinctions between the SAT and ACT English sections can make big differences in how applicants prepare for each exam. The ACT has separate English and reading sections: 50 English questions in 35 minutes and 36 reading questions in 40 minutes.

By contrast, the SAT combines reading and writing into one section of 54 questions over 64 minutes. Each SAT question comes with its own short passage, while the ACT English section asks several questions about each longer passage.

This means that ACT English is geared toward more of a rapid response test taker, while questions on the SAT often require an increased depth of thought on a short piece of text.

Should you take the ACT science section?

If you know that answering science questions will likely increase your overall results, you should consider the ACT with science. Only the ACT has a separate science section: 40 questions in 40 minutes. It is optional and does not count toward the composite, but it does produce a science score and a STEM score.

Many of the passages offer scientific information, requiring comprehension of provided data. Other questions require that students contribute their understanding of basic science, to choose answers that best satisfy each question. For strategy, see these ACT science tips.

Even confident applicants deserve to brush up on their science before exam day. That’s why many applicants enroll in physics tutoring, to obtain or restore a full understanding of scientific concepts immediately applicable once the exam begins.

Should you take the ACT or the SAT?

Ultimately, electing to take the SAT or the ACT exam is a decision only the applicant can make. Sample SAT questions and ACT questions can make this decision easier since students can familiarize themselves with basic question structure and context well ahead of exam day.

Applicants can even take full-length practice tests, provided by College Board (in Bluebook) and ACT, to help cement their decisions. Use these steps:

1. Check your target schools. Certain universities may have test requirements or preferences, in which case register for the college’s preferred test.
2. Take one practice test of each. Sit a full practice SAT and a full practice ACT under timed conditions.
3. Compare the results. Convert the scores with the concordance table and note which test felt more comfortable.
4. Weigh your strengths. Students preferring science-based questions should consider the ACT with its science section; students who need more time per question may prefer the SAT.

Take into account your natural strengths: applicants with stronger English, reading comprehension, and writing backgrounds typically report stronger ACT exam scores, while math-oriented students typically prefer the SAT exam format.

Tutor tip: On the SAT, the built-in Desmos calculator is useful, but graphing to find an intersection is often slower than doing the algebra. Practice knowing when to graph and when to solve by hand.

Math tutoring can help you enhance critical thinking, polish math concepts, and prepare your mind for a full section of algebra, geometry, and other concepts. To plan your timeline, see when to start preparing for the SAT/ACT.

Is it worth it to take both tests?

Today, it seems as though more and more high school students are taking both exams, and then submitting the higher-scored test to their university of choice.

Exam costs compound when you take both the SAT and ACT exams, especially since many students also take each exam type more than once, to polish their scores on individual sections or revisit the same exam type with renewed expectations.

Ample scholarship opportunities exist for both SAT and ACT scores, and colleges that accept test scores accept both equally. Individuals intending to study science at the university level might prioritize the ACT with science, since it produces a STEM score. The answer depends on the student, situation, and price tag, but primarily on the intended result.

Frequently asked questions