Both the SAT and ACT are accepted by nearly all U.S. colleges—and schools don’t favor one over the other. That said, there are key differences between the two tests that students should understand before deciding which one to take.

• Test Providers: The SAT is administered by the not-for-profit College Board. The ACT is managed by the for-profit ACT Education Corporation.

• Popularity: The SAT is currently the most widely taken test, with 1.9 million students in the class of 2023.

• Format: The SAT is fully digital across the board, while the ACT is still paper-based in most locations, with limited digital access.

• Length: The SAT is shorter—2 hours and 14 minutes compared to the ACT’s 2 hours and 55 minutes.

• Tools: The SAT includes a built-in Desmos graphing calculator for the Math section. The ACT does not.

• Reading Sections: The SAT features short reading passages with one question each. The ACT includes longer passages with 10 questions per section.

In addition to being shorter and delivering faster results, the Digital SAT introduces several student-friendly updates—especially in the Math section:

Digital SAT Math Highlights:

• Calculator Allowed Throughout: Students can now use a calculator on the entire Math section. A built-in graphing calculator is available directly in the testing platform, ensuring all students have access.

• Simplified Word Problems: Math questions are now more concise. While real-world context remains important, the overall word count has been reduced to help students focus on problem-solving, not just reading.

The Reading and Writing section of the Digital SAT brings major improvements designed to make the test more focused, efficient, and engaging:

Key Updates in Digital SAT Reading & Writing:

• Combined Section: Unlike the traditional SAT, which separated reading and writing into two sections, the Digital SAT blends them into one streamlined test section.

• Shorter, Single-Question Passages: Say goodbye to long reading passages with multiple questions. The Digital SAT features a higher number of shorter passages—each followed by just one targeted question.

• New Question Types: With more passages and greater variety, expect new prompts that test a broader range of skills and require fresh strategies.

Students can take the SAT as many times as they’d like, but we recommend taking it at least twice:

• Once in the spring of junior year

• Again in the fall of senior year

Most students improve their scores the second time around, and colleges typically consider the highest score when reviewing applications.

• Score Improvement: Familiarity with the test often leads to better performance the second time.

• Superscoring Advantage: Many colleges use a practice called superscoring, which means they combine your child’s highest Math and highest Reading/Writing scores—even if they’re from different test dates—for the best possible total.

If your child only plans to take the SAT once, spring of junior year is the best time to do it.

There’s no single “best” time to take the SAT for scholarship eligibility, because each scholarship has its own requirements and deadlines. Some may require an SAT score by a specific date, while others may not require one at all.

To maximize your child’s opportunities:

• Check the requirements early for each scholarship they’re interested in

• Plan ahead to make sure SAT scores are available before the application deadlines

• Aim to take the SAT by junior year, so there’s time to retake it if needed

Starting early gives your child more flexibility—and more chances to qualify for valuable scholarships.

No—they don’t.
Colleges typically focus on your student’s highest SAT scores, not how many times they took the test. In fact, many schools use superscoring, which means they’ll combine the highest section scores from different test dates to create the best possible overall score.

So whether it takes one try or three, what matters most is the final result.

Most colleges use a method called superscoring—they’ll look at your child’s highest section scores across all test dates, combining them to create the strongest possible overall score.

However, score policies can vary:

• Some schools require you to send all scores

• Others only ask for your highest score from one test date

To be sure, always check the score policy on each college’s admissions website so your student can plan accordingly.

Students can choose which full SAT score reports to send based on test date. This means they can select their best overall score from a specific test day to share with colleges.

However, students can’t mix and match individual section scores (like just sending the Math or Reading & Writing section from different test dates). Colleges will receive the entire score report from each selected test date.

For the most flexibility, students should check if the colleges on their list accept Score Choice and/or use superscoring when reviewing applications.

Every college is different. Some schools have specific score ranges they expect, while others take a more flexible approach. That’s why it’s important to check each college’s website for their SAT score policies.

Keep in mind, the SAT is just one piece of the puzzle. Admissions officers also consider:

• High school grades and course rigor

• Extracurricular involvement

• Application essays

• Letters of recommendation

A strong SAT score can help—but it works best as part of a well-rounded application.