Are you trying to decide between the SAT or ACT? You might be wondering how different these two tests are. There are many differences that separate them, and knowing them can help you decide which test you might wind up doing better on, since you want the best score you can possibly get.
At first glance, these two tests are not all that different. Both the SAT and ACT are common admission requirements for colleges and universities in the United States. They’re also both standardized tests that are nationally recognized. They cater mostly to seniors and juniors in high school, as each test measures the proficiency of students in a variety of crucial skill areas. These might include things like reading comprehension and problem solving, among other things that are necessary for college success.
Also, since every United States college and university will accept the scores of both tests, there’s no real advantage to taking either test instead of the other. That means that you can apply to the very same schools, irrespective of the specific test that you choose to take. However, what about the content that’s actually in these two tests? There used to be quite a few differences, but after the SAT had a massive redesign back in 2016, the tests are now very closely related.
How do you choose between them?
There are actually three ways you can use to make this decision.
The first thing you can do is to take the official practice test of each the SAT and ACT. Your scores won’t be officially recorded or reported, so you don’t have to worry about your actual performance, but you can learn the text experience of both kinds and find out which one you’re personally more comfortable with.
A second things you can do is by taking an online quiz. There are websites with short questionnaires that you can go through quickly in order to get a sense of which test would be better for you.
Third, your choices of the SAT or ACT might be settled for you just based on where you live. There are 14 states that actually require the ACT, whereas 8 states mandate the SAT.
It’s important to figure out which test you are more comfortable with because that can have a dramatic impact on your actual performance when you sit down to take it. When you take a test that’s easier on you, you can relax more and hopefully do substantially better, which improves your application to the colleges and universities of your choice.
There’s nothing stopping you from taking both tests if you want, but even if one test scores you better, college admissions offices might still look at your lower score when weighing your options, unless you have the option of choosing which test you submit. Always check the rules about your state to find out which test might be required and what options you have within those requirements. Either test is certainly a huge factor.
