For decades, standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT have been a cornerstone of the college admissions process. They can feel like a high-stakes hurdle, a single number that holds immense power over your future. This can cause significant stress for students and families trying to navigate an already complex journey. However, the role of these tests is changing, and understanding their purpose and context is key to approaching them with a calm, strategic mindset.

We will explore the differences between the SAT and ACT, discuss the rise of test-optional policies, and provide practical strategies for preparation and planning. The goal is to help you see these exams not as a barrier, but as one piece of a much larger and more holistic application puzzle. In no time, you’ll be able to approach these exams with confidence. 

The Role of Tests in a Changing Landscape

Admissions tests were designed to provide colleges with a common data point to compare applicants from different high schools with varying levels of academic rigor. While they still serve this function to some extent, their importance has shifted significantly in recent years.

The most important development is the widespread adoption of test-optional policies. A test-optional college does not require you to submit an SAT or ACT score with your application. If you choose to submit a score, it will be considered. If you do not, your application will be evaluated based on other factors, such as your GPA, the difficulty of your coursework, your essays, and your extracurricular involvement, without any penalty.

This shift empowers you to decide whether your test score accurately reflects your academic ability. It allows students who are strong in the classroom but do not perform well on standardized tests to present an application that highlights their strengths.

Another key concept is superscoring. Many colleges will "superscore" your results, meaning they take your highest section scores from all the dates you took a particular test and combine them to create the strongest possible composite score. For example, if you scored higher on the Math section of the SAT in March and higher on the Reading and Writing section in May, a college that superscores will use the higher score from each sitting. This policy is designed to reward your best performance and can reduce the pressure of any single test day.

SAT vs. ACT: Understanding the Differences

Both tests are designed to measure college readiness, but the SAT and ACT have distinct structures, content, and pacing. Neither test is inherently "easier"; the better test for you is the one that aligns with your personal strengths and learning style.

The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)

The SAT is developed by the College Board and has two main sections:

  • Reading and Writing: This section combines reading comprehension passages with questions that test grammar, vocabulary in context, and analytical skills. Passages are drawn from literature, history, social studies, and science.
  • Math: This section covers algebra, advanced math, problem-solving, and data analysis. The digital version of the SAT now allows a calculator on all math questions.

The digital SAT is an adaptive test. This means your performance on the first module of each section determines the difficulty level of the second module. The total testing time is over two hours.

The ACT (American College Testing)

The ACT has four multiple-choice sections, plus an optional essay:

  • English: This section tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. It is similar to the writing portion of the SAT.
  • Math: The ACT Math section covers a broader range of topics than the SAT, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. A calculator is permitted on the entire section.
  • Reading: This section consists of four long passages in prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science. The questions focus on your ability to find details, make inferences, and understand main ideas.
  • Science: This is a unique feature of the ACT. This section does not test specific science knowledge but rather your ability to interpret data, read graphs and charts, and evaluate scientific experiments. It is more of a scientific reasoning test.

The ACT is known for its faster pacing. The questions may be more straightforward than some on the SAT, but you have less time per question. The total time for the multiple-choice sections is under three hours.

A Strategic Approach to Test Planning

Step 1: Take a Diagnostic Test

Before you begin studying, take a full-length practice version of both the SAT and the ACT. Many test prep resources offer these for free. This is a low-stakes way to see which test format feels more comfortable to you and to get a baseline score. This data will help you decide whether to focus your preparation on one test or the other.

Step 2: Create a Study Plan

Once you have chosen a test, create a consistent study schedule. You do not need to spend hundreds of hours, but regular, focused practice is more effective than last-minute cramming. Aim for a few hours each week in the months leading up to your test date. Focus on understanding the types of questions you got wrong on your diagnostic test. Was it a content gap (you didn't know the math formula) or a strategy error (you ran out of time)?

Step 3: Plan for Retakes

Most students take the test two or three times. Plan to take your first official test in the spring of your junior year. This gives you plenty of time to get your scores back, evaluate your performance, and decide if you want to retake it in the summer or early fall of your senior year. Thanks to superscoring policies, there is often little downside to a second attempt.

Test Accommodations

Students with documented disabilities may be eligible for accommodations on the SAT and ACT. These can include extended time, the use of a reader, extra breaks, or a large-print test booklet. The process for requesting accommodations must be started well in advance of your test date through your school's guidance counselor. It’s important to begin this process early to ensure everything is approved in time.

To Send or Not to Send: The Test-Optional Decision

If you are applying to test-optional schools, how do you decide whether to submit your scores? A good rule of thumb is to compare your score to the college's published mid-50% range for admitted students. This information is usually available on the admissions section of their website.

If your score falls within or above that range, submitting it will likely strengthen your application. If your score is significantly below that range, you may be better off withholding it and letting the other parts of your application, like your strong GPA and challenging coursework, speak for themselves. This is a strategic decision that you can make for each individual college on your list.