The ACT and SAT are both largely known standardized tests used for college applications. Although many schools have gone test-optional since the pandemic, the two tests remain popular for high school students. Most public colleges do not have a preference between which test scores you submit, as long as the scores are in the schools target range. The tests vary in terms of: structure, timing, content, and scoring. Both are also making the switch to digital. Starting in the spring of 2024, all SAT tests will convert to an online format.
“The digital SAT will be easier to take, easier to give, and more relevant.” Priscilla Rodriguez, vice president at College Board, said.
The digital SAT will cut back on time, making it two hours instead of three with more time per question. The reading will focus on shorter passages and a calculator will be allowed for the entire math portion. In addition to that, the switch to online will allow test results to come back in days, not weeks. Students will be allowed to use their own or school issued device when taking the test, if students don’t own a device the test center will provide one for that day. A test pilot student, Natalia Cossio, participated in early trials of the digital SAT test.
“It felt a lot less stressful, and a whole lot quicker than I thought it would be.” Cassio said.
The ACT will also offer an online version of the test starting in the near future. For now, in December, the ACT is offering to pilot more than 5,000 students at certain test centers. This means that the ACT will be offered digitally to some students to make sure everything runs smoothly before releasing to the rest of the public. The digital version of the test will remain mostly the same, it changes features like including text to speech and answer masking. Students will still have the option to take the paper test.
According to the ACT website, “You can maximize your performance and confidence by taking the ACT in the way that feels best for you.”
Before the tests make a switch to digital, there are a few important differences to understand. Both tests have similar sections, except the ACT includes a science section. The math portion of the SAT section includes 25 no-calculator questions, a few non-multiple choice questions, and a formula sheet. The math section of the ACT focuses on questions based on geometry and trigonometry, while the SAT has a large algebra and data analysis portion. The reading portion of the SAT has five reading passages compared to four on the ACT, but the passages are more difficult.
Two of the main differences between the tests are timing and scoring. The reading section of the SAT allows 65 minutes for 52 questions, which is a large difference between the 35 minutes for 40 questions on the ACT. In total, the SAT totals 71.25 seconds to answer each question and the ACT totals 48 seconds per question. Since the SAT questions are more challenging, it may take longer to answer. So while it seems great to have more time and formulas, it may take longer to answer due to the challenging nature of the questions. Another huge difference is the scoring. The SAT grades on a scale of 400-1600 where the ACT grades from 1-36. Despite some rumors, the SAT does not grade based off of a curve but the ACT does, through the process of equating..
It is easy to find the best test for yourself. Senior, Lily Howdyshell said
“I prefer the ACT better because I feel like it makes it easier to improve your score based on the breakdown. Having four smaller sections instead of two general sections like on the SAT allows you to pinpoint what you need to focus on.”
If you prefer to have more time to answer harder questions rather than easier questions at a faster pace, the SAT may be the better option. On top of that, the ACT covers a wide range of math topics, so if math is not your strong suit, the SAT math section might be better. Besides that, taking practice tests for both can help reflect what scores you may get on the real test. Based on your practice test scores you may find that one test is easier than the other. In the end, both tests are difficult in their own ways, it just matters which one works the best for you.

Sidebar- Test optional policies
Amidst the Covid-19 Pandmeic, more than 1,900 colleges and universities have gone test-optional. Some schools, like Harvard, have extended their test optional policy for many years. Not including test scores will place more importance on GPA, extracurriculars, references, and achievements. Colleges suggest that if your test scores are below the school’s average, going test-optional might be the best option. Talking to a college representative or advisor can help you get an idea on if you should submit your scores or not. If you choose to go test-optional, expect to put more effort into every other aspect of your college application. In Ohio, Oberlin College and Ohio State University will remain test optional for only the class of 2023. Ohio University and Ohio Wesleyan University have decided to permanently change to test-optional colleges, which has started to become a trend in many colleges.