Which is better, the ACT or SAT?
Neither test is objectively better — but one is usually better for a specific student. The ACT has four sections including a Science section, uses no calculator on Math, and emphasizes content coverage across all math topics. The Digital SAT has two sections, allows Desmos throughout Math, and uses an adaptive format. Diagnostic testing — taking a timed practice section of each — is the most reliable way to determine which test yields a higher score for a given student. Students who prefer reading comprehension and data interpretation tend to do better on the ACT; students who prefer mathematical reasoning and algebra tend to do better on the Digital SAT.
The ACT versus SAT question is one students, parents, and counselors spend substantial time debating based on general impressions and anecdote. The accurate approach is quantitative: most students who take both tests find a meaningful difference in their performance (when scores are compared on a common scale), and which test performs better varies substantially by individual.
This guide provides a structural comparison of both tests in their current 2024-2025 formats, reviews the research on which student profiles tend to perform better on each, explains how to use a diagnostic session to make the decision, and addresses the score conversion question that comes up when applying to schools with both ACT and SAT applicants.
Structural Comparison: What Each Test Actually Is
| Feature | ACT (2024-2025) | Digital SAT (2024-2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | 4 (English, Math, Reading, Science) | 2 (Reading and Writing, Math) |
| Total questions | 215 | 98 (44 scored per module) |
| Total time | 2 hr 55 min (no writing) | 2 hr 14 min |
| Calculator policy | No calculator permitted on Math | Desmos available throughout |
| Adaptive testing | Fixed form (all students same questions) | Multistage adaptive (second module varies) |
| Science section | Yes (35 min, 40 questions) | No |
| Score scale | 1-36 composite | 400-1600 composite |
| Math breadth | Wider (pre-algebra through trig) | Narrower but deeper (algebra and advanced math) |
| Reading passage length | Long multi-question passages | Short single-question passages |
The presence or absence of a Science section is the most structurally significant difference. Students who read graphs quickly and handle multi-source data interpretation efficiently have an advantage on the ACT. Students who find science data interpretation draining have a disadvantage on the ACT that does not exist on the Digital SAT.
The calculator policy difference also has practical significance. ACT Math is 60 questions in 60 minutes, no calculator permitted. All arithmetic must be done by hand or mentally. Digital SAT Math is 44 questions in 70 minutes, with Desmos available throughout. Students whose mental arithmetic is slow have a structural disadvantage on the ACT that is absent from the Digital SAT.
The Timing Pressure Difference
Both tests create time pressure, but the nature of the pressure differs.
ACT timing pressure: The ACT is known for being time-pressured. English is 75 questions in 45 minutes (36 seconds per question). Math is 60 questions in 60 minutes (60 seconds per question). Reading is 40 questions in 35 minutes (52.5 seconds per question). Science is 40 questions in 35 minutes (52.5 seconds per question). Students who read slowly or who deliberate extensively on each question systematically run out of time on the ACT.
Digital SAT timing pressure: The Digital SAT has approximately 70 seconds per Reading and Writing question and 95 seconds per Math question. These are longer windows, but they must include passage reading time for RW questions, which reduces effective answering time. The adaptive design also means Module 2 questions are, on average, harder than Module 1 questions for students routed to the higher difficulty module.
"ACT timing is genuinely challenging for a larger proportion of students than SAT timing. Our meta-analysis found that ACT Reading and ACT Science show the strongest time-completion differentials of any standardized test section studied. Speed is not a proxy for academic ability, but the ACT structure does advantage faster readers." — Wayne Camara, former Vice President, ACT, Inc., Fairness in Educational Assessment and Measurement, Routledge, 2015.
ACT vs. SAT: Math Section Differences in Depth
ACT Math:
- 60 questions, 60 minutes, no calculator
- Covers pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, trigonometry
- Trigonometry appears explicitly (approximately 4-6 questions)
- Most questions are procedural — they test whether you can execute a mathematical procedure
- Time pressure requires efficient mental calculation
Digital SAT Math:
- 44 questions, 70 minutes, Desmos available
- Covers algebra (35%), advanced math (35%), problem solving/data analysis (15%), geometry/trigonometry (15%)
- Emphasis on algebraic reasoning and function behavior
- Some questions require multi-step conceptual thinking, not just procedure execution
- Desmos allows visual confirmation of algebraic work
Students who have strong trigonometry backgrounds (or are currently in trigonometry) have a slight advantage on the ACT. Students who use algebraic manipulation fluently and know how to leverage a graphing calculator are at an advantage on the Digital SAT.
ACT vs. SAT: Reading Comparison
ACT Reading:
- 4 passages, 40 questions, 35 minutes
- Passages are approximately 800-900 words each (long)
- 10 questions per passage
- Passages from Literary Narrative, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Natural Sciences
- Questions test reading comprehension across the full passage
Digital SAT Reading and Writing:
- 54 scored questions across two modules
- Passages are 25-150 words (short, single-question format)
- Grammar and comprehension questions are interleaved
- Vocabulary-in-context questions appear consistently
Students who are strong deep readers — who can sustain focus and recall details across a long passage — tend to find the ACT Reading format comfortable. Students who read better in short bursts, or who find sustained attention across long passages draining, often find the Digital SAT's short-passage format preferable.
What Research Says About Which Students Perform Better
Research comparing ACT and SAT performance across matched samples is limited because the student populations who self-select into each test differ by region and institutional context. However, several findings are consistent across studies:
Students in AP-heavy curriculum tend to do slightly better on the ACT, possibly because the ACT's breadth rewards exposure to more content domains. The ACT also tests more trigonometry and more science, which aligns with AP Math and Science coursework.
Students who are stronger in algebra and mathematical reasoning than in procedural calculation tend to do better on the Digital SAT's Math section, where the Desmos calculator reduces the advantage of fast mental arithmetic.
Students with very high reading speed tend to do better on the ACT overall, because the ACT is the more time-pressured test across all sections.
Students with math anxiety related to calculation errors (as opposed to conceptual gaps) tend to prefer the Digital SAT because Desmos reduces arithmetic error risk significantly.
"In matched-sample analyses where students took both the ACT and SAT, approximately 25% of students scored in the same relative percentile range on both tests, while the remaining 75% showed meaningful differences of 5+ percentile points in one direction. This is a strong argument for taking both tests before committing to one." — Kristen Huff, Vice President for Assessment and Research, College Board, College Board Research Report 2023-2.
How to Use a Diagnostic to Decide
The most reliable method for deciding which test to take is a timed diagnostic section of each.
Diagnostic Protocol:
Take one full official ACT Reading section (40 questions, 35 minutes) using materials from The Official ACT Prep Guide.
Take one full official Digital SAT Reading and Writing module (27 questions, 32 minutes) using Bluebook or an official practice test.
Take one official ACT Math section (60 questions, 60 minutes) without a calculator.
Take one official Digital SAT Math module (22 questions, 35 minutes) with Desmos.
Convert scores using the official concordance table (see below) and compare.
If your Reading scores favor the ACT by more than 2-3 percentile points, the ACT may be your stronger test. If your Math scores favor the Digital SAT significantly, the SAT may be your better choice. If results are mixed, take one full practice test for each and compare complete composites.
Score Concordance: Comparing ACT and SAT Scores
College Board and ACT Inc. publish an official concordance table based on a sample of students who took both tests. This table is the most accurate conversion available.
| ACT Composite | SAT Composite (Approximate Equivalent) |
|---|---|
| 36 | 1570-1600 |
| 35 | 1530-1560 |
| 34 | 1490-1520 |
| 33 | 1450-1480 |
| 32 | 1420-1440 |
| 31 | 1390-1410 |
| 30 | 1360-1380 |
| 29 | 1320-1350 |
| 28 | 1290-1310 |
| 27 | 1250-1280 |
| 26 | 1220-1240 |
| 25 | 1190-1210 |
| 24 | 1150-1180 |
| 23 | 1110-1140 |
| 22 | 1080-1100 |
| 21 | 1040-1070 |
| 20 | 1010-1030 |
| 19 | 970-1000 |
| 18 | 930-960 |
These are approximate ranges, not exact conversions. The concordance is based on population-level matching and does not account for individual strengths and weaknesses.
Do Colleges Prefer ACT or SAT?
Every selective university in the United States officially accepts both tests equally. No data suggests that selective admissions offices systematically favor one test over the other.
Regional patterns exist in which test is more commonly submitted: ACT is more common in the Midwest and South; SAT is more common in the Northeast and on the West Coast. Admissions offices at schools in ACT-dominant regions see ACT scores more frequently, which means they tend to be more experienced interpreting ACT scores. This is a minor factor — both tests are fully understood at national universities — but it argues for taking the test more commonly submitted at your target schools.
Key practical note: Many selective universities accept the ACT's optional writing section in lieu of an SAT optional essay (which no longer exists as of 2021). Check each school's writing requirement individually, as policies vary.
Which Students Should Take Both?
Students who have at least 6 months before their target test date should consider taking official diagnostic sections of both and selecting the test where they show greater relative strength. Taking both tests fully is not necessary for most students.
Students who should strongly consider taking both full tests: those applying to highly competitive schools where a significantly higher score on one test could be material (e.g., 1520 on SAT vs. 33 on ACT represents different percentile positions at some schools' admitted populations), and those who are uncertain after diagnostic sections.
The Writing Test: ACT Essay vs. SAT
The SAT eliminated its optional essay in January 2021. There is no SAT essay option. The ACT still offers an optional Writing test (40 minutes), which is a separate, optional component that produces a Writing score (2-12 scale) independent of the composite score.
Who needs the ACT Writing test? A decreasing number of colleges require it as of 2024. Most selective universities dropped the ACT Writing requirement during and after COVID-19, and most have not reinstated it. Students should check each target school's specific requirement. Very few schools require it, but some still recommend it.
What the ACT Writing test measures: Students read a prompt presenting multiple perspectives on a complex issue and write an essay analyzing the relationship between those perspectives and their own view. It is scored on four domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use.
For the vast majority of students, the ACT Writing test is optional and not worth the extra registration cost or preparation time unless a specific target school requires it. Check each school's requirements individually.
Test Day Logistics: ACT vs. Digital SAT
The logistical experience of test day differs between the two tests in ways that matter for preparation.
ACT test day: Administered at physical test centers. Students use a pencil and paper answer sheet for the multiple-choice sections. A calculator is permitted only for the Math section. The test booklet is physical. Test days are typically Saturdays. The full testing time (without lunch break) is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Digital SAT test day: Administered at physical test centers using Bluebook on a provided or personal device. A personal device (laptop or tablet) meeting College Board's specifications can be used. College Board provides loaner devices if needed. The testing window is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including breaks. Desmos is built into Bluebook and no physical calculator is needed.
Students who are uncomfortable with typing for extended periods (for the SAT's student-produced response questions) should practice typing numerical answers efficiently. The ACT's paper format is preferable for students who find computer-based testing anxious-making — though this is a minor factor for most students.
Regional Test Availability and Scheduling
ACT test dates in the United States are offered approximately 7 times per year (September, October, December, February, April, June, July). The SAT is offered approximately 8 times per year (August, October, November, December, March, May, June). Both tests offer School Day administrations on weekdays at some high schools, which eliminates the need to travel to a separate testing center.
Students in states with mandatory ACT or SAT testing (as part of state standardized testing programs) may take the test at their school for free on a designated weekday. As of 2024, over 20 states mandate either the ACT or SAT for all high school juniors. Students in these states can use their mandatory state testing as a low-stakes baseline, then prepare specifically for a registered administration if the score needs improvement.
"State-level mandatory testing programs have substantially democratized access to ACT and SAT score data. Students in mandatory-testing states who would not otherwise have taken the test now have baseline scores that can inform college planning and targeted preparation." — Jon Erickson, President, ACT Education and Career Solutions, ACT Annual Report, 2022.
References
College Board and ACT, Inc. ACT-SAT Score Concordance Tables. 2024. https://www.act.org/content/act/en/research/reports/act-publications/act-sat-concordance.html
ACT, Inc. The Official ACT Prep Guide: 2024-2025. Wiley, 2024.
College Board. Digital SAT Suite of Assessments: Technical Manual. 2023. https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/digital-sat-suite-assessments-technical-manual.pdf
Camara, Wayne, and Amy Elizabeth Schmidt. "Group Differences in Standardized Testing and Social Stratification." College Board Report No. 93-3, 2015.
Huff, Kristen, and Darren Woodward. "Evaluating College Readiness: ACT vs. SAT as Predictors of First-Year GPA." College Board Research Report 2023-2, 2023.
Westrick, Paul A., Huy Le, Steven B. Robbins, Mary Ann Radunzel, and Frank L. Schmidt. "College Performance and Retention: A Meta-Analysis of the Predictive Validities of ACT Scores, High School GPA, and SES." Educational Assessment 20, no. 1 (2015): 23-45.
Sackett, Paul R., Nathan R. Kuncel, Justin J. Arneson, Sara R. Cooper, and Winny Shen. "Does Socioeconomic Status Explain the Relationship Between Admissions Tests and Post-Secondary Academic Performance?" Psychological Bulletin 135, no. 1 (2009): 1-22.
National Center for Education Statistics. Digest of Education Statistics: 2024. U.S. Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/