US colleges and universities accept both tests equally: no institution treats the SAT as stronger than the ACT, or the other way round. The SAT is fully digital, multistage adaptive, shorter, and made up of two sections. The ACT is fixed in difficulty, has more sections, and its Science section is now an optional add-on that does not affect the final score. Choosing between them means choosing a format; whether each university on your list requires a test at all is a separate question.
- SAT: 2 hours 14 minutes, 98 questions, the Reading and Writing section and the Math section, total score 400–1600.
- ACT: the core English, Math and Reading sections (35, 50 and 40 minutes); Science and Writing are optional add-ons and do not count towards the Composite.
- The ACT Composite (1–36) is the average of English, Math and Reading only; Science produces a section score and, with Math, a separate STEM score.
- Each university sets the testing requirement: some have reinstated required testing, others remain test-optional. Check this on the university’s admissions page rather than relying on a general rule.
- Superscoring rules and how the best score is counted differ between universities, so check this separately for every institution on your list.
- Test centre availability outside the United States has to be checked date by date: not every test centre operates on every test date.
The SAT and the ACT in brief
| Feature | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Fully digital and multistage adaptive (the difficulty of the second module depends on performance in the first). | Fixed difficulty, not adaptive; available in digital and paper formats depending on the test centre. |
| Sections | Reading and Writing, Math. | English, Math and Reading are required; Science and Writing are optional add-ons. |
| Total time | 2 hours 14 minutes, 98 questions. | English 35 min / 50 questions, Math 50 min / 45 questions, Reading 40 min / 36 questions; Science 40 min / 40 questions and Writing 40 min are optional. |
| Total score | 400–1600 (200–800 for each of the two sections). | Composite 1–36, the average of English, Math and Reading, rounded to the nearest whole number. |
| Role of the optional sections | — | Science does not count towards the Composite and combines with Math to give a separate STEM score; Writing produces a writing score. |
Both tests are accepted by almost every US college or university that requires a standardised test at all: neither College Board, nor ACT, nor the universities themselves single one out as carrying more prestige. The applicant chooses the test to fit themselves, not the other way round: the question is which format genuinely suits them better.
Whether a test is required
There is no single rule. Some universities have reinstated required testing after several years of test-optional policy: MIT states plainly on its admissions site that the SAT or the ACT is required. Others remain test-optional, or apply the requirement only to certain programmes. This policy is not a permanent property of a university: it is reviewed each admissions cycle and stated on each university’s own admissions page.
- Check the current testing policy on the admissions page of every university on your list.
- Confirm whether the requirement covers all of the university’s programmes or only certain schools and colleges within it.
- Do not rely on a university’s general reputation for being test-optional, as the policy may have changed for the current cycle.
- Where a test is not required, check separately how a strong score is treated in review.
Superscore and retakes
Many universities count the best section results from different sittings, a practice known as superscoring, but this is not a universal rule: some consider only the result of a single sitting, or an average. Whether superscoring applies, how many sets of scores may be sent, and whether all scores must be sent or only some sittings chosen under Score Choice are set by the university, not by the test itself.
Where to take the test outside the United States
Not every test centre operates on every test date, and availability by region changes from one sitting to the next. Before planning a test date, check the current list of centres and available seats through the official College Board and ACT search tools (links in the sources below) rather than working from earlier years – in part because individual international centres are sometimes closed temporarily for particular sittings.
The general requirements for applying to US colleges and universities are set out on the EDMONT admissions support page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SAT easier than the ACT?
There is no objective way to compare how easy they are: the tests use different formats and different question structures. The usual guide is which format suits the student better in terms of pace and question type, rather than which test is harder overall.
Do you need to take both tests?
Usually not: universities accept a score from either test. Taking both makes sense only where the first result is clearly below expectations and there is time to prepare for the second format.
Does Science in the ACT affect the final score?
No. Under the current ACT structure the Composite is calculated from English, Math and Reading only; Science produces its own section score and combines with Math to give a STEM score.
What should you do if a university does not require a test?
Check on the admissions office page how applications without a test are reviewed, and whether a strong score helps in review even where it is not required.
How far ahead should you plan the test date?
Far enough ahead of the university application deadline: you need time for registration, the test itself, receiving the scores and, if necessary, a retake.