SAT vs. ACT: Which Should Your Kid Take?
Colleges treat the SAT and ACT as equals. The real difference is format and pacing. Here's how to convert scores and test which fits your kid in a week.
The Core Difference Between the SAT and ACT
For US college admissions, the SAT and ACT carry equal weight. Almost every school that accepts test scores takes both. The difference isn’t which one is ‘better.’ It’s the format and the pace.
- SAT: Scored out of 1600, with a Reading & Writing section and a Math section. It’s digital and adapts its difficulty to how you answer. It runs about two hours. Reading passages are short, with one or two questions each.
- ACT: Scored out of 36, with English, Math, Reading, and Science sections. Test length and the Science section have been adjusted in recent years, so check the official site before registering. The ACT gives you less time per question, and its reading passages are longer.
On conversion, SAT 1500 is roughly ACT 34, and SAT 1400 is roughly ACT 31. That’s only a guide. Each school looks at the official score you send.
How to Tell Which Test Fits Your Kid
For 11th graders, the fastest method is a one-week head-to-head. In the same week, take one official practice test of each, strictly timed. Then convert both scores to the same scale using the official table.
Here’s a common case. An 11th grader scores 1350 on a practice SAT. Math is fast, but reading never gets finished. On an ACT practice test, the converted score is only a little higher. The problem isn’t the test. It’s reading speed, so sticking with the SAT makes more sense. But if the converted ACT score is clearly higher, and the kid felt rushed but still followed the questions, a switch is worth it.
Look at three things:
- Is the converted gap bigger than one step? (Roughly 50 to 70 SAT points equal 1 to 2 ACT points.)
- Did your kid get stuck because they didn’t know the material, or because they ran out of time?
- Which test does your kid actually prefer?
Planning the Timeline
Here’s a simple schedule. Finish the comparison in the fall of 11th grade. Commit to one test before winter. Then prep for that one only. Kids who split their time between both often end up mediocre on both.
Also check each school’s policy. The UC system is test-blind, so UCLA and Berkeley ignore scores entirely. Schools like Purdue and UIUC each handle test scores differently. Once your school list is set, checking whether each school requires or accepts scores is more useful than agonizing over the test up front.
You can start with PeiPaoLab’s free positioning quiz to see roughly where your kid stands now, then decide how high the test score needs to go.
FAQ
Do admissions officers prefer the SAT or the ACT?
Nearly every US college that accepts test scores treats them equally. There's no preference. What matters is where your score falls in a school's admitted range, not which test you took.
Can I take both and submit the higher score?
Technically yes, but we don't recommend it. The two tests reward different prep, and studying for both spreads your time thin. A better plan is to take one official practice test of each, pick the one that feels more natural, and focus on it.
What ACT score is equal to an SAT 1500?
Per the official concordance table, SAT 1500 is roughly ACT 34, and SAT 1400 is roughly ACT 31. Treat this as a guide. Schools go by the official score you actually submit.
If I'm only applying to UC schools, do I still need the SAT or ACT?
No. The UC system is test-blind and doesn't consider either score. But if you're also applying to other public or private schools, decide early which test to take.