Should You Take the SAT or ACT?

Photo Credit: Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu via Unsplash 

For many Walls upperclassmen, one element of college application looms large: standardized testing. As colleges roll back former “test-optional” policies, many students are once again facing the question of whether to take the ACT or SAT. 

The ACT and SAT both consist of multiple sections designed to test students’ knowledge and critical thinking. The tests both span multiple hours in time with the ACT lasting a scheduled two hours and fifty five minutes while the SAT lasting only two hours and fourteen minutes. There are many factors that go into both tests to allow the student to take the one that they feel is most suitable for them and their academic requirements. According to senior Zoe Cavalcanti (‘25) who took the SAT, “while the questions on the ACT are slightly easier, the timing is much harsher, so you’re really racing against the clock more than anything else.” Cavalcanti added that, “the SAT had harder questions, but you have a bit more time to do them, which I preferred.”  

For many students, determining whether to take the SAT or ACT is not a science, but more so based on a gut-check on which exam they prefer. Cavalcanti mentioned that “my college counselor suggested I take a practice SAT and ACT, and see which I scored better on. Going into both tests blind gave us an idea of what my baseline was for each test, and which I was better at taking.” This is a common strategy for deciding which exam works best for a given student.           

Walls student preference for the SAT “is definitely skewed,” Freshman counselor Kathryn Moore said, “but there is no reason to not take the ACT especially if students find that it is a better fit for them test wise.” Though the decision of which standardized test to take may feel weighty for students feeling the pressure of college applications, Walls counseling staff advises against over-analyzing the issue or being particularly concerned about whether an ACT or SAT score will be more impressive to a given school. 

Additionally, there have been recent changes to both exams. The SAT recently transitioned to being administered exclusively digitally while there is still an option to take the ACT on paper. Also, the science section of the ACT will be removed this spring. These changes have received both positive and negative responses as the tests may seem easier to work with depending on the format and content of the test. 

Trinity Foard (‘25) who took the ACT said, “I took the test on paper and I like how they have a testing booklet and an answer sheet that covers the section.” The paper version of the ACT has been favorable amongst many students for organizational purposes. Furthermore, Foard noted, “The science section for me wasn’t bad, I wasn’t having a lot of trouble with it as shown in my test breakdown.” Even though many students appreciate the science section, it will be removed from the exam. 

This is an exciting time to be taking the SAT and ACT. Students should take the test that feels the best for them.