ACT vs SAT in one line: US colleges accept both tests equally, so take the one you score higher on. The digital SAT has 98 questions in 2 hours 14 minutes, adapts to your answers and has Desmos built in. The enhanced ACT has 131 questions in 2 hours 5 minutes, on paper or computer, and science is now optional.
Short answer: the SAT gives you more time per question and shorter reading passages. The ACT is a little shorter overall, never changes difficulty mid-test, and covers a wider spread of math. Every number on this page comes from ACT's own comparison page and College Board's SAT structure page, both read on September 28, 2026.
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ACT vs SAT: the differences at a glance
Here is the side-by-side for the 2026-27 school year. "Enhanced ACT" is ACT's name for the shorter test it rolled out in 2025.
| Feature | SAT (digital) | ACT (enhanced) |
|---|---|---|
| How you take it | On a laptop or tablet in the Bluebook app | Paper or computer, your choice, at a test center |
| Adaptive? | Yes. Your first module decides if the second one is harder or easier | No. Every student gets the same questions |
| Required sections | Reading and Writing; Math | English; Math; Reading |
| Optional sections | None on weekend tests | Science (40 questions, 40 min); Writing essay (40 min) |
| Questions | 98 | 131 (171 with science) |
| Testing time | 2 h 14 min, plus a 10-minute break | 2 h 5 min (2 h 45 min with science; writing adds 40 min) |
| Average time per question | About 82 seconds | About 57 seconds |
| Calculator | Allowed on all of Math; Desmos is built in | Math section only; Desmos is built into the online version |
| Formula sheet | Yes, a reference sheet on screen | No; ACT expects you to know basic formulas |
| Score scale | 400 to 1600 (two sections of 200 to 800) | 1 to 36 composite (average of English, math and reading) |
| Penalty for wrong answers | No | No |
| US registration fee | $68 | $70 for English, math and reading |
| Test dates left in 2026-27 | 6 (Oct. 3 through June 5) | 6 (Oct. 17 through July 10) |
| When scores arrive | Most in 2 to 4 weeks | About 2 to 4 weeks |
Sources: SAT structure, SAT calculator policy, SAT fees, SAT dates, ACT vs SAT (ACT), ACT fees, ACT calculator policy and ACT test dates. The time per question is our own math: total minutes divided by total questions.
What changed on the ACT in 2025?
The ACT got shorter, dropped science from the composite score and made science optional. ACT's homepage sums it up as "Shorter Test, Fewer Questions" and "More Time Per Question."
- Three required sections. English has 50 questions in 35 minutes. Math has 45 questions in 50 minutes. Reading has 36 questions in 40 minutes.
- Science is an add-on. It has 40 questions in 40 minutes and gets its own 1 to 36 score. It no longer counts toward your composite.
- A new composite. Your composite is the average of English, math and reading, rounded to the nearest whole number.
- New extra scores. If you take science, you also get a STEM score (the average of math and science).
- Paper or computer. In the US you choose. The online ACT is taken at a test center, not at home.
ACT says the switch came in two steps. Science left the composite for national online tests in April 2025. From September 2025, every ACT used the new calculation (ACT score guide).
One detail none of the top comparison pages we checked mentions: ACT sections include field-test questions. ACT's score guide lists English as "40 Operational Questions (+10 field test)." Math is 41 plus 4, and reading is 27 plus 9. So part of every section is field-test material. Treat every question as if it counts.
Several popular pages still describe the old ACT. College Board's own help center still says the ACT takes "2 hours and 55 minutes," which was the pre-2025 length. Check the date on any comparison you read.
Is the ACT easier than the SAT?
Not sure the adaptive SAT is for you? Create a free account and take one full-length adaptive SAT section free, with a Module 1 to Module 2 route and a scaled score.
Start 1-day free trial →Neither test is easier for everyone. ACT itself says questions on the two tests "have very similar levels of average difficulty." What differs is the pace, the math spread and the reading style.
Pace is the difference you can measure. Here is how many seconds you get per question in each section:
| Section | Questions | Minutes | Seconds per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 54 | 64 | about 71 |
| SAT Math | 44 | 70 | about 95 |
| ACT English | 50 | 35 | 42 |
| ACT Math | 45 | 50 | about 67 |
| ACT Reading | 36 | 40 | about 67 |
| ACT Science (optional) | 40 | 40 | 60 |
Overall, the SAT gives you about 43% more time per question than the core ACT (82 seconds vs 57). College Board's BigFuture page puts the gap at 41% to 44%, depending on whether you take ACT science.
So the ACT tends to suit students who read fast and decide fast. The SAT tends to suit students who like time to check their work. Students who switched say the same thing in their own words:
- "I think the only thing easier about the ACT is the english and reading sections. The math is pretty comparable to SAT because of time constraints per question." (r/ACT thread, September 2025)
- "with my experience in the SAT, I found that with extra time I had left id overthink and change an answer I had correctly chosen to an incorrect one." (r/ACT, same thread)
- "I heard act goes upto Precalc and has shorter time but clearer questions" (r/Sat, May 2025)
These are individual students, not measured results. They are useful because they name the real trade-off: less time on the ACT, trickier wording on the SAT for some readers.
How are SAT Math and ACT Math different?
SAT Math goes deep on algebra. ACT Math spreads across more topics, including vectors, matrices and logarithms. Both let you use a calculator for the whole math section.
| SAT Math content (share of section) | ACT Math content (share of section) |
|---|---|
| Algebra: about 35% | Number and Quantity: 10% to 12% |
| Advanced Math: about 35% | Algebra: 17% to 20% |
| Problem-Solving and Data Analysis: about 15% | Functions: 17% to 20% |
| Geometry and Trigonometry: about 15% | Geometry: 17% to 20% |
| Statistics and Probability: 12% to 15% | |
| Integrating Essential Skills: 20% |
Sources: College Board's SAT Math specifications and ACT's math test description.
ACT's description names topics the SAT spec does not list, such as vectors, matrices, complex numbers, logarithmic functions and conic sections. If you have not taken those classes yet, the SAT may feel more familiar.
Can you use Desmos on the ACT? Yes, if you take the ACT online. ACT says online test takers get "the Desmos graphing calculator built into the testing platform during the Math section." On the paper ACT, you bring your own calculator. Either way, calculators are allowed only on ACT math, not on science. On the SAT, you can use your own approved calculator or the Desmos calculator built into Bluebook for the whole Math section.
Both tests ban calculators with a computer algebra system (CAS), such as the TI-89 and TI-Nspire CAS. The TI-84 is not named on either banned list. Check the SAT policy and ACT policy for your exact model.
Formulas. The SAT shows a reference sheet of common formulas on every math test. ACT says "Knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills are assumed," so plan to memorize them.
Answer types. About 75% of SAT Math questions are multiple choice. The rest ask you to type in your own answer.
If you pick the SAT, TTA's Desmos for the Digital SAT page lets you practice on the same Desmos calculator, with an A to Z technique library and a printable cheat sheet.
How are the reading and English sections different?
The SAT uses many short passages with one question each. The ACT uses longer texts with a set of questions attached to each one.
- SAT Reading and Writing. College Board says passages "range from 25 to 150 words," each "followed by a single multiple-choice question." Grammar, vocabulary and reading questions are mixed into one section.
- ACT English. You get several essays, each followed by a set of questions. Some questions ask you to revise an underlined (or, online, highlighted) part. Many offer "NO CHANGE" as a choice.
- ACT Reading. ACT says "Some parts consist of one long prose passage and others consist of shorter prose passages."
If long passages drain your focus, the SAT's format helps. If you like to settle into one text and answer several questions about it, the ACT may feel smoother.
Try a real question from each test
Both questions below test the same writing skill: does a piece of text serve the writer's goal? Notice how differently each test asks it. Try each one before you open the answer.
SAT: Rhetorical Synthesis (Reading and Writing)
While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:
See which question types are costing you points
Start with a free mock, free drills, or preview sample questions before using all 45 question banks.
- A nonnative species that causes environmental or economic harm when introduced to an ecosystem is considered invasive.
- Quack grass is an invasive species of wetland plant that crowds out native plants and reduces crop yields.
- It was first introduced to the US accidentally through seed contamination.
- Giant reed is an invasive species of wetland plant that crowds out native plants and reduces wildlife habitat.
- It was first introduced to the US to help control erosion.
The student wants to emphasize a similarity between quack grass and giant reed. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?
A) Quack grass is an invasive species of wetland plant, and giant reed was first introduced accidentally through seed contamination.
B) The harm to ecosystems caused by giant reed and quack grass has led both species to be considered invasive in the US.
C) Quack grass was first introduced accidentally through seed contamination, but it now crowds out native plants and reduces crop yields.
D) Giant reed is an invasive species that crowds out native plants and reduces wildlife habitat, causing environmental harm.
Show the answer
B. The goal says "similarity," so the answer must name both plants and something they share. Only B does: both cause harm, so both count as invasive. C and D talk about one plant only. A names both plants but gives them no shared trait, and it also pins the seed-contamination fact on the wrong plant.
This question comes from The Test Advantage's free June 2026 SAT Reading and Writing Question Bank (bank difficulty: Intermediate).
ACT: English (Production of Writing)
From an essay about barbershop music:
This pastime eventually became a widely known genre of music that's traditionally characterized by four men singing in red-and-white-striped suits and straw hats. The songs usually have simple melodies and honeyed titles like "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" and "Sweet Adeline."
The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion (adjusting the punctuation as needed). Should the underlined portion be kept or deleted?
F. Kept, because it provides examples of song titles that help illustrate the style of the genre.
G. Kept, because the song titles help explain why barbershop music is traditionally unaccompanied.
H. Deleted, because it offers information that is redundant and not necessary for comprehension.
J. Deleted, because it detracts from the discussion of the historical origins of barbershop quartets.
Show the answer
F. The sentence calls the titles "honeyed." Without the two examples, you have to take that word on trust. With them, you can hear the sweet style for yourself. G is wrong because nothing about the titles explains why there are no instruments. H is wrong because the examples add something new. J is wrong because the sentence is about the songs' style, and the examples fit that point.
This question comes from The Test Advantage's ACT Enhanced English Test 8. We show two sentences of the essay here. On the real test, the full essay sits next to its questions. In this TTA test, each of the five essays has ten questions.
What the pair shows: the SAT gives you a short, self-contained task with one question. The ACT asks you to judge a sentence inside a longer essay you are reading at speed. If the SAT version felt calmer, that points toward the SAT. If moving through a long essay felt natural, the ACT may suit you.
Is the ACT or SAT better for engineering majors?
Neither. Colleges accept both, so pick the one you score higher on. The real question for STEM students is whether to add ACT Science. Usually you do not need it, but check each college. Science no longer affects your ACT composite, and MIT says it does not require it.
MIT's admissions page says: "We do not require the ACT writing or science sections or the SAT optional essay" (MIT tests and scores). College Board's BigFuture page warns that some colleges have updated their policies, "ranging from requiring the ACT Science section to not calculating an ACT superscore." So look up every school on your list.
If you pick the ACT and plan a STEM major, the science add-on costs $5 more and takes 40 more minutes. It gives you a science score and a STEM score. The SAT has no science section. Its Reading and Writing passages include science topics, and its math includes data analysis.
ACT vs SAT score chart: how do the scores compare?
Use the official concordance table that ACT and College Board built together. An ACT 30 lines up with an SAT 1370, and an ACT 25 with an SAT 1210.
| ACT composite | SAT total (single score) | SAT range |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1590 | 1570 to 1600 |
| 35 | 1540 | 1530 to 1560 |
| 34 | 1500 | 1490 to 1520 |
| 33 | 1460 | 1450 to 1480 |
| 32 | 1430 | 1420 to 1440 |
| 31 | 1400 | 1390 to 1410 |
| 30 | 1370 | 1360 to 1380 |
| 29 | 1340 | 1330 to 1350 |
| 28 | 1310 | 1300 to 1320 |
| 27 | 1280 | 1260 to 1290 |
| 26 | 1240 | 1230 to 1250 |
| 25 | 1210 | 1200 to 1220 |
| 24 | 1180 | 1160 to 1190 |
| 23 | 1140 | 1130 to 1150 |
| 22 | 1110 | 1100 to 1120 |
| 21 | 1080 | 1060 to 1090 |
| 20 | 1040 | 1030 to 1050 |
| 19 | 1010 | 990 to 1020 |
| 18 | 970 | 960 to 980 |
| 17 | 930 | 920 to 950 |
| 16 | 890 | 880 to 910 |
| 15 | 850 | 830 to 870 |
Source: ACT/SAT concordance tables (Table A2). Tap an ACT score to open its own page.
For context, ACT says the national average ACT composite was 19.4 in 2024. To see where an SAT score stands, TTA's What is a good SAT score? tool shows its percentile and ACT equivalent.
Three things to know before you lean on the chart:
- It is from 2018. ACT says "The most recent ACT / SAT concordance tables were released in 2018 and are not updated annually." That was years before science left the ACT composite in 2025.
- It is not a prediction. ACT says "A concorded score is not a perfect prediction of how a student would perform on the other test."
- Going the other way works too. To start from an SAT score, use TTA's SAT to ACT conversion chart. For example, a 1200 SAT concords to a 25 ACT.
We checked TTA's chart against ACT's official tables on September 28, 2026. All 102 SAT rows and all 28 ACT rows matched, and so did all 86 TTA per-score pages.
ACT vs SAT: which should you take?
Take the test where your practice score converts higher. Use the checklist to guess first, then confirm it with one timed practice test of each.
The SAT is probably your better fit if:
- You often run out of time. The SAT gives about 82 seconds per question; the core ACT gives about 57.
- Your math strength is algebra, and you like graphing on Desmos.
- You would rather have formulas on screen than memorize them.
- Long passages wear you out. SAT passages are 25 to 150 words.
- You are comfortable testing on a screen. The SAT is digital only.
The ACT is probably your better fit if:
- You work fast and tend to overthink when you have extra time.
- You have covered a wide range of math, including trig, matrices or logarithms.
- You want a test that stays the same all the way through. The ACT is not adaptive.
- You want to test on paper. The ACT offers paper at US test centers.
- You want to review your actual questions afterward. ACT sells "ACT My Answer Key," a copy of your questions and answers, for three test dates each year ($36 if ordered before the test).
Then test-drive both, in three steps:
- Take one timed official practice test of each. SAT practice tests are free in Bluebook. For a fresh SAT section, create a free TTA account and take one full-length adaptive SAT section free, with a real Module 1 to Module 2 route and a scaled score. ACT posts free official practice tests online and on paper.
- Convert one score to the other scale. Use the chart above, or TTA's Digital SAT score calculator, which also shows an ACT equivalent.
- Pick the higher one and commit. If the two scores land in the same row, choose the test that felt better. Then spend all your prep time on that one test.
Check your school, too. Some schools give the SAT or ACT during the school day. For the SAT School Day, College Board says students "do not need to register on their own," because the school handles it. The 2026-27 in-school windows are October 1 to 30, 2026 and March 1 to April 30, 2027. If your school offers one of the tests, that gives you a score without a separate weekend test date.
Should I take both the SAT and the ACT? Most students should not. ACT's own advice is that "sending both scores usually doesn't give an advantage." Splitting your prep between two formats usually means less practice on the one that counts.
Do colleges prefer the ACT or the SAT?
No. Both test makers, and the colleges themselves, say the two tests count the same.
- ACT: "Both tests are equally accepted at all accredited U.S. colleges and universities, including the Ivy League."
- College Board (BigFuture): "You may have heard that colleges in some states prefer the SAT while others favor the ACT, but this isn't true. Colleges don't have a preference."
- MIT: "We require the SAT or the ACT." MIT also says it has no "cutoff or recommended scores for the ACT or SAT."
- Harvard: "Harvard requires the SAT or ACT to meet its standardized testing requirement" (Harvard application requirements).
Superscoring is where policies differ. A superscore combines your best section scores from different test dates. ACT builds one for you automatically from English, math and reading. MIT says it "will consider the superscore." Other colleges set their own rules, so check each one. To see how your score compares at specific schools, try TTA's free College Finder.
ACT and SAT test dates, fees and score release for 2026-27
Both tests have six national dates left this school year. The September 2026 dates have passed, and so have the deadlines for the October 3 SAT.
| Test | Test date | Registration deadline | Late deadline | Scores out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAT | Oct. 3, 2026 | Sept. 18, 2026 | Sept. 22, 2026 | Oct. 16, 2026 |
| ACT | Oct. 17, 2026 | Sept. 11, 2026 | Sept. 29, 2026 | Oct. 27, 2026 |
| SAT | Nov. 7, 2026 | Oct. 23, 2026 | Oct. 27, 2026 | Nov. 20, 2026 |
| SAT | Dec. 5, 2026 | Nov. 20, 2026 | Nov. 24, 2026 | Dec. 18, 2026 |
| ACT | Dec. 12, 2026 | Nov. 6, 2026 | Nov. 29, 2026 | Dec. 22, 2026 |
| ACT | Feb. 27, 2027 | Jan. 22, 2027 | Feb. 9, 2027 | Mar. 16, 2027 |
| SAT | Mar. 6, 2027 | Feb. 19, 2027 | Feb. 23, 2027 | Not yet published |
| ACT | Apr. 10, 2027 | Mar. 5, 2027 | Mar. 23, 2027 | Apr. 20, 2027 |
| SAT | May 1, 2027 | Apr. 16, 2027 | Apr. 20, 2027 | Not yet published |
| SAT | June 5, 2027 | May 21, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | Not yet published |
| ACT | June 12, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | May 25, 2027 | June 23, 2027 |
| ACT | July 10, 2027 | June 4, 2027 | June 22, 2027 | July 20, 2027 |
Sources: College Board's SAT dates and deadlines and score release dates; ACT's test dates page. ACT's "Scores out" column is its "Paper Initial Score Release" date. College Board had published SAT score dates only for fall 2026 when we checked. ACT notes that writing scores may come out later.
For a countdown and the full SAT calendar, see TTA's SAT test dates 2026-27 page.
| Fee (US) | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | $68 | $70 (English, math, reading) |
| ACT with science | Not offered | $75 |
| ACT with writing | Not offered | $95 |
| ACT with science and writing | Not offered | $100 |
| Late registration | $38 | $42 |
| Score reports | First 4 free if ordered within 9 days after the test; $15 each after that | Up to 4 colleges included if you list them when you register; $20 each after that |
| Fee waivers | Yes, for eligible students | Yes, for eligible students |
Sources: SAT test fees and ACT fees.
How to prepare once you choose
Pick one test, then practice with real questions in that test's format. Here is where The Test Advantage fits.
If you chose the SAT:
- See the adaptive format for yourself. Create a free account and take one full-length adaptive SAT section free, with a real Module 1 to Module 2 route and a scaled score. TTA's adaptive sections match the real timing: 27 questions in 32 minutes per Reading and Writing module, and 22 questions in 35 minutes per Math module.
- Then work the free June 2026 Reading and Writing Question Bank. It has 230 questions. You can try sample questions without an account, or make a free account to work the full bank.
- Browse the SAT Question Bank hub. It groups Digital SAT question banks by test month, with separate English and Math banks. The newest Math bank is September 2026, with 194 questions.
- Fix one skill at a time with TTA's question banks and lesson notes, such as the Rhetorical Synthesis lesson notes for questions like the SAT one above. A free account is needed to open the notes.
- Warm up with 16 free SAT practice questions with answers, two from each content domain.
- Build a week-by-week plan from your test date with the free SAT study plan generator.
If you chose the ACT:
- Start with ACT's free official practice tests.
- For more timed sections, TTA has paid Enhanced ACT practice tests, such as ACT Enhanced English Test 8 (where the ACT question above comes from) and Enhanced ACT Reading J08. Each page lists its price.
- Once you have a practice score, check what it means on the SAT scale with the conversion chart.
TTA's practice test catalog lists its SAT question banks and ACT tests in one place, and you can try five sample questions from any test without an account. Paid plans are on the pricing page.
More questions about ACT and SAT scores
- ACT to SAT Conversion Chart (Official Concordance)
- SAT to ACT Conversion Chart
- What Is a Good ACT Score?
How we built this page: on September 28, 2026, we read every format, score, fee and date fact directly from act.org and College Board's websites, plus MIT's and Harvard's admissions pages. We checked TTA's conversion chart and per-score pages against ACT's official concordance tables, row by row. The two practice questions come from The Test Advantage's question banks. We solved both ourselves and used them only because our answers matched the bank's answer key. The Test Advantage is not affiliated with College Board or ACT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ACT easier than the SAT?
Neither is easier for everyone. ACT says the two tests have very similar average difficulty. The ACT gives less time per question (about 57 seconds vs about 82 on the SAT), while the SAT uses shorter reading passages and puts more weight on algebra. A timed practice test of each shows which one fits you.
Do colleges prefer the ACT or the SAT?
No. ACT says both tests are equally accepted at all accredited US colleges and universities, and College Board says colleges don't have a preference. MIT and Harvard, for example, require the SAT or the ACT and accept either one.
Is science still part of the ACT?
Yes, but it is optional. Since September 2025, the ACT composite score is the average of English, math and reading only. The science add-on has 40 questions in 40 minutes and gives a separate science score plus a STEM score.
What is a 30 ACT on the SAT?
An ACT composite of 30 concords to an SAT total of 1370, with an official range of 1360 to 1380, according to the 2018 ACT and College Board concordance tables. The tables compare scores; they do not predict how you would score on the other test.
Can you use Desmos on the ACT?
Yes, if you take the ACT online. ACT says online test takers get the Desmos graphing calculator built into the testing platform during the math section. On the paper ACT, you bring your own approved calculator. The SAT has Desmos built into Bluebook for the whole Math section.
Should I take both the SAT and the ACT?
Most students should not. ACT says sending both scores usually doesn't give an advantage. Take one timed practice test of each, convert the scores with the concordance table, then prepare for the test where you scored higher.
Is the ACT or SAT better for engineering majors?
Colleges accept either test, so pick the one you score higher on. If you choose the ACT, check whether your colleges want the optional science section. MIT, for example, says it does not require the ACT science section.
Related Concepts
Sources and Citation Targets
- Harvard College: Application Requirements
- MIT Admissions: First-Year Tests and Scores
- College Board: SAT Suite Calculator Policy
- College Board: SAT Math Specifications
- College Board: Bluebook Practice Tests
- College Board: SAT Suite Test Dates and Deadlines
- College Board: SAT Test Fees
- College Board: How the SAT Is Structured