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Do Colleges/Universities Have a Preference Between SAT or ACT?
Do Colleges/Universities Have a Preference Between SAT or ACT?
No, colleges/universities do not have a preference between these two tests anymore. All colleges/universities treat these tests equally in terms of admission.
Should My Student Take the SAT or ACT?
In Illinois, all juniors must take the ACT for a graduation requirement. This test is offered during the school day, usually in April. Some students may score better on the SAT than on the ACT. It is a good idea to take both (even if they are just practice tests), to determine which test highlights a student’s abilities better.
What is the Difference Between the SAT and ACT?
The SAT and ACT differ in both structure and timing. The SAT, which became fully digital and adaptive in the past year, includes two main sections: Reading/Writing and Math, with a total test time of 2 hours and 14 minutes. The ACT, on the other hand, includes four sections—English, Math, Reading, and Science—and takes 2 hours and 55 minutes (or 3 hours and 35 minutes with the optional essay).
Starting in February 2025, the ACT will offer an online testing option at select locations, giving students more flexibility. This aligns with the SAT’s digital format, which has been in place for a year. The SAT uses an adaptive structure, meaning the difficulty of questions adjusts based on student performance. The ACT remains fixed, with all students answering the same set of questions.
The SAT is scored on a scale of 400-1600, with two section scores: Math (200-800) and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (200-800).
The ACT uses a composite score range of 1-36, based on the average of four section scores: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each scored from 1-36.
Do Illinois Colleges and Universities Only Take the SAT?
No! Both scores are considered equally for admission and scholarship consideration.
Should We Utilize Sending the Free Score Reports When Signing Up for an ACT or SAT?
This is a personal decision. We encourage students to take advantage of the four free scores ACT and SAT provide when registering for the exam, and consider sending them to colleges/universities where they are more certain of admission (though colleges will consider the highest overall score that is sent to them). College Board does allow students to send the free scores within nine days of taking the SAT (before students receive the scores, but it allows the student to see how the test felt). Some colleges/universities require students to send all of their test scores, so sending them ahead of time can save families money.
If students qualify for a test fee waiver, College Board allows for unlimited SAT score fee waivers and ACT allows for 20 score fee waivers (after students receive their scores).
Click on the link below to compare SAT and ACT scores
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