Following the news? ETS acquired ACT on June 30, 2026. It does not change the test you sit for this year. See our companion piece on what the ETS acquisition of ACT means for the full breakdown.
First, the myth to drop: colleges do not prefer one
Every accredited four-year college in the United States accepts both the SAT and the ACT, and admissions offices treat them equally. There is no secret preference, no test that looks better on an application, and no region where one counts more than the other for admissions. Colleges use published concordance tables to put scores from the two tests on the same footing.
That single fact reframes the whole decision. You are not choosing the test colleges like more. You are choosing the test that lets you post your highest possible score with the most sustainable preparation. For many students the difference between the right test and the wrong one is worth a meaningful score swing, so this choice matters more than most families realize.
Digital SAT vs Enhanced ACT: the 2026 formats side by side
Both tests changed dramatically in the last two years. The SAT went fully digital in March 2024, and the ACT rolled out its Enhanced format (online in April 2025, paper in September 2025) with Science becoming optional. If you are working from older guides or a sibling's advice, throw it out. Here is where things actually stand.
| Feature | Digital SAT | Enhanced ACT |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Fully digital (Bluebook app on laptop or tablet) | Digital or paper (moving toward digital; paper still offered for US national testers, though center availability varies) |
| Adaptive? | Yes, section-adaptive by module | No, linear (everyone sees the same form) |
| Total length | About 2 hr 14 min | About 2 hr core, about 2 hr 40 min with Science |
| Score scale | 400 to 1600 | 1 to 36 composite |
| Sections | Reading & Writing, Math | English, Math, Reading (+ optional Science) |
| Science | None (reasoning woven into other sections) | Optional, scored separately, not in composite |
| Math as share of score | Half | One third |
| Calculator | Built-in Desmos across all of Math | Built-in Desmos on digital (added Dec 2025); bring your own on paper |
| Reading passages | Short, one question each | Longer passages, multiple questions |
| Pacing | More time per question | Faster, more time-pressured |
| Essay | None (retired 2021) | Optional Writing, scored separately |
Formats reflect the 2026 Digital SAT and the Enhanced ACT. Always confirm current structure, dates, and fees at collegeboard.org and act.org before registering, since details can change.
How the content actually feels different
Reading
The SAT uses short, single-paragraph passages with one question each, so it tests focused comprehension in small bites. The ACT uses longer passages with several questions and rewards the ability to locate information quickly under time pressure. Fast readers often prefer the ACT; students who like to sit with a text tend to do better on the SAT.
Math
This is often the deciding section. On the SAT, math is half your total score and emphasizes flexible, multi-step problem solving across a smaller set of concepts, with the built-in Desmos calculator available throughout. On the ACT, math is only a third of the composite and covers a wider range of topics in a more straightforward way, but faster. If math is your strength, the SAT rewards it more heavily. If math is a weak spot, the ACT dilutes its impact on your composite.
Science and data
The ACT has a dedicated Science section (now optional) that tests data interpretation and scientific reasoning. The SAT has no separate Science section, folding data and charts into Math and Reading and Writing instead. Strong science-reasoning students who want to showcase that skill may prefer the ACT; students who would rather not add a section and 40 minutes of fatigue can lean SAT or simply skip ACT Science.
English and writing
The SAT combines reading and writing into one section with grammar and rhetoric questions tied to short passages. The ACT English section is a faster grammar and usage test. Both reward solid command of standard written English; the difference is once again pace.
Scoring and how to compare across the two
Because the tests use different scales, you compare them with official concordance tables, not by eyeballing the numbers. The SAT runs 400 to 1600. The ACT composite runs 1 to 36 and is the average of your section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number.
| ACT composite | SAT (approx.) | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1590 to 1600 | Top fraction of a percent |
| 34 | 1500 to 1520 | Highly selective range |
| 30 | 1360 to 1400 | Strong for selective schools |
| 27 | 1260 to 1290 | Competitive at many schools |
| 24 | 1160 to 1200 | Around the national average band |
| 20 | 1030 to 1050 | Opens many four-year colleges |
Concordance is approximate and based on College Board and ACT published data. Use it for comparison, not as an exact conversion. When comparing your own two practice scores, convert to one scale first, then see which is genuinely higher relative to each test's percentiles.
Which test suits which student
Lean SAT if you
Prefer more time to think through each question, are comfortable testing on a screen, and are strong in math (it is half your score). You do well with short, focused reading passages, you like the idea of a built-in Desmos calculator you can master for an edge, and you do not want a separate Science section. Methodical, careful test-takers usually shine on the adaptive SAT because early accuracy unlocks a higher scoring ceiling.
Lean ACT if you
Are a fast, confident test-taker who does not mind time pressure, you want the option of a paper test, and your math is average while your overall profile is strong (math is only a third of the composite). You are comfortable with longer reading passages, you can move quickly, and if you are a STEM applicant, you may want to show a strong optional Science score. Students who dislike the SAT's module-lock and prefer a consistent, non-adaptive difficulty often feel more in control on the ACT.
How to decide, step by step
-
1
Take a full-length practice test of each
Use official current-format materials: a Bluebook practice test for the SAT (so you feel the adaptive module-lock firsthand) and an official Enhanced ACT practice test under real timing. Do each in one sitting for an accurate baseline.
-
2
Convert both to one scale and compare
Use the concordance table above to put both scores on the same footing. A meaningful gap (more than a point or two of ACT-equivalent) points to your test. A near-tie means you decide on feel and pacing instead.
-
3
Weigh how each test felt, not just the score
Did you run out of time on one but not the other? Did the adaptive format stress you or suit you? Sustainable preparation matters: the test you can practice consistently without dread is often the one you will score highest on.
-
4
Commit to one and focus
Once you have a winner, stop splitting effort. Concentrating your prep on a single test almost always beats hedging across both. Sending both scores rarely helps in admissions.
-
5
Check your target schools' policies
Confirm whether your colleges require scores (many selective schools now do again), whether they superscore, and whether any program values the optional ACT Science section. Build your test calendar backward from application deadlines.
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The Desmos factor: an SAT-specific edge
One detail deserves its own mention because it genuinely moves SAT scores: the Digital SAT includes a built-in Desmos graphing calculator, available across the entire Math section. Students who learn to use it fluently can solve many algebra, systems, and function questions in seconds by graphing instead of grinding through algebra, which frees up time and reduces careless errors.
This is a real, learnable advantage, not a gimmick, and it is unique to the digital-testing era. It is exactly why our Co-Founder Jaclyn Caruana wrote SAT Desmos Hacks: The EPIC Method, the step-by-step guide to the exact Desmos techniques Epic Exam Prep teachers use with students scoring 750+ on SAT Math. If you lean SAT, mastering Desmos is one of the highest-return things you can do.
There is an ACT angle too, and it is newer. The digital ACT added a built-in Desmos calculator for Math starting December 2025 (paper ACT still has none). Because most colleges superscore the ACT and only see your highest section scores, some strategic students take most sections on paper, where there are far more official practice tests and easier annotation, then take a digital ACT specifically to maximize their Math score with Desmos. It is an advanced move, but for a student whose Math lags their other sections, learning Desmos and sitting one digital ACT can lift the section that is holding back the composite.
Frequently asked questions
The most common questions about choosing between the SAT and ACT in 2026.
Is the SAT or ACT easier?
Neither test is objectively easier; difficulty depends on your strengths. The Digital SAT gives you more time per question and rewards careful, methodical work, with math counting for half your score. The Enhanced ACT is faster paced and covers a wider range of content more quickly, with math counting for only a third of the composite. Students strong in math and comfortable with a slower, adaptive digital format often prefer the SAT; fast readers comfortable with time pressure often prefer the ACT. The same student can score noticeably better on one, which is why taking a diagnostic of each is the reliable way to decide.
Do colleges prefer the SAT or the ACT?
No. Every accredited four-year US college accepts both the SAT and the ACT equally, and admissions offices do not favor one over the other. Colleges use published concordance tables to compare scores across the two tests. You should choose based on which test fits your strengths, not on any perceived college preference, because there is none.
What are the main differences between the Digital SAT and the Enhanced ACT in 2026?
The Digital SAT is fully digital and section-adaptive, about 2 hours 14 minutes, scored 400 to 1600, with two sections (Reading and Writing, and Math) and a built-in Desmos calculator across all of Math. The Enhanced ACT is available on paper or digital, is linear (not adaptive), runs about 2 hours for the core sections (English, Math, Reading) or about 2 hours 40 minutes with the optional Science section, and is scored 1 to 36. On the SAT, math is half your score; on the ACT, it is one third of the composite. The ACT is generally more time-pressured; the SAT gives more time per question.
Does the ACT still have a Science section in 2026?
Yes, but it is now optional. As of the Enhanced ACT, the Science section is optional and scored separately; it is no longer part of the 1 to 36 composite, which is now based on English, Math, and Reading. Students applying to STEM programs or certain scholarships may still want to take Science, because some programs continue to value a Science score, so check your target schools' policies before opting out. The Digital SAT has no separate Science section; scientific reasoning is woven into the other sections.
How do SAT and ACT scores compare?
The SAT is scored 400 to 1600 and the ACT 1 to 36, so they are compared using official concordance tables published by the College Board and ACT. As rough anchors: an ACT composite around 36 aligns with an SAT near 1600, about 30 aligns with roughly 1360 to 1400, about 24 aligns with roughly 1160 to 1200, and about 20 aligns with roughly 1030 to 1050. Concordance is approximate and meant for comparison, not exact conversion. Compare your performance using percentiles or concordance, not raw numbers.
Should I take both the SAT and the ACT?
Usually not. Most students get a better result by choosing one test and focusing their preparation on it, because splitting effort across two different formats tends to lower both scores. Taking a short diagnostic of each is smart, but for the real exam, pick the one where you perform better and where prep feels sustainable, then concentrate on it. Sending scores from both tests generally does not give an admissions advantage.
Can I use a calculator on the SAT and ACT?
Yes, on both, with important nuances. The Digital SAT provides a built-in Desmos graphing calculator across the entire Math section, and it has since the digital SAT launched. The ACT added a built-in Desmos calculator too, but only on the digital version and only starting with the December 2025 test date; paper ACT testers have no Desmos and must bring their own approved calculator. Because most colleges superscore the ACT, some students strategically take most sections on paper and then take a digital ACT to maximize their Math score with Desmos. Either way, mastering Desmos is one of the highest-value steps for the Digital SAT and increasingly for the digital ACT.
Did the ETS acquisition of ACT change which test I should take?
No. ETS acquired ACT on June 30, 2026, but the near-term test is unchanged, and the decision still comes down to which test matches your strengths. The acquisition affects ownership, not the format you sit for this year. If anything, experts view it as stabilizing the ACT's future. For a full breakdown of the deal and what it means, see our companion article on the ETS acquisition of ACT.
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