Why I Currently Prefer the SAT to the ACT

The SAT and ACT have made some significant changes in recent years— some benefiting student, other more self-serving. 

I work with students to prepare for both exams and currently favor the SAT. Here’s why.

ACT Was My Favorite

Prior to recent changes, the ACT was my favorite. More of my private tutoring students took the ACT and I found the format more coachable than the SAT of that era. 

If you are a testing geek or can remember the 2016-2023 SAT, you will remember LONG reading passages, some from old literature. The no calculator math section. Free response in both math sections while the ACT was entirely multiple choice. 

I live in a state where the SAT is the more popular exam (a regional divide, a lot like Coke vs Pepsi.) But I favored the ACT and convinced many students to give it a try. Times have changed. 

Tests Change

In 2024, the SAT adopted its new digital format. Reading and grammar were combined into a single section. The long passages were cut down to paragraph size texts. In math, the Desmos calculator became a built-in part of the online platform. The SAT was reduced to an exam just over two hours in length. 

The ACT has worked to keep pace. Unfortunately, the ACT’s digital platform is not as easy to use or intuitive as the College Board’s Bluebook app. Some of the ACT changes designed to benefit students have just added to their confusion (making science optional so now you need to decide whether or not you should take it.)

My Gripes with the Current ACT

I could write an article on each of these points, but here’s the short version. 

1. The benefit of the paper and pencil exam is undercut because students don’t have the same access to the Desmos calculator. Desmos is a game changer. Not making it available to paper and pencil test takers puts them at a disadvantage. 
2. Making the science section optional has complicated decision making. Some students should take the science section. It could increase their scores. To determine this we need to prep for science and evaluate how the section impacts the overall results. In the past year I’ve found about 20% of students benefit from including science. This means that the other 80% have spent time and effort preparing for something they ultimately won’t take. 
3. ACT’s new addition of ungraded experimental questions puts an unfair burden on students and complicates testing strategy, especially in reading. ACT reading presents students with four page-long passages, each with nine questions. One of those passages won’t count. 25% of the material is ungraded. I find this unfair, especially for students who struggle to complete the section in 40 minutes and could be spending a significant amount of time on these ungraded questions instead of those they need. 

Conclusion 

Students have a choice in which standardized test scores they send to colleges for admission. Currently I find the SAT to be the more coachable exam and I feel there are some added issues that make the ACT a problematic choice. Still, some students will find the current ACT a better fit for their testing strengths, despite these drawbacks.