SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Should You Take & When?
With many top colleges—Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth, and others—bringing back SAT/ACT requirements, it's more important than ever to have a testing strategy. While the SAT and ACT are treated equally by admissions offices, they’re not interchangeable for students. Choosing the right test and planning your official exams with intention can make a big difference in your performance—and your peace of mind.
Which Test Is the Better Fit?
At Principia Education, we start every student with full-length diagnostic tests for both the SAT and ACT. These mimic real test conditions, spotlight strengths and weaknesses, and help us determine which test best suits each student’s pace and problem-solving style. Here are some key differences:
Pacing and Format
The digital SAT runs 2 hours and 14 minutes with 98 questions across two sections: Reading & Writing (about 1 minute 11 seconds per question) and Math (about 1 minute 35 seconds per question). It’s adaptive, so your performance on the first module of each section determines the difficulty of the second.
The ACT lasts just over two hours (plus an optional 40-minute science section) with 121 questions. While the new enhanced ACT is more similar to the SAT than it was before, there are still clear differences. For one, it’s not adaptive and includes separate English and Reading sections. The ACT also moves faster—just 42 seconds per question on the English section, for instance—and is available in both digital and paper formats, making it a good choice for students who prefer paper-based testing.
Content and Style
The SAT emphasizes reasoning and abstract problem-solving, especially in algebra and reading comprehension. It’s a good fit for students who enjoy multi-step thinking and deeper analysis.
The ACT is more straightforward and covers a broader range of math topics (including trigonometry and matrices). It suits students who work quickly or are eligible for extended time accommodations.
When Should You Take the Test?
Once we’ve identified the better test, prep begins. We personalize every session to the student’s needs, using online and paper-based materials to match the real testing experience.
While early prep is helpful—especially for PSAT and National Merit goals—it’s not always a good idea to take an official exam in 9th or 10th grade, with schools like Carnegie Mellon University explicitly stating that they recommend students submit their 11th or 12th-grade test scores only. For athletes, though, testing earlier may be necessary to share scores with college recruiters.
We typically recommend:
First official test: August or September of junior year
Retakes (if needed): October-December, while the material is still fresh, or March SAT / February ACT for deeper review
Most students should take the test no more than three times. While most schools focus only on your highest score, others like Georgetown still ask for all scores. Eventually, there are also diminishing returns, and students could better use that time spent studying on other aspects to boost their college application. For college admissions planning, students can’t really confirm a college list or ED strategy until they know their standardized testing scores either, so it’s better to get it out of the way earlier rather than later.
Still unsure? Book a free consultation and take our diagnostic tests to find out which exam is right for you.