Test Prep Info Center

Should I take the SAT or the ACT?

Most schools accept either test; however, be sure to inquire at the schools to which you are applying: each school will specify the test required for admission. Certainly, proclivities vary, so a student's aptitude for one or the other should be determined through diagnostic testing. A student should follow the path of least resistance, so if he or she shows a greater aptitude for ACT curriculum, then the program should target that test.

Although the SAT and ACT generally test the same skills, the reasoning required by each is slightly different. Although a diagnostic test is the best way to figure out which test you should take, following guide highlights a few important differences.

Consider the SAT if

• You are strongly verbal and an avid reader. The SAT is 2/3 verbal (writing and critical reading), and both verbal sections require a fairly nuanced sense of language and rhetoric.
• You are a slow test-taker. The timing on the SAT is leisurely compared to that on the ACT. If you are a slow reader or take time to do math problems, the SAT might be a better test for you.
• You have not taken advanced math. The SAT only has a few problems per test that go beyond the curriculum taught in Algebra II. If you have not taken more advanced math courses or feel that your strength lies primarily in Algebra and Geometry, you may want to consider the SAT.
• You have a strong vocabulary. About 1/4 of the questions in the Critical Reading section on the SAT are vocabulary questions.

Consider the ACT if

• You are more of a concrete and less of an analytical thinker. The ACT reading section relies much less on inference and implication and more on the factual information presented in the passage. ACT math is also more concretely based on the math you do in school, whereas the SAT relies less on knowledge and more on reasoning.
• You have taken or are taking advanced math courses. Although the ACT does rely heavily on Algebra and Geometry, it also includes a significant number of Trigonometry and Pre-Calculus questions.
• You are good at science. The ACT includes a science section that does not actually require much knowledge of science. This section does, however, require a strong grasp of such basic scientific principles as the scientific method.
• You are a good editor. The ACT English section requires you to make grammatical and rhetorical changes to essays. If you are good at editing, you may do well on the English section.

SAT

The SAT is an admissions test that measures critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills. Colleges and universities use the SAT as one measure among others—class rank, high school GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essays, and teacher recommendations—of a student's readiness to do college-level work.

Learn more about the SAT

ACT

The ACT is an achievement test that measures grammar, reading comprehension, mathematical, and science skills. Colleges and universities use the ACT as one measure among others—class rank, high school GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essays, and teacher recommendations—of a student's readiness to do college-level work. At many colleges and universities, the ACT is accepted by admissions officers in lieu of the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests.

Learn more about the ACT

Should I take the SSAT or the ISEE?

The SSAT is used primarily by boarding schools such as Choate, Andover, and Exeter. The ISEE is used primarily by independent private schools such as The Francis W. Parker School in Chicago or Dalton and Trinity in New York City. Be sure to inquire at the schools to which you are applying: each school will specify the test required for admission.

SSAT

The Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) is an admissions test for entrance into grades 5-12. Schools use the SSAT as one measure among others—class rank, GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essay, and teacher recommendations—of a student's readiness to do middle school or high school work.

Learn more about the SSAT

ISEE

The Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) is a 3-hour admissions test for entrance into grades 5-12. The ISEE consists of sections of verbal and quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension and mathematics achievement questions, and a timed essay written in response to an assigned topic.

Learn more about the ISEE