There have been some big changes to the SAT and ACT, but what do students really need to know before taking either of these standardized tests?
So what does this all mean?
Some universities are still test-optional, and most universities will accept either SAT or ACT. When it comes to the ACT, however, policies vary a lot as to whether they require or will consider a Science score, Essay score, or allow you to calculate your own superscore. So, it’s important to do research into each university you are interested in applying to to see their testing policy, and be sure you sign up in time for the tests that will allow you to put your best foot forward in the application process. We recommend, for the ACT, taking the Science section, but the essay portion can usually be omitted as only a select few colleges require it.
As for deciding which test to take, the best approach is still to take a timed, full-length practice test of each and see how you do and how you feel. Different timings, different styles of questions and reading passages, and how they incorporate science into the test mean these can be quite different testing experiences.