SAT vs ACT
The differences between SAT and ACT often are not understood. Which is preferred? On which will your child perform better? Check out our chart explaining the differences.
SAT Highlight
- Shorter reading passages
- More difficult text complexity, more vocabulary
- Fewer math topics, but more in depth
- Students use their own devices (tablets and computers)
- Stronger focus on grammar, concise writing, and editing skills in real-world contexts
ACT Highlights
- Shorter reading passages, less vocabulary
- Increased focus on argument evaluation and text comparison.
- More straightforward but faster paced questions.
- Greater variety of math topics with simpler problem-solving
- Chart and graph reasoning in the optional Science section.
SAT & ACT Percentiles
How do you know if you are better on the SAT or ACT? Compare percentiles
Percentile ranks show how your scaled scores compare to those earned by recent high school graduates who took the tests. For example, a 25 on the ACT places you in the 81st percentile, which means you’ve scored higher than or equal to 81% of the testing population
| ACT Score | Percentile | SAT Score |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | 99+ | 1590 |
| 35 | 99 | 1570 |
| 34 | 99 | 1540 |
| 33 | 98 | 1510 |
| 32 | 97 | 1480 |
| - | 96 | 1460 |
| 31 | 95 | 1430 |
| 30 | 94 | 1410 |
| - | 93 | 1400 |
| 29 | 92 | 1380 |
| - | 91 | 1370 |
| 28 | 90 | 1350 |
| - | 89 | 1340 |
| - | 88 | 1330 |
| 27 | 87 | 1310 |
| - | 86 | 1300 |
| 26 | 85 | 1290 |
| - | 84 | 1280 |
| - | 83 | 1270 |
| - | 82 | 1260 |
| 25 | 81 | 1250 |
| - | 80 | 1240 |
| - | 79 | 1230 |
| 24 | 78 | 1220 |
| - | 76 | 1210 |
| - | 75 | 1200 |
| 23 | 74 | 1190 |
| - | 73 | 1180 |
| - | 71 | 1170 |
| - | 70 | 1160 |
| 22 | 69 | 1150 |
| - | 67 | 1140 |
| ACT Score | Percentile | SAT Score |
|---|---|---|
| - | 66 | 1130 |
| 21 | 64 | 1120 |
| - | 63 | 1110 |
| - | 61 | 1100 |
| - | 60 | 1090 |
| 20 | 59 | - |
| - | 58 | 1080 |
| - | 56 | 1070 |
| - | 55 | 1060 |
| 19 | 53 | 1050 |
| - | 52 | 1040 |
| - | 50 | 1030 |
| - | 49 | 1020 |
| 18 | 47 | 1010 |
| - | 45 | 1000 |
| - | 43 | 990 |
| - | 42 | 980 |
| 17 | 41 | - |
| - | 40 | 970 |
| - | 39 | 960 |
| - | 37 | 950 |
| - | 36 | 940 |
| 16 | 35 | - |
| - | 34 | 930 |
| - | 32 | 920 |
| - | 31 | 910 |
| - | 29 | 900 |
| 15 | 28 | 890 |
| - | 26 | 880 |
| - | 25 | 870 |
| 1-14 | <25 | 400-860 |
Preparing for the SAT and ACT
While students can self-study using school knowledge or online materials, these methods often miss key strategies and timing skills.
At Brilliant Prep, our expert-led programs build strong foundations, sharpen test-taking techniques, and consistently lead to higher scores — helping students earn scholarships and college acceptances.
Invest in focused preparation for greater confidence, better scores, and bigger opportunities.
Should We Prepare for the SAT, ACT or Both?
There are two main perspectives on this question. Some believe it’s more efficient to focus on one test, arguing that preparing for both may not be necessary. Others advocate for preparing for both exams, highlighting the advantages of greater flexibility, broader college opportunities, and a stronger competitive edge.
Below are key factors to consider when deciding the best approach for your student.
- Taking Only One Course
Focused Preparation
Concentrating on one test allows students to dive deeper into the specific format, strategies, and content, leading to more targeted and efficient preparation.
Reduced Stress and Workload
Preparing for only one exam reduces the pressure of juggling two different formats, timelines, and study plans, helping students stay balanced and less overwhelmed.
Maximize Strengths
Students can select the test that best matches their natural strengths — for example, students who excel at evidence-based reading may favor the SAT, while those strong in science reasoning may prefer the ACT.
Strategic Time Management
Focusing on a single test frees up time for schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and essay writing, allowing students to balance test prep with other important parts of the college application process.
- Taking Both Courses
Maximize College Opportunities
Taking both exams can broaden your college options, as some institutions may prefer one test over the other. Demonstrating proficiency in both shows versatility.
Identify Your Strengths
Each test has a distinct format and focus. By attempting both, you can determine which aligns better with your skills, potentially leading to higher scores.
Enhanced Preparation
Studying for both tests reinforces core skills, as there’s overlap in math, reading, and grammar, leading to stronger overall academic readiness.
No One Can Predict Test Fit
With the changes to the Digital SAT and the Enhanced ACT, it’s difficult to know in advance which test format a student will excel at — preparing for both keeps all options open