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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 Highlights

ACT Highlights

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 ScorePercentileSAT Score
3699+1590
35991570
34991540
33981510
32971480
-961460
31951430
30941410
-931400
29921380
-911370
28901350
-891340
-881330
27871310
-861300
26851290
-841280
-831270
-821260
25811250
-801240
-791230
24781220
-761210
-751200
23741190
-731180
-711170
-701160
22691150
-671140
ACT ScorePercentileSAT Score
-661130
21641120
-631110
-611100
-601090
2059-
-581080
-561070
-551060
19531050
-521040
-501030
-491020
18471010
-451000
-43990
-42980
1741-
-40970
-39960
-37950
-36940
1635-
-34930
-32920
-31910
-29900
1528890
-26880
-25870
1-14<25400-860

Preparing for the SAT and ACT

The cheapest way is to just let your child take the tests based on what he or she learned in school. You can also buy test prep materials online and let your child study from them. However, test prep such as we offer at Brilliant Prep consistently delivers the highest scores and the resulting scholarships and admissions acceptance letters.

Should We Prepare for the SAT, ACT or Both?

There are two main “schools of thought” on this topic. Some say that taking both tests is unnecessary so why prepare for both. Others say that preparing for both tests gives students a definite edge and more options. Below are the considerations:

All schools in the USA accept both ACT and scores, so whichever one you prepare for and take is fine

Schools are given conversion charts to properly interpret the scores students submit. If a student submits ACT scores and the school prefers SAT, the school will use the table to know what the ACT score would be if it was an SAT. read more

There are extra costs to preparing for and taking both tests.

It takes extra time to prepare for and take both tests.

Students can submit to various schools the score each prefers to receive. This is a way to show immediately that the child is a fit

When they prepare for both tests, students master different skill sets for each exam. That allows them to combine their skillsets and achieve the best possible scores on both tests read more

Most often, extra costs are offset by the increased scholarship opportunities and awards, since preparation and testing can be reported on student transcripts. read more

The return on Investment is high. One recent study showed that 65% of students who took both courses scored in the top 3% of the ACTs, while only 35% of those who prepared just for the ACT scored in the top 3%. read more