Do I take the SAT or the ACT?

For us, the choice is relatively simple: it is based on practical realities of the tests. Our argument is about preparation — not preference. Once you take a diagnostic test for either the ACT or the SAT, ask yourself the following question:

How many points do I need to improve?

If you took an SAT diagnostic test and you are more than 270 points from your target score, then we recommend you take the ACT. Why?

If you took an SAT diagnostic test and you are less than 270 points from your target score, then click here.

If you took an ACT diagnostic test and you are more than 7 points from your target score, then we recommend you take the ACT. Why?

If you took an ACT diagnostic test and you are less than 7 points from your target score then click here.

We understand that this might sound a little too simple, too watered down. What about the Science section, you might ask. And what about time management? Isn’t the ACT a lot faster than the SAT? These are valid questions, but they should not determine your choice of test.

We have been teaching these tests for six years now, and the questions above do not compare to the real question: How many points do I need to improve?

Contact us to find out more.

Why does the ACT give me a better chance of a big score improvement?

The answer is in the numbers. Our argument is that the availability of more real practice tests and more official test dates results in bigger score improvements.

Fact 1: The ACT has many more official practice tests than does the SAT.
Evidence: There are 78 official ACT practice tests. There are only 22 official SAT practice tests.

Fact 2: Internationally, the ACT is offered more times than the SAT.
Evidence: The ACT is offered 7 times a year. The SAT is offered 5 times a year.

You can take either test

If you’re within 270 points on the SAT or within 7 points on the ACT from your target score then we recommend that you choose between the two based on test dates.

1. Look at when they are offered (in the tables below)

2. Pick a date at least 5 months in ahead that does not clash with your school exams. Ideally, your test date is at least one month away from school exams.

3. If you had taken an ACT diagnostic test, but you see that SAT test dates are better than the ACT dates, then take an SAT diagnostic test to see what it’s like and start prepping for it.

4. If you had taken an SAT diagnostic test and within 270 points of target score, but you see that ACT test dates are better than the SAT dates, then take an ACT diagnostic test to see what it’s like and start prepping for it.

Bottom line: When you’re in range of target score, both these tests are equal. You could prepare for either and, in all likelihood, get the score you want. However, if you are not within range (270 points on SAT or 7 points on ACT) then, in our opinion, they are not equal. The ACT gives you a better chance of a bigger score improvement and thus a better chance of getting to your target score.

ACT

Test Dates	Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline
April 3rd-4th (CANCELLED)	March 13th (CANCELLED)	March 27th (CANCELLED)
June 12th-13th	May 22nd	June 5th
July 17th-18th	June 26th	July 10th
September 11th-12th (TBC)	August 21st (TBC)	September 4th (TBC)
October 9th-10th (TBC)	September 18th (TBC)	October 2nd (TBC)
December 11th-12th (TBC)	November 20th (TBC)	December 4th (TBC)

SAT

Test Dates	Registration	Late Registration
May 2nd (CANCELLED)	April 3rd (CANCELLED)	April 22nd (CANCELLED)
June 6th (Subject Tests Only)	May 8th	May 27th
August 29th	TBC	TBC
October 3rd (TBC)	TBC	TBC
December 5th (TBC)	TBC	TBC