Guide to SAT and ACT Testing for College Admissions

Standardized testing has become one of the most confusing parts of the college admissions process in recent years. Between test-optional policies, changing test formats, and the choice between the SAT and ACT, many families aren’t sure where to start.

The good news is that testing does not have to be overwhelming. With a clear plan in place, students can approach the SAT or ACT strategically, avoid unnecessary stress, and make the most of their time.

At Advantage College Planning, we help families think through testing timelines and strategy as an important part of the overall college planning process. 

While we do not provide test preparation, we regularly help students determine when to test, which exam to prioritize, and how testing fits into their broader college application timeline.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to build a standardized testing plan, including:

• Whether students need to take both the SAT and ACT

• How to decide which test is the better fit

• How many times students should plan to test

• Other important testing considerations

Do Students Need to Take Both the SAT and ACT?

Short answer: No. 

Most students do not need to take both tests multiple times.

Colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT, and they truly have no preference for which test a student submits. Admissions offices simply want to see the strongest score a student can achieve.

There also isn’t any added benefit to submitting scores from both tests. In fact, spending many valuable hours preparing for multiple SAT and ACT sittings is rarely the best use of a student's time. 

Here’s what we typically recommend:

1. Take a practice test: Taking a full-length diagnostic practice test of both the ACT and SAT is the best place to start. While students don’t need to prep for this practice test, they should take it seriously and try to emulate testing-conditions as closely as possible.

2. Compare scores: See how you did and identify which format feels like a better fit. Sometimes, a better fit looks like a higher score. Some students will outperform on one test. Their choice is usually pretty easy! For students who score in a similar range on both tests, which test felt better? Or which test did you hate the least?

3. Focus preparation and testing on that exam

Preparing for two different tests simultaneously can divide a student’s time and attention. Because the SAT and ACT emphasize slightly different skills and pacing, focusing on one test typically leads to stronger results.

SAT vs ACT: Which Test Is Better?

Neither test is objectively better. The right test is simply the one that plays to a student’s strengths and testing style.

Both exams have undergone significant updates in recent years, so understanding the differences can help students decide which test is a better fit.

The SAT (Digital SAT)

The SAT includes two sections:

• Reading & Writing

• Math

Key characteristics include:

• Adaptive format: Questions become harder or easier depending on how students perform earlier in the section

• Shorter test length: About 2 hours and 14 minutes

• More time per question compared to the ACT

Students who prefer the SAT often say they appreciate:

• A slightly slower pace

• Fewer questions overall

• The digital interface and tools

The SAT may be a good fit for students who like having more time to think through questions.

The ACT

The ACT includes four sections:

• English

• Math

• Reading

• Science (This section is optional in 2026, but we still recommend taking it!)

The ACT also includes an optional writing section that most students will not take. Few colleges require this section.

Key characteristics include:

• Linear Format: The questions are the same for every student taking that version of the exam.

• Slightly longer test length: About 2 hours and 55 minutes (without the optional writing section that most students won’t take)

• More questions and faster pacing

• A dedicated science reasoning section

• Less time per question than the SAT

Students who prefer the ACT often say they like:

• The straightforward question style

• The ability to move through questions quickly

• The more predictable structure

The ACT can be a good fit for students who are fast readers and comfortable working under time pressure.

How Many Times Should Students Take the SAT or ACT?

Taking the SAT or ACT more than once is normal and often beneficial because:

• Students become more familiar with the test format

• Many colleges superscore, combining the best section scores across multiple test dates

• Scores often improve slightly with experience and test prep

A typical testing timeline looks like this:

Junior Year

• First official test: winter or spring of junior year

• Second test: spring or early summer if needed

Summer / Early Fall of Senior Year

• Final opportunity to test before many college application deadlines

Students rarely need to test more than 3 times unless they are targeting a very specific score goal.

Testing too frequently can lead to burnout and diminishing returns.

Other Testing Considerations

Building a standardized testing plan involves more than simply choosing test dates.

Here are a few additional factors families should keep in mind.

Test-Optional Policies

Many colleges remain test-optional, meaning students can choose whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores.

For some students, submitting strong scores can strengthen an application. For others, it may make sense to apply without testing.

We discuss how to think through this decision in more detail in our post on test-optional admissions policies.

Testing Timelines

Students should aim to complete most of their testing by the end of junior year whenever possible. This leaves room to focus on other parts of the college application process during senior fall, including essays and applications.

Students should also think about their own commitments and schedules when planning their test dates. Students with fall-specific activities (like a sport or marching band) may prefer to wait until the spring. 

Likewise, students with fuller spring schedules (including those taking several AP exams in May) might want to test in the fall, without the added pressure of a busy spring.

Preparation Matters

Students who prepare intentionally typically see stronger results.

Preparation may include:

• Practice tests

• Self-guided study using online resources

• Working with a test preparation tutor or program

Again, while we do not provide test prep, we regularly help students decide when to start preparing and when to schedule testing.

Score Goals

Testing should always be tied to a student’s college list.

A strong score for one college may be very different from a competitive score at another. Understanding score ranges at prospective colleges can help students determine whether additional testing is worth the time and energy.

Final Thoughts

Standardized testing doesn’t need to dominate the college planning process, but having a thoughtful testing plan can reduce stress and help students perform their best.

Most students will find success by:

• Taking practice versions of both tests

• Choosing the exam that fits them best

• Testing 2-3 times at strategic points in junior year and early senior year

• Aligning testing with their college goals

At Advantage College Planning, we work with families to build clear timelines and testing strategies as part of a comprehensive college planning process. 

If you’d like help building a personalized testing plan or college admissions timeline, reach out to see how we can help support your family.

COVID-19 & College Applications Part 1: Standardized Testing

I usually end my meetings with students by asking them to rate their college-related stress level on a scale of 1-10. This helps me check in with how my students are feeling and also lets me know where their pain points are. Over and over, I’m hearing the same thing this fall when I ask students what’s driving their stress: standardized testing.

Even though more than half of all colleges have adopted some sort of test-flexible or test-optional policy for students applying to enter in the fall of 2021, all of the uncertainty around testing is putting a lot of extra strain on students. 

Most of my students have one test score from the ACT given by North Carolina public schools in February. And for the last seven months, they’ve been strung along prepping for tests that may not happen, finding out about site cancellations the night before (or even the morning of) the test, and even driving multiple hours to find open testing locations. In the last few weeks, I’ve heard from a few of my students that they’ve finally been able to test, but they’re worried about their scores because they were distracted by their mask or regret not prepping more because this is the fourth test they’ve signed up for and didn’t think it would actually happen.

The situation around standardized testing isn’t ideal, and it certainly isn’t fair. But because this is our current reality, I thought it might be helpful to address some frequently asked “testing during COVID-19” questions.

What is test optional and what does it really mean?

Test optional means that a college has decided that standardized test scores are not required for a student to be admitted to their school. Students have the choice to send scores if they have them, but they will not be penalized if they choose not to include test scores as part of their application.

More than 1,000 colleges have adopted a test-optional policy for at least the upcoming year. Because this is an unusual change in the admission process, many students and families are wondering: Does test optional really means test optional?

NACAC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, has been definitive with their answer: YES.

That said, make sure you fully understand a college’s test-optional policy before you apply. Some colleges like the University of Alabama and Elon University are test optional for admission purposes, but students will still be required to submit a test score before they enroll. Other colleges with test-optional admission policies may still use test scores for academic scholarships or honors colleges.

What is test flexible? 

There are fewer test-flexible colleges than test-optional ones. Test flexible means that the school has placed some conditions on whether or not a student will need to submit test scores. Some test-flexible colleges, like the University of South Carolina, require additional materials like AP scores or a graded paper from students are not submitting an SAT or ACT score. Other test-flexible colleges, like the University of Arkansas, have a test-optional policy but only for students meeting certain GPA requirements.

Because each test-flexible college may have different requirements to meet, it is important to understand each college’s test-flexible policy before you apply.

What is test blind?

If a college is test blind, they do not use test scores in the decision making process. Test optional and test blind are not the same thing. 

If a college is test optional, a student will not be penalized for not submitting scores, but another student with strong test scores can and should submit those scores to strengthen their overall application. A test-blind college is not considering test scores at all as part of a student’s application - even if they send in a perfect score.

Few colleges have adopted true test-blind policies this year - the major exception being the University of California system.

If I don't send my test scores, how will my application be evaluated?

It’s important to reiterate that students will not be penalized or disadvantaged if they do not submit test scores to a college with a test-optional policy. But without test scores as part of a student’s application, how will they be evaluated?

Colleges are going to be looking closer at other parts of the application. As always, a student’s grades and course rigor are going to be major factors. Letters of recommendation from teachers may also carry more weight as they provide a look at a student’s performance in the classroom. Essays may be read more closely.

Some colleges may add an additional piece to the application for students not submitting test scores. The University of Tennessee asks for an additional essay if they are applying without a test score. And after a student has submitted their application, Clemson asks students to "Please provide us with a short description of any additional factors you would like us to consider in place of standardized test scores."

How do I apply test optional?

If you want your application to be considered without a test score, do not self-report your test scores on the application or send an official score report to that college. 

Some colleges will ask in their application if you want your application to be read with or without a test score, so make sure to choose the correct option for you. However, not all colleges ask this as part of the application process, so it’s important to set up an online portal with each college after you’ve submitted your application to see if there are any additional requirements. Like I mentioned above, Clemson asks if a student wants to be apply without test scores after the application has been submitted.

What do I do if I want to apply test optional to some schools but send my test score to others?

On the Common App, it’s easy to self-report your test scores to different colleges and withhold it from others. In the testing section, simply click that you have no test scores to report if you are submitting a test-optional application. Any test scores you have entered won’t be deleted from your account and will reappear if you click “yes,” but they will not be sent with any application where “no” is clicked. Make sure you know which colleges you want to send test scores to and which ones you don’t, and double-check your answers in this question each time you are ready to submit.

If I apply test optional and am able to test later this fall, can I change my mind?

Maybe. The final decision is ultimately up to each individual college, so reach out to your admissions counselors to learn more about specific school policies. 

What if my scores are released or my test date is after a school’s deadline?

Again, it depends. 

It depends on the school’s policy and how far after the deadline we’re talking. Some colleges, like UNC Chapel Hill, give students a window of a few weeks after the application deadline for supplemental materials like test scores to be received. Other colleges want all materials received by the same date. 

Reach out to your admissions counselor before your deadline to learn if they will accept your late scores. In some cases, you might decide to apply by a later deadline. But if an early deadline is necessary because of a specific program or opportunity, it may be in your best interest to apply test optional. 

So… Should I apply test optional?

• Have you been able to test at all?

• Will you have the opportunity to test again in an environment where you feel safe?

• Do you feel like your test score reflects your academic abilities?

• Does your test score fall in the middle 50% of test scores for that college?

• Are you required to submit test scores for honors colleges, merit aid, or any other programs?

If you’re answering “no” to these questions and the colleges on your list have test-optional policies, don’t let standardized testing add to what is already an unusually stressful college admissions cycle. Instead, work hard on your essays - even the optional ones, assemble a team of recommenders who can speak to your strengths in and out of the classroom, and focus on strengthening the other parts of your application.

Prepping for Test Prep

I’ve yet to meet a student who actually enjoyed taking the SAT or ACT. The tests are long, they take up perfectly good Saturdays, and they’re tests. 

Standardized testing may not be fun, but it plays an important role in college admissions. The tide is starting to change with the rise in Test Optional colleges, but for now, testing and test planning are a big part of the college planning process.

Today, I wanted to address some of the most common questions we hear from families about the testing process. Let’s dig in!

should my student take The SAT or the ACT?

“It depends” isn’t a very satisfying answer, but it’s the truth! Ideally, students should be exposed to both tests. The popularity of the PSAT ticks one box, but there are fewer options for the ACT.

If possible, students should try to take both tests to establish a baseline for both. If there’s a big difference in scores, then focus on the higher-scoring test. If the scores are about the same, which test did your student like better?

When should my student start thinking about testing and test prep?

Generally, junior year is a good time to start thinking about testing. 

Of course, there are some exceptions. Advanced students - particularly those advanced in math and who have completed Algebra 2 - may choose to start preparing before the end of sophomore year. Likewise, some recruited athletes may need to provide a preliminary score to coaches early in the recruiting process.

When should my student take the test?

Break out the calendar and think long term. 

I recommend that most students test more than once, and test prep provider Applerouth generally suggests that students doing test prep should plan to take the test 3 times. Make sure that your student is building in enough time to retest as many times as they feel comfortable. You don’t want to test too far into senior year because of early deadlines and the added work of college applications.

You also don’t want your student testing during other high pressure or extra busy times. Fall athletes may want to plan to test in the spring and vice versa for spring athletes. Think about activities like plays, recitals, competitions, or other big events. 

In high school, my friends and I made the mistake of taking the SAT the same day as junior prom. When I look back on that memory, all I remember is how tired and cranky we were from five hours of testing! 

Should we invest in test prep?

Most students don’t sit down and get a perfect score the first time, so there’s almost always room for improvement. Nearly all students will benefit from some sort of test prep, but it’s not one-size-fits-all. We help our students develop testing plans, and everybody’s plan is a little bit different. 

The more self-directed and disciplined students can be just fine working through an ACT book or using the free SAT resources at Khan Academy. But many students can benefit from the extra assistance provided by a test prep tutor. It can be an investment, but it’s one that can pay off in the long run.

Many colleges and universities use test scores (along with other factors) when determining merit scholarships. Take an out-of-state public school like the University of South Carolina. They publish the average test scores on their scholarships website. A student who moves just one point from a 29 to a 30 on the ACT could see a significant increase in merit aid over the course of four years. You can see big returns on this investment!

Hopefully this helps answer some of your burning questions about standardized tests.

Happy testing!