Comprehensive Guide to the SAT and ACT – 2026
January 13, 2026
-During the COVID-19 pandemic, the test-optional movement reached its apex with just about every prominent university, including the Ivies and dozens of other highly selective colleges, adopting multi-year policies that made the submission of an SAT or ACT score an optional component of the admissions process. In those years, even the most prestigious schools in the country admitted a fair number of test-optional students in an effort to account for the massive disruptions to the educational environment and variability in opportunity to actually sit for the exams. To understand why standardized test scores have reclaimed their role as a near-essential factor in elite college admissions, we need to briefly dive into the recent history.
Why did many schools reinstate their SAT/ACT requirement?
A recent study run by researchers at the ACT reviewed the ACT composite scores and self-reported GPAs of test-takers over a recent five-year period. Next, they used these two data points to see if they could accurately predict those same students’ first-year college GPAs. Here were the findings:
“When you examine how these trends correspond with first-year college GPA, our research demonstrates that after the onset of the pandemic, high school GPA has become a less consistent predictor, while ACT composite scores have shown relative stability in predicting first-year GPA.”
- Unpacking that last bullet point, in essence, high school grades have likely become more inflated during and after the pandemic.
- In fact, a separate study found that the majority of AP test or state standardized test results did not match a student’s classroom grade in that same subject. Of those that did not match, two-thirds were in the direction of grade inflation (the grade being significantly better than the test result).
Similar internal studies at top universities (see UT Austin example here) have found that students admitted under test-optional policies have earned significantly lower grades than their peers who submitted SAT or ACT results. Over the last year, schools like MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Brown, Cornell, Yale, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, and Caltech have reinstituted standardized testing requirements.
In short, with the exception of the test-blind UC and CSU schools, standardized tests are every bit as important as they have ever been to high-achieving teens aiming for admission to colleges with acceptance rates as low as 3%.
SAT vs. ACT: Which is the best fit for me?
How are the tests similar?
- They both have one reading section.
- Neither has a required essay (the SAT no longer even offers one).
- Both have an English section that tests usage and grammar skills.
- You can now use calculators on the entire math section of both tests.
How are they different?
- Only the ACT has a science section, but the nature of the questions is more about data analysis, graph interpretation, and reasoning than pure science content.
- The SAT math involves algebra and some advanced math, while the ACT tests more geometry and trig concepts.
- The ACT asks more direct reading questions, while the SAT requires students to read longer passages that include a more complex vocabulary.
- The SAT takes 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete while the ACT spans 2 hours and 55 minutes.
- However, the SAT affords test-takers slightly more time per question.
You should consider the ACT if…
- You love interpreting data from charts.
- You are strong in geometry and trig.
- You are comfortable working at a faster pace
You should consider the SAT if…
- You excel in algebra.
- You enjoy word problems.
- You excel in reading comprehension and at evidence-based reading tasks.
When do most students take the SAT or ACT for the first time?
The most typical maiden voyage occurs either during the fall or spring of junior year. For most teens, these will be the two most sensible choices. However, some may have legitimate reasons to consider taking the test as sophomores (more on this later). For what it’s worth, the College Board, the organization that creates and administers the SAT, recommends Option B—waiting until the spring of 11th grade to take the test for the first time.
Here are the PSAT/SAT sequences that the overwhelming majority of high school students elect to pursue (we’ll also roll out a third, more aggressive option later in the blog):
Option A: The fall of 11th grade testing path
- PSAT: Fall of 10th grade
- SAT #1: Fall of 11th grade
- SAT #2: Spring of 11th grade
- SAT #3 (if necessary): Summer or fall of 12th grade
Option B: The spring of 11th grade testing path
- PSAT: Fall of 10th grade and/or fall of 11th grade
- SAT #1: Fall of 11th grade
- SAT #2: Spring of 11th grade
- SAT #3 (if necessary): Summer, fall, or winter of 12th grade
No matter which path you choose, you’ll always have the option to take the SAT a fourth time, if absolutely necessary. If you apply early decision or early action, double-check the policies of the schools you are applying to—most stipulate that the November exam is the last possible one that you can take.
What level of math have I completed?
This is one of the most important considerations for students in determining when to first sit for the ACT or SAT. Here is a quick glance at the math content covered by the two exams:
ACT Math Breakdown
- Number & Quantity: 7-10%
- Algebra: 12-15%
- Functions: 12-15%
- Geometry: 12-15%
- Statistics and Probability: 8-12%
- Integrating Essential Skills (applying various math skills to solve a complex problem): 40-43%
SAT Math Breakdown
- Algebra: 35%
- Problem Solving and Data Analysis: 15%
- Advanced Math 35%
- Geometry and Trigonometry 15%
So, what’s the takeaway from all of this? In essence, students need to at least get close to completing Geometry and Algebra II in order to be fully prepared for the ACT or SAT. If you are an advanced math student who already has these courses under their belt by the commencement of junior year, you could consider sitting for a fall test date (of junior year). However, exposure to trigonometry and statistics will also help with some of the more advanced questions featured in both exams.
That being said, if you wanted to be more aggressive, you could consider taking the test later in 10th grade, before you even sit for the PSAT/NMSQT in fall of 11th grade.
Reasons to consider taking the SAT/ACT before junior year
There are several reasons that a student may wish to jettison the traditional timeline and sit for the exam as a freshman, sophomore, or even, in some extremely rare cases, a middle-schooler. These include:
- Advanced math students who have already covered the requisite geometry and algebra concepts prior to 11th grade. For some, the material covered in the SAT math section may be freshest in their minds earlier in their high school career.
- Students who feel that they are 100% ready to tackle the test and know that their junior year is going to be jam-packed with multiple AP courses (and subsequent exams) and a boatload of time-consuming extracurricular activities.
- Teens aiming to enter a gifted program like the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) or the Duke University Talent Identification Program (TIP) which require standardized test scores for students as young as 7th grade. If you wish to apply to a program of this ilk, you will need to take an SAT (or ACT) exam well before the rest of your peers.
Unless you fall into one of these uncommon categories of students, stick to one of the two junior year options discussed previously.
If you are enrolled in multiple AP classes junior year, then early to mid-May is going to be a hellish time already — full of intense prep work and exam-taking. Students in this situation are wise to sit for the SAT for the first time during the fall of junior year. Alternatively, March or April can be optimal times to avoid standardized testing overload when AP tests are administered. This approach typically works out fine for such individuals because those on the AP track have typically covered the vast majority of the math subject matter by early spring.
A Guide to ACT/SAT Preparation
ACT
Research shows that studying for the ACT yields positive results. Thus, it is critical for students to carve out time for concentrated study prior to taking the exam. Students should begin studying during the summer prior to the start of their junior year. That way, they’ll have plenty of time to brush up on skills and engage in targeted practice on any areas of relative weakness.
We recommend fully utilizing the ACT Academy, offered free of charge by the company that makes the test. Alternatively, if you’re looking for self-study or private tutoring options, check out our list of recommended tutoring and test prep providers.
SAT
As you consider which SAT test dates are right for you, consider the following. Among seniors retaking the exam, 55% see their scores increase; the average improvement is by 40 points. A mere 4% of re-testers see their reading or math scores jump by 100+ points. However, the numbers are far more encouraging for those who study than those who do not—a study recently released by the College Board found that just 20 hours of targeted practice through Khan Academy (which is completely free) resulted in an average score gain of 115 points. As such, we highly recommend beginning your study plan at least two to three months before your exam. Ideally, your plan will include several full-length practice tests.
If you are able to carve out sufficient time to study for the test in the summer after your sophomore year, and you are acing practice tests by August, then you may be ready for a fall sitting. If you need more time (Christmas break, spring break, etc.), then waiting until the spring may be more advantageous.
Should you take the SAT or ACT more than once?
Widely considered one of the best documentaries of the 2000s, The King of Kong takes you deep within the surprisingly fascinating subculture of competitive retro video gaming. The film tells the story of two middle-aged men competing to obtain the world record in Donkey Kong, a rudimentary arcade game from the early 80s. They go after each other with such cutthroat ferocity that you would think millions of dollars or perhaps even eternal life was at stake—in reality, only bragging rights are on the line. They stay up in the wee hours, nestled in their garages, trying desperately to unlock additional points and outdo their competitor. So, you ask, what in the heck does this have to do with testing your way to lower tuition?
Most people approach endeavors in life, whether we’re talking about Donkey Kong or the SAT/ACT, as challenges to be conquered and then quickly moved on from. If a college-bound junior scores well on their SAT/ACT and feels the score will be good enough to secure admission at the schools that they are interested in, they typically refocus themselves on their coursework, extracurricular activities, and life outside of school. While this approach is completely understandable, students who take the King of Kong approach to standardized tests often make out with, well, a whole lot of quarters. It costs $68 to retake the SAT or $65 to retry the ACT, but it’s important to understand that this small fee plus hours of dedicated preparation can be worth tens of thousands of dollars in merit aid money.
#1—Second time is the (point-boosting) charm.
Students typically take the SAT or ACT for the first time in the fall or spring of their junior year. Those who elect to retake the test the following fall improve their overall score by an average of 40 points. It makes sense that students would receive a natural boost for two reasons: 1) it’s not their first rodeo, they know the routine, the timing of the test, the format, etc.; and 2) they’ve been exposed to more relevant academic material in the classroom since the last sitting. And these advantages don’t even account for the biggest difference of all—you have an entire summer to learn the secrets of the SAT/ACT backward and forward.
#2—Test re-takers can benefit from superscoring.
On average, students who retake the ACT end up with composite scores 2.9 points higher than their single-test counterparts. Moreover, 57% achieve a higher composite score upon sitting for the test for a second time; an even higher percentage see an increase in at least one subject area. This can be immensely beneficial, especially in light of what is known as “superscoring” — where colleges only consider the best combined subject score across multiple test administrations.
For example, if you take the test and earn a Reading score of 600 and a Math score of 700, and then take the test again and earn a Reading score of 650 and a Math score of 700, the college would combine your 700 in Math (first exam) and 650 in Reading (second exam) for a total score of 1350. This policy grants a major edge to those who take the test multiple times.
When accepted, superscoring also gives you a great strategic advantage because it allows you to focus solely on the areas where you want to improve. For example, if you take the ACT in April of your junior year and score a 30 on the English test and a 23 on math, you can, in effect, “bank” your verbal score and focus 100% of your attention on sharpening your math skills.
While the vast majority of schools superscore the SAT, ACT superscoring policies are more variable (for a complete list, view our database of standardized testing policies). Some notable institutions that do NOT superscore are UT-Austin and the University of Wisconsin.
Bottom line: those who wait until senior year to take the SAT or ACT will miss out on the opportunity to retake the test, thus missing out on the full benefits of superscoring.
#3—Higher test scores = more merit aid.
Even at colleges without explicit scholarship criteria, SAT/ACT scores play a huge role in determining which applicants receive offers of merit aid. Remember, the point of non-need-based merit aid from an institutional standpoint is to offer enough of a discount to attract top talented students.
There are two metrics that will clue you in on your chances of scoring merit aid at a given college or university. The first is the percentage of students that receive merit aid, numbers that can be found for free in our Dataverse. The second is to look at the 75th percentile of SAT/ACT scores for accepted students, which can be found in the Entering Class Statistics section of our Dataverse. If your score falls at or above that number and a given school is known for being relatively generous with merit aid, chances are you will get a substantial offer.
#4—Higher test scores = guaranteed scholarships.
To remove the guesswork for those chasing merit aid, a fair number of public and some private schools offer defined eligibility criteria, usually in the areas of GPA and SAT/ACT scores. For example, the University of Mississippi offers a chart of guaranteed minimum scholarship awards for residents meeting certain criteria. This allows prospective students to be confident that if they have a 3.0 GPA and a 28 ACT, they will receive a minimum of $3,000 per year in aid. However, if a student raised their ACT score from 29 to 31—a minor jump—they would be entitled to $5,500 per year in aid. Over four years, getting a couple more questions correct on an SAT retake would save you an additional $10k in tuition over four years.
Even in the case of private schools where the merit aid lines are not as clearly delineated, you can bet that small increases in SAT/ACT scores will still work to your benefit. Drew University in New Jersey advertises annual merit awards of between $15,000 and $27,000. While a student with an 1150 may not be able to measure the precise impact of raising her score to a 1220—it’s a fair assumption that it could easily be worth five figures. Additionally, at Drew, a 1300/28 makes you eligible to apply to the Baldwin Honors College, which alone comes with a $3,000 annual scholarship.
Looking for additional SAT resources? Check out the following:
- When Do SAT Scores Come Out?
- Digital SAT Calculator
- SAT Vocab Words
- Average SAT Score Over Time
- Hardest SAT Math Questions
- Guide to the Digital SAT
Looking for ACT resources?
