As college admissions became increasingly competitive, students began seeking “The One” test that might best set them apart in a crowded applicant pool.
There was a time when being a student—and navigating standardized testing—was simpler. Choices were limited, expectations were clear, and confusion was rare.
If you lived on the East or West Coast, you took the SAT. If you applied to a select group of highly competitive colleges, you also took SAT Subject Tests (eliminated in 2021) and possibly several AP exams. If you lived almost anywhere else in the country, you took the ACT. That was simply how things worked.
But as college admissions became increasingly competitive, particularly at selective institutions, families began searching for an edge. On both coasts, students looked for “the one” test—the exam that might best showcase their strengths and set them apart in a crowded applicant pool. In the process, the long-standing balance between the SAT and ACT began to shift.
That shift was driven by a “little” test from the heartland of America. The ACT, headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, may have seemed an unlikely challenger to the SAT—often referred to as the “Jersey Giant”—but its origins did not make it simpler, easier, or less sophisticated. In fact, many students found the ACT to be more demanding, particularly due to its faster pace and distinct Science section.
Introduced in 1959, the ACT steadily gained national traction. What began as a regional alternative grew into a respected, widely accepted admissions credential—recognized from Harvard Square to Pomona College in Claremont, California. At many institutions, the ACT became fully interchangeable with the SAT and even replaced the need for SAT Subject Tests. From a quiet presence in the admissions landscape, the ACT rose to national prominence and academic legitimacy.
Then, in 2016, the unthinkable happened. For the first time, more students took the ACT than the SAT, dethroning what had long been the dominant force in college admissions testing.
The College Board, steward of the SAT, responded swiftly and strategically. Over the next several years, it introduced a series of highly publicized changes: re-equating the scoring scale to make higher scores more attainable, incorporating science and historical analysis into reading and writing questions, eliminating the standalone essay, and ultimately launching the digital SAT. The structure of the exam was streamlined from seven sections to four—two Reading and Writing modules and two Math modules—making it shorter and more accessible.
These changes worked. By 2024, the pendulum had swung back decisively. More than 500,000 additional students—roughly 60% more—took the SAT than the ACT. The College Board had successfully clawed back market share through savvy marketing, structural simplification, and a test experience perceived as more manageable.
For many students, the ACT had become intimidating. It allowed significantly less time per question, was longer overall, and required completion of a challenging Science section—an unattractive prospect for students not planning to pursue STEM-related fields. Faced with declining participation, the ACT was forced to evolve.
In response, ACT, Inc. implemented a series of meaningful changes:
The core test—English (grammar and rhetoric), Math, and Reading—is now 70 minutes shorter, totaling 125 minutes instead of 195, closely aligning with the SAT’s overall length.
Math questions now offer four answer choices instead of five, matching the SAT format.
The Science section is optional, removing one of the most significant deterrents for many students.
Students can choose between paper-and-pencil and digital testing on all test dates.
As a result, the two exams are now more similar than ever—and that trend is likely to continue. Each test still emphasizes slightly different skills, however. The SAT generally rewards strategic reasoning, pattern recognition, and multi-step problem solving, while the ACT tends to favor straightforward analysis, speed, and sustained focus under time pressure.
So which test is “best”?
The answer is neither—at least not universally. The better test is the one that aligns most closely with a student’s academic strengths, cognitive style, and test-taking temperament. The most reliable way to determine this remains refreshingly simple: take a full-length practice test of each. Both the College Board and ACT, Inc. offer free official practice materials, and students are strongly advised to try both before committing to one path.
In an admissions landscape defined by complexity and competition, the smartest testing strategy is not following trends—but choosing the exam that allows a student to perform at their best.