If it feels like everyone at your student’s school is talking about the SAT again, it’s because they are, and for good reason. After years of pandemic-era uncertainty around standardized testing, the landscape has shifted away from test-optional policies. As such, the SAT has surged in popularity as universities are reinstating score requirements, and students are finding themselves at a familiar crossroads: Which test should I take? How do I prepare?
If your high school student is unsure about what makes the SAT unique, or whether it is the standardized test they should be taking, below is an overview of the current state of standardized testing, how to determine which test is right for your student, and how to prepare.
Background: The SAT Is Surging in Popularity
A decade ago, the ACT was more popular than the SAT, but that began to change in 2018 when the SAT was redesigned. According to a report from The Washington Post, “[roughly] 47 percent of U.S. students who graduated high school in 2025 took the SAT, compared to 36 percent who took the ACT.”
The redesigned SAT, which was redesigned again when it was moved fully online, and recent changes to the ACT seem to be driving this gap in popularity. The SAT is digital and adaptive, meaning it adjusts the difficulty of questions in real time based on how a student performs. The ACT, by contrast, has stayed linear, meaning every student answers the same sequence of questions. However, the ACT recently made its science section optional, shortening its core test by 50 minutes in an effort to compete with the shorter SAT.
Why Are Universities Requiring Tests Again?
The increased popularity of the SAT isn’t happening in a vacuum—it’s occurring alongside a resurgence in standardized testing. While many universities switched to test-optional admissions during the pandemic, we’ve seen the bulk of those policies walked back over the last two years by selective and highly selective institutions. Among the Ivy League, only Columbia University has remained test-optional, while Yale has instituted a “test flexible” policy that allows students to submit AP or IB exam scores.
While more than 90 percent of four-year colleges remain test-optional or test-blind, according to The Washington Post, submitting scores is a significant advantage in the increasingly competitive college admissions landscape.
So … SAT or ACT? It Depends on Your Student
To start, many families are uncertain about whether admissions officials put greater stock in the SAT or ACT. They do not. Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of the Princeton Review, told The Washington Post that colleges are indifferent between the two. A great score on one test is as valuable as a great score on another.
That said, there are meaningful differences between the two tests, and it’s important to consider which one best suits your student’s academic strengths. For example, math makes up roughly 50% of the SAT, so students with stronger math skills might favor the SAT over the ACT. Conversely, the ACT has two sections focused on language, and students with stronger critical reading skills are often better suited to that test. Timing is also a factor. The ACT is faster-paced, whereas the SAT’s adaptive format rewards accuracy.
Ultimately, though, the best way to find out which test best suits your student is to have them take a practice exam, review their scores, and determine which felt more intuitive.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Wait to Get Started on Test Prep
If your student is a sophomore or freshman, now is the perfect time to get a head start on test prep, and a diagnostic test is always a great first step in identifying the right exam. Ultimately, doing well on the SAT (or ACT) is about more than intelligence alone. It’s about how prepared they are to take the exam, and beginning test prep early is a crucial part of performing well.
The Enrichery’s SAT and ACT test prep programs are built around a 4-month model designed to produce real, measurable improvements while preventing burnout. Students complete a full mock exam under realistic testing conditions every four weeks, allowing our coaches to create a personalized study plan while helping reduce test anxiety. After every session, we provide a detailed report that summarizes what the session covered, what went well, and what your student needs to do before the next session.
If your student is unsure about which exam is right for them, or if they are ready to begin preparing for the SAT or ACT, reach out today to schedule a consultation!
