Updated November 2026 for students testing in 2027, including the ACT’s 2025 changes and the new SAT science score.
The SAT and the ACT are both accepted by colleges that consider test scores, and both now take a little over two hours. The biggest differences are pace, how much math counts, and science: the ACT has an optional science section, and the SAT has none. The right test for your student is the one they score higher on.
SAT vs. ACT at a glance
| SAT | ACT | |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | Reading and Writing, Math | English, Math, Reading, plus optional Science and Writing |
| Testing time | 2 hours 14 minutes, plus a 10-minute break | 2 hours 5 minutes (2 hours 45 minutes with science) |
| Questions | 98 | 131 (171 with science) |
| Time per question | About 71 seconds (Reading and Writing) and 95 seconds (Math) | 42 seconds (English), about 67 seconds (Math and Reading), 60 seconds (Science) |
| Scoring | 400–1600; Math is half the score | 1–36 Composite, the average of English, Math, and Reading; Math is one-third |
| Science | No science section. A separate science score starts in spring 2027 and isn’t sent to colleges. | Optional section. Science and STEM scores are sent to colleges. |
| Calculator | Allowed on every math question, with Desmos built in | Allowed on the Math section |
| Format | Digital and adaptive, in the Bluebook app | Paper or online; not adaptive |
| Essay | None on weekend test dates | Optional Writing section |
| Wrong answers | No penalty, so answer every question | No penalty, so answer every question |
Does the SAT have a science section now?
No, and it isn’t adding one. Starting in spring 2027, SAT score reports will include a separate science score called Science Practices and Foundations. College Board calculates it from Reading and Writing and Math questions already on the test, so there’s no new section and no extra testing time.
According to College Board, the score goes to the student’s school and district, and in some cases the state. It is not sent to colleges, so there’s nothing extra to study for.
Should my student take the ACT science section?
It depends on the colleges on your student’s list. ACT says each college decides whether to require science, so check each school’s admissions page. Science doesn’t count toward the Composite, but students who take it get a science score and a STEM score that ACT sends to colleges. Students aiming for engineering, pre-med, or other STEM programs may want to take it.
Which test is right for my student?
The best way to decide is a full-length practice test of each. We give proctored SAT and ACT practice tests at our locations on weekends, so your student can take both and compare. They’re included when you enroll in our test prep program, and they can also be purchased on their own. If your student took the PSAT this fall, their score report is a useful starting point. Then compare:
| The SAT may fit better if your student… | The ACT may fit better if your student… |
|---|---|
| Is strongest in math (it’s half the score) | Wants math to count for less (one-third of the Composite) |
| Works carefully and wants more time per question | Works quickly and stays calm under the clock |
| Is comfortable testing on a screen | Prefers paper and pencil |
| Prefers short reading passages (25 to 150 words) | Is strong in science and wants colleges to see it |
Whichever test you choose, plan ahead. We recommend starting prep 18 to 20 weeks before test day, so most families pick a test about five months out. Our Test Prep Planner shows your student’s start date for each SAT and ACT date. Already talked with one of our directors? Send them your questions or your student’s practice test scores, and they’ll help you choose the test that fits.
How The Enrichery helps students prepare
Our SAT and ACT program is 16 weeks of one-on-one coaching, with one 2-hour session each week. It starts with a proctored diagnostic test, and your director calls you to walk through the results. Students take a proctored practice test every four weeks, and you get a report after every session, so you always know where your student’s score stands.
From first test to test day.
Official scores from recent Enrichery students, compared to when they started with us.
SAT
points on average
Recent results
- 1000 to 1320 +320
- 1170 to 1460 +290
- 1330 to 1500 +170
91% finished in the top 25% of SAT test-takers, up from 32% when they started
ACT
points on average
Recent results
- 18 to 29 +11
- 24 to 32 +8
- 31 to 35 +4
56% finished in the top 10% of ACT test-takers, up from 11% when they started
We coach students in person at our Houston-area locations and online. For 9th and 10th graders, our pre-test prep builds the content first, in one 1.5-hour session a week for at least eight weeks. Here’s why starting before junior year pays off.
Test prep and college admissions, together. Test scores are one part of the college admissions plan, which is why we offer Test Prep + College Admissions. Pair test prep with our College Admissions Workshop or one-on-one College Admissions, and your student starts admissions work with a team that already knows them. Our College Admissions Planner maps out each month, all the way to decision day.
Ready to pick a test and a plan? Find your student’s start date with our Test Prep Planner, call or text your nearest location, or contact us to talk with a director.
SAT vs. ACT: frequently asked questions
Is the SAT or the ACT easier?
Neither test is easier overall. They’re built differently, and a student may score noticeably better on one than the other, which is why a practice test of each is the best way to decide.
Do colleges prefer the SAT or the ACT?
No. Colleges that consider test scores accept both equally, and many also use scores for merit scholarships and course placement. Testing policies vary by college, so check each admissions page and read our guide to test-optional, test-required, and test-blind admissions.
Will the new SAT science score affect college admissions?
No. College Board says the Science Practices and Foundations score, which begins in spring 2027, is not sent to colleges.
Does ACT science count toward the Composite score?
No. Since September 2025, the ACT Composite is the average of English, math, and reading.
Sources: College Board, How the SAT Is Structured, The Reading and Writing Section, How Are Scores Calculated?, Calculator Policy, SAT Testing Rules, and Coming in 2027: Science Score. ACT, Enhanced ACT FAQs and The Enhanced ACT Explained.
