This is a one of the mostly frequently asked questions. In the eyes of some parents, there is an easy solution: make their kid take a diagnostic test for each and see which is higher. However, it may not be so simple.
Suppose that you get 1280 on the practice SAT and 28 on the practice ACT. Since 28 is equivalent to 1310 on the SAT, you are better off with the ACT, right? Not so fast. This conclusion would be valid only if assume that you can increase your ACT score at a rate that is faster (or at least equivalent) to the rate at which you could increase your SAT score.
Although 28 on the ACT is higher than 1280 on the SAT, according to the 2018 Concordance, it is unlikely that you will improve your scores on the two tests at the same rate. In fact, it may be more difficult to increase the ACT score since ACT is all about speed and speed is one of the harder things to improve.
Many students who take both diagnostic tests often claim that the questions on the ACT are easier. I do not dispute this. The questions are easier. You just need to go at a very fast pace and it’s the careless mistakes arising from the fast pace that is the issue.
So, who should take the ACT? In my opinion, if you are one of those students who finishes his/her tests in school 15 minutes before everyone else, then the ACT may be the right test for you. If you like to take your time and think through the questions, then SAT is probably the better test for you.
Either way, the underlying material being tested is very similar so you can always try the other test later if you feel that the grass is greener on the other side. Just make sure to do some practice tests to familiarize yourself with the format of whichever test you originally did not prep for.
