Let’s clear up a common myth: colleges don’t prefer the SAT or ACT. Every four-year college in the U.S., including the Ivy League, accepts both tests equally.
So which should your student take?
Step 1: Take a Diagnostic of Each
At Frontier Tutoring, we recommend starting with a proctored practice SAT and ACT. These baseline scores will help identify the test your student naturally performs better on.
Step 2: Compare Scores
Use concordance tables to convert SAT to ACT scores and vice versa. If there’s a clear winner, that’s your test.
- ACT recommended: if ACT score is 2+ points higher
- SAT recommended: if SAT score is 30+ points higher
- Too close to call? Choose based on test format preference
At Frontier Tutoring, we offer free practice tests for both the SAT and ACT. Each practice test comes with a free score analysis meeting where we can discuss whether your student should focus on the SAT or the ACT, and we'll also provide a detailed score report so your student knows exactly what to work on. To get started, schedule a free practice test below!
Next Read: How the Digital SAT Has Changed Prep
Still wondering whether testing is worth it? Read our full guide on SAT/ACT relevance in 2025 →
