If you're a parent trying to pick between the SAT and ACT, here's the shortest version of my stance:
For about 95% of students who are doing any prep at all, the SAT is the better test. And the Digital SAT made that even more true.
I know the old advice: "Math kids take ACT, reading kids take SAT." That logic was based on a version of the SAT that basically doesn't exist anymore.
The Digital SAT is a different animal — and it rewards strategy way more than content.
Why the SAT is usually the smarter bet
1) It's shorter and less exhausting.
The SAT is shorter than the ACT, and that matters more than people think. A shorter test means fewer chances to spiral, fewer fatigue mistakes, and more consistency for students who get anxious or burn out.
2) The SAT moved to micropassages.
The SAT reading isn't those long "read a novel and answer 10 questions" passages anymore. It's short, targeted micropassages. That makes it much easier to teach students how to recognize question types quickly and grab exactly what they need without wasting time.
The ACT reading is still old-school: long passages, lots of questions, and tight timing. It's basically a stamina test.
3) Desmos changed SAT math completely.
This is the biggest one.
On the SAT, Desmos is available for the entire math section. And if you know how to use it correctly, it's not just a calculator — it's a weapon.
On the old SAT, a lot of prep was about learning and remembering a bigger list of concepts. On the Digital SAT, a huge percentage of math can be handled through Desmos strategies: graphing, testing answer choices, solving systems, modeling word problems, checking your work instantly.
That's why SAT math is often way easier to move quickly.
The ACT has no Desmos. It tests more concepts, faster, with less room to breathe. Even good students can struggle to move their ACT math score because the test is simply less forgiving.
Why this shows up in real results
This is not just opinion — it shows up in what happens to students after prep.
I've found that SAT scores move faster when students learn strategy and tools. That's why my students tend to improve quickly once they understand patterns, traps, and how to delegate the heavy lifting to Desmos.
The ACT is absolutely prep-able — it's just harder to get the same return on investment, especially if you're paying for tutoring and want the biggest improvement per hour.
So when does the ACT make sense?
There are only a few scenarios where I'll tell a student to seriously consider the ACT:
1) You're already a top scorer.
If a student is already performing in the top 5% range, it can be smart to try both tests once. At that level, small differences in format can matter, and sometimes a student pops on one test more than the other.
2) You took a practice ACT and it's naturally higher.
Some students do better on the ACT simply because the pacing style fits them better — not because it's "easier," but because it matches their brain.
3) You're applying somewhere that prefers or historically leans ACT-heavy (regional).
This matters less now than it used to, but it can still show up depending on your school, state, and what your peers are submitting.
The easiest way to decide (no drama)
Here's what I tell families:
Take one SAT practice test and one ACT practice test
Compare:
- which score is stronger
- which test felt more manageable
- which timing felt less brutal
If your scores are close, I almost always choose SAT because it's more strategy-friendly and easier to improve efficiently.
Bottom line
If you want the best payoff for your time, energy, and tutoring dollars: The SAT is usually the better investment.
Not because the SAT is "easy" — but because the Digital SAT rewards students who understand strategy, patterns, and tools.
And that's exactly what I teach.