Choosing Between the SAT and ACT: Your 2025 Guide
By Bowie Strategies — Elite Test Prep for Ambitious Students
The college admissions testing landscape has changed dramatically. With the SAT’s full transition to digital in 2023–2024 and the Enhanced ACT arriving in 2025, understanding the differences is key to choosing the test that best showcases your abilities.
1. Big Picture: What’s Changing?
Digital SAT (2023–2024)
Fully digital & adaptive: The SAT moved entirely to a digital format internationally in March 2023, and in the U.S. starting March 9, 2024.
Shorter & tech-enhanced: Just over 2 hours (down from 3), with shorter passages, on-screen tools, and faster score reporting.
Adaptive modules: Reading/Writing and Math each have two adaptive modules—your performance on the first affects the difficulty of the second.
Fast results: Scores return in days instead of weeks.
Enhanced ACT (2025)
Online debut in April 2025; paper rollout in September 2025. Both formats will use the Enhanced structure.
Shorter, more flexible: Core test time drops from ~195 to 125 minutes. Science and Writing are now optional; official ACT scores will be based only on English, Math, and Reading.
Section updates:
English: 50 questions in 35 min (was 75 in 45).
Math: 45 questions in 50 min (was 60 in 60), with 4 answer choices instead of 5.
Reading: 36 questions in 40 min (was 40 in 35).
Science: 40 questions in 40 min; now optional.
Writing remains optional at 40 minutes.
Superscore change: Beginning September 2025 (or sooner for online testers), ACT superscores will average only English, Math, and Reading results.
2. How to Decide Between the Two
The SAT is now fully digital, adaptive, and shorter, offering a uniform format and quick score turnaround. The Enhanced ACT, starting in September 2025, provides flexibility in both format (paper or online) and content, thanks to its optional Science and Writing sections.
The SAT focuses on English/Language Arts and Math only. The ACT lets you play to your strengths—if science isn’t your strong suit, you can skip it entirely without affecting your official superscore.
If you prefer a test that adapts to your performance and keeps a steady structure, the SAT might be the better choice. If you want the freedom to choose what’s tested and how you take it, the Enhanced ACT offers that control. Also check your target schools’ superscore policies, as the SAT includes all sections in superscoring, while the ACT’s new system does not.
3. Tips to Help You Choose
Take full-length practice tests for both formats to see which feels more natural.
Match the test to your strengths: Strong science students may want to keep ACT Science; those weaker in science might avoid it.
Think about testing style: The SAT’s adaptive design rewards strong section-by-section performance; the ACT allows more flexibility and pacing control.
Verify college policies: Some schools weigh optional sections more than others.
4. Conclusion
Both the SAT and the ACT are shorter, faster, and more streamlined than in previous years—but the right choice depends on your unique strengths and goals. Understanding the updated formats now will help you prepare strategically, score higher, and stand out in admissions.
Bowie Strategies specializes in helping elite students choose the right exam, prepare efficiently, and reach their highest possible scores.
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