Can I Take Both the ACT and SAT?

The short answer: Yes! (But you should only take each once, at least to start…)

The slightly longer answer: Colleges accept either test. They do not prefer one over the other, and you should send whichever one is stronger for you. So, the real question isn’t whether you can take both, but whether you should. 

Question 1: When should I take both? 

You should take each test one time if you are able, preferably in the spring of your sophomore year or the fall of your junior year. You can either pay for it yourself, or most high schools offer one in-school sitting of the test. Next, assess your scores. You can use our score converter to determine which test you performed better on. If they are similar, the choice should be based on which one was more “enjoyable.” And don’t worry! We have a whole blog post on How to Choose Between the SAT and ACT.

Question 2: When should I not take both? 

If you are a senior and you’ve only ever taken one and studied for one, stick to it. There is a shorter runway to prepare, and you’ll want to make sure you do your best with the time you have left. For all other students, if you feel like you cannot budge at all in your test of choice, feel free to take a practice test of the other and see how it feels. Don’t worry about officially testing until you’ve fully committed to one test. Free practice tests are available online as a PDF for the ACT and on the Bluebook app for the SAT.

Question 3: Should I fully prepare for both and then see which is better?

No, I don’t recommend fully preparing for both. For your time and effort, I would recommend only preparing for one test, either the ACT or the SAT. If you want to do some preparation and then take one of each to determine which one to pursue, I recommend practicing rules that appear on both tests (e.g., punctuation rules, subject/verb agreement, algebra word problems). This method encourages the right kind of practice without duplicating efforts. But once you’ve decided which test is the better fit, lean in and focus on that test.

Question 4: If I can take both, how do I know where to start studying?

You should always start with a diagnostic test (full-timed practice or an in-person test day). It will take time–you might lose two Saturday mornings–but the information you gain will help you as you study to improve your score (and eventually earn scholarships!). After taking the test, be sure to reflect on 1) how it felt to take the test, 2) whether the content seemed familiar or not, and 3) your stamina and pacing throughout the test. Answering these questions will help you identify specific areas you can work on to help improve your score.

Need help reviewing your results? We’d love to chat about your scores and how to improve them for college scholarships! Reach out today for a free initial consultation. We’re here to help.