Written By
GCE Editorial Team
The SAT vs. ACT differ in structure. While the SAT has math and evidence-based reading and writing sections, with no optional essay, the ACT features English, Math and Reading sections, along with optional essay and science sections.
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Approved and verified accurate by the Registrar and Associate Vice President of the Office of Academic Records on Nov. 18, 2025.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
While different, both of these exams fulfill a common need: to assess college readiness and academic proficiency in college applicants. Many universities rely on applicants’ SAT and/or ACT test scores to assess the likelihood of these applicants becoming successful college students. In addition to helping make admission decisions, SAT and ACT test scores may be used to determine appropriate course placements and to assess eligibility for scholarships and other forms of financial aid.
In fact, the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) can qualify prospective college students to earn National Merit scholarship awards. Taking this exam is the only way to enter this scholarship contest. This Pre-SAT test is typically taken in 11th grade, after which students will later take the regular SAT.2
The main purpose of the SAT and ACT, however, is to aid in making college admission decisions. An applicant’s test scores can play a big role in whether they are accepted to a particular college, but it’s important to note that test scores aren’t the only consideration. College admission staff typically consider the totality of an applicant’s high school history and achievements — from your GPA to getting good grades to participating in school sports to volunteering in the community and beyond.
The ACT and SAT are the two most commonly recognized standardized admissions exams for undergraduate degree programs at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. While similar, they do have some differences, the most notable being that the SAT is generally considered an aptitude test, while the ACT evaluates students’ knowledge of high school curriculum. The SAT assesses students’ knowledge and skills in reading and math, and while the ACT does this as well, it also assesses writing skills, practical language skills and science knowledge.1
If you’re excited to apply to college , you’ll have to meet certain requirements, which may include meeting a minimum ACT or SAT score, however, GCU does not require those scores for admission. Because of this, it’s important to understand the differences between the SAT vs. ACT and consider which test is best for you or if you should take both tests.
To get started, you should first consider the purpose of the SAT and ACT tests and then take a look at some common questions, such as, "What’s the difference between the SAT and ACT?" and "Which of these admissions exams should I take?" Then, take a look at the admission requirements for the schools you plan to apply to.
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SAT or ACT — make the right choice for you!
Discover the key differences between the SAT and ACT and find out which test is right for your college goals at GCU.
Before deciding which test to take, or if you should take both of them, you should understand the main differences between the SAT vs. ACT. It’s also important to know that neither test is preferred more by colleges over the other test; test scores from either exam are accepted equally.3
How is the ACT different from the SAT? The main differences to consider are as follows:
Aside from these main differences, there are others to be aware of. For example, while the SAT does not feature a science section like the ACT, it does have science reasoning built into the reading passages. Those reading passages on the SAT tend to be shorter than those on the ACT. While the SAT has one question per reading passage, the ACT has nine per reading passage.3
Students who aren’t enthusiastic about long tests may note the test lengths in particular. The SAT is shorter, and if you break down the total testing time, you’ll see that you’ll have one minute and 22 seconds per question. The ACT is longer, and offers 57 seconds per question without the optional science section or 58 seconds per question with it.3
On the other hand, the ACT offers more flexibility than the SAT. You can choose whether or not to complete the essay and science section. If you’re great with science, you can opt into the science section to demonstrate your knowledge. Likewise, the essay can be a great way to showcase your writing skills and boost your score if you’re a strong writer.1
The Honors College at GCU strives to deliver an enriching academic experience that takes learning beyond the classroom. Here, our ambitious students are encouraged to apply theory to practical applications by pursuing local and global community engagement, leadership opportunities and other experiential learning pursuits.
Incoming freshmen applying for the Honors College must have a weighted or unweighted GPA of 3.8.
After considering the differences between these tests, you’ll need to decide which is best for you to take. There are many factors to consider, but your academic strengths should be chief among them.
If you’re better with math than language arts, the SAT might be the best choice for you. While there are nearly the same number of math questions on each test, math questions comprise more of the total score on the SAT than on the ACT because the ACT has separate sections for English, writing skills and the optional essay.
Likewise, if you’re better with language arts than math, consider taking the ACT. The ACT’s quicker pace might also benefit you if you’re a fast reader who can quickly find key information in reading passages.
Another way to determine which test you should take is to take a practice ACT and a practice SAT. See how your scores compare. If you do much better in one test compared to the other, then you’ll know which test you should take.
Should you take the SAT or ACT if you plan to only apply to test-optional schools? Absolutely, testing is still a good idea. One reason is because you might change your mind later and decide to apply to a school that does require test scores.
Furthermore, a test-optional school may still consider test scores if they are submitted. If you’re a strong test-taker, then submitting scores to a test-optional school may increase your chances of admission.
Grand Canyon University strives to create classes of students that represent diverse backgrounds, experiences, academic strengths and interests. GCU is a test-optional school. If you’re applying to be a full-time student at the GCU campus, you will need to submit official high school transcripts with a cumulative, unweighted grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above.
If you have an unweighted GPA of 2.5 to 2.9, you may still be considered for admission by submitting ACT or SAT scores. You must meet the following test score minimum requirements:
ACT and SAT scores may also help determine academic scholarship consideration.
