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Every year, thousands of families obsess over one question: SAT or ACT — and does it even matter anymore? The rise of test-optional admissions, pandemic-era policy shifts, and now a swing back toward required testing have left many parents and students genuinely confused about what to do.
On a recent episode of Old College Try, host Matt Carpenter sat down with College Aid Pro counselor Joe Korfmacher — a former high school college counselor, private college admissions advisor, and even an admissions officer himself — and CAP’s own Peggy Keogh to cut through the noise. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the SAT and How Has It Changed?
The SAT is scored out of 1,600 and now has just two sections: Reading & Writing (also called EBRW — Evidence-Based Reading and Writing) and Math. There is no longer a separate essay or writing section.
One of the biggest changes for families: the SAT is now fully digital and adaptive. That means your student’s performance on the first module influences the difficulty of the second. It’s taken on a laptop — either a school-issued device or your own — at an approved test center.
SAT Section
Questions
Time
Time Per Question
Reading & Writing (EBRW)
54 questions
64 minutes
~71 seconds
Math
44 questions
70 minutes
~95 seconds
Total
98 questions
~2 hrs 15 min
💡 Registration tip: Register as soon as you know which test date you’re targeting. Test centers fill up quickly — waiting too long could mean driving an hour to an unfamiliar school on an already stressful day.
What Is the ACT and What’s Changed Recently?
The ACT is scored on a composite scale of 1–36 and has three required sections: English, Math, and Reading. As of this year, the Science section is now optional. There is also an optional Writing section, though Joe’s advice on that is clear:
“I would not do the writing. It’s more money, more time, and unnecessary. Colleges aren’t looking at the scores and don’t really know how to analyze it. I don’t think it’ll be here for much longer.”
— Joe Korfmacher, College Counselor, College Aid Pro
ACT Section
Questions
Time
Required?
English
50 questions
35 minutes
✅ Yes
Math
45 questions
50 minutes
✅ Yes
Reading
36 questions
40 minutes
✅ Yes
Science
—
—
⚪ Optional (new)
Writing
—
—
⚪ Optional (skip it)
Unlike the SAT, the ACT is still offered both digitally and on paper, and the pacing is faster — typically under a minute per question across all sections. Total test time runs about 2 hours and 5 minutes.
SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Should Your Student Take?
This is the question Joe hears most often — and his answer is always the same: don’t let your neighbor, your cousin, or TikTok decide for your student. Take a full-length practice test of both and let the data lead.
SAT May Suit Students Who…
- Are strong readers
- Prefer more time per question
- Are comfortable with algebra
- Like adaptive testing formats
ACT May Suit Students Who…
- Work quickly under time pressure
- Prefer more straightforward questions
- Want paper-based test option
- Are STEM-focused (consider optional Science)
CAP’s rule of thumb: Buy the official ACT prep book (the big red one on Amazon, ~$20). It includes a free, full-length timed practice test. Score it, compare it to a practice SAT, and pick whichever feels more natural — then commit to that one test entirely.
Once you’ve chosen a test, Joe recommends picking two or three specific test dates in junior year and going all-in on preparation for that one exam. Ping-ponging between the SAT and ACT wastes time and rarely improves results.
How Many Times Should Your Student Take the Test?
The sweet spot, according to Joe: two to three times. Here’s why:
- Unless your student scores perfectly on the first attempt, taking it again almost always helps.
- Research shows that scores generally stop improving after the third attempt.
- Each test sitting is a significant time commitment — prep, travel, and 2+ hours on a Saturday — plus the registration cost.
Important: Don’t take the test more than three times thinking a fourth or fifth attempt will dramatically change the outcome. The data doesn’t support it — and selective colleges can see your test history.
Test Optional, Test Required, and Test Free: What’s the Difference?
The college admissions landscape has three distinct categories when it comes to standardized testing. Knowing the difference is critical before building a college list.
Test Required
Must submit scores
Many top schools have reinstated requirements. Examples: MIT, Georgetown, Ivy League schools, University of Georgia, University of Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech.
Test Optional
Your choice to submit
You may apply with or without scores. Examples: University of Michigan, NYU, University of Southern California. But “optional” doesn’t always mean equal — see below.
Test Free / Test Blind
Scores not reviewed at all
Even if you submit scores, they won’t be considered. Example: the entire UC system (UCLA, UC Berkeley), plus a handful of private schools like University of San Diego.
💡 Resource: Bookmark FairTest.org — it maintains the most comprehensive, up-to-date list of test-optional and test-free colleges in the country.
Is “Test Optional” Really Optional? The Data Tells a Different Story
At less selective colleges that admit 50% or more of applicants, test optional is genuinely optional. But at highly selective schools, the admission data paints a clear picture: students who submit strong scores are admitted at significantly higher rates.
School
Admitted WITH Scores
Admitted WITHOUT Scores
Emory University
17%
8.6%
Colgate University
25%
12%
Yale University (pre-reinstatement)
6%
2%
UVA (test optional round)
72% of admits submitted scores
28% did not
CAP’s rule of thumb: Use the middle 50% test score range as your guide. If your student’s score is at or above the school’s middle 50%, submit it — it helps admission and may unlock merit scholarships. If it falls below, and the school is test optional, withhold it. Every school’s middle 50% range is available in your MyCAP account at College Aid Pro.
What Is Superscoring and Does It Help Your Student?
Superscoring means a college takes your highest section score from each test date and combines them into one composite. Most colleges superscore the SAT, and increasingly, many superscore the ACT as well.
Example: Your student takes the SAT twice.
Test Date
Math Score
Reading & Writing Score
Single-Sitting Total
March SAT
700
500
1200
May SAT
600
600
1200
Superscore
700 (March)
600 (May)
1300 ✅
That’s a 100-point improvement that wouldn’t have existed without the second sitting. This is one of the strongest arguments for taking the test at least twice.
Beyond Admissions: How Test Scores Affect Scholarship Money
Even if a student ultimately applies test optional, improving their score can have a direct impact on how much merit aid a school offers. Many colleges use SAT/ACT score thresholds to automatically qualify students for scholarships — and even a 50–100 point improvement can move a student into a higher scholarship bracket.
In your MyCAP account at College Aid Pro, you can model exactly this: “What if my student’s SAT went from 1240 to 1340? How would that change merit scholarships at our target schools?” It’s a powerful way to decide whether additional test prep — or another test sitting — is worth the investment.
💡 Pro tip: Before paying for a tutor or an additional test date, use MyCAP to see which specific schools would offer your student more money with a higher score. Let the scholarship math drive the decision.
Your Step-by-Step Testing Game Plan
Step 1: End of Sophomore Year
Take a full-length practice SAT and ACT
Use the official College Board practice SAT (free online) and the ACT prep book (~$20 on Amazon). Time yourself. Score both. See which feels more natural and which produces the better result.
Step 2: Pick One Test and Commit
Choose SAT or ACT — not both
Stop the ping-pong. Whichever test better suits your student’s strengths and pacing style, go all-in. Plan 2–3 specific test dates in junior year.
Step 3: Register Early
Secure a nearby test center as soon as registration opens
Centers fill up. Early registration means a familiar, nearby school on test day — one less thing to stress about.
Step 4: Take It 2–3 Times
Two sittings is the minimum; three is the maximum
Superscoring rewards multiple sittings. After three attempts, the data shows minimal score improvement — so stop there.
Step 5: Use the Middle 50% to Decide What to Submit
Submit scores that help — withhold scores that hurt
For each college on your list, compare your student’s score to the school’s middle 50% range (available in MyCAP). At or above? Submit. Below a test-optional school’s range? Withhold.
Should my student take the SAT or the ACT?
Take a full-length practice test of both, then choose the one where your student performs better or feels more comfortable with the pacing. SAT tends to favor strong readers who like more time per question; ACT is better for students who work quickly and prefer straightforward questions. Either test is accepted at every U.S. college equally.
How many times should a student take the SAT or ACT?
At least twice (unless they score perfectly the first time) and no more than three times. Research shows scores don’t meaningfully improve beyond three attempts, and each sitting requires significant prep time, money, and energy.
Is test optional really optional?
It depends on the school. At less selective colleges (50%+ acceptance rates), test optional is genuinely optional — submit whatever helps your case. At highly selective schools, data shows that applicants who submit strong scores are admitted at significantly higher rates than those who don’t. It’s best analyzed on a school-by-school basis using the middle 50% range.
What is superscoring?
Superscoring means a college takes your highest section score from each test date and combines them. For example, if you got a 700 in Math in March and a 600 in Reading & Writing, then a 600 in Math and 600 in Reading & Writing in May, your superscore is 1300 (700 + 600). Most colleges superscore the SAT; many now superscore the ACT as well.
Do test scores affect college scholarships?
Yes — often significantly. Many colleges use SAT/ACT score thresholds to determine merit scholarship eligibility. A higher score can move a student into a better scholarship bracket, sometimes worth thousands of dollars per year. Use College Aid Pro’s MyCAP platform to model how a score improvement would affect merit aid at specific schools before investing in additional test prep.
Should students take the ACT Science and Writing sections?
Skip the Writing section — it’s optional, costs extra, adds time, and colleges largely don’t use it in admissions decisions. The Science section is now optional too. Consider taking it if your student is STEM-focused and scores well on the practice version; otherwise, it’s not necessary.
When should students start thinking about standardized testing?
The end of sophomore year is the ideal time to take full-length practice tests for both the SAT and ACT. That leaves junior year — when students are most academically prepared — as the window for actual test dates, with time to retake if needed before senior year applications open.
Where can I find a college’s middle 50% test score range?
It’s available on most college websites and in your free MyCAP account. MyCAP shows middle 50% GPA and test score ranges for every school, alongside estimated merit scholarships — all in one place.
Related Resources
- FairTest.org — Complete, updated list of test-optional and test-free colleges
- MyCAP by College Aid Pro — See middle 50% scores, merit scholarships, and affordability data for every school on your list
- Ol’ College Try Podcast — Listen to the full episode with Joe Korfmacher on test scores, FAFSA updates, and college admissions strategy
See Exactly How Test Scores Affect Your Student’s Scholarships
Your free MyCAP account shows middle 50% score ranges, merit scholarship estimates, and net cost projections — so you can make smarter decisions about testing, college lists, and financial aid.
Create Your Free MyCAP Account
This post is based on the Old College Try podcast episode featuring Joe Korfmacher and Peggy Keogh. Admission rate data cited reflects publicly available figures from recent admissions cycles and may have changed since publication. Test policies vary by institution and are updated frequently — always verify requirements directly with each college. College Aid Pro is not affiliated with the College Board, ACT, Inc., or the U.S. Department of Education. Information is current as of 2025 and subject to change.
Click here to listen to the full episode!
