American colleges require a certain level achieved on either the ACT and the SAT tests to measure college readiness and predict future academic success. But they do so in very different ways:
- The ACT test measures what a student already knows. It covers material that the student should have learned during high school.
- The SAT test is used more as a predictor of what a student is capable of learning. It deals with material that the student may NOT have learned in high school.
For this reason, some students do better on the ACT test—especially if they tend to struggle with standardized tests—and other students do better on the SAT test. Most colleges accept either test score, so many students take both exams to improve their chances of being admitted.
It is recommended to talk to the specific University and/or recruiting coach to find out their test preference.
SAT must know facts-and-formulas for math
Additional Resources:
List of all NCAA schools in the USA
Full ACT and SAT Practice Books and Practice Tests are available online or from your local Testing Center.