In this article
- Digital SAT/ACT 2025: test-optional policies, target scores and timing
- Contents
- Test-optional in 2025
- Digital SAT vs ACT: which should you take?
- Target scores by type of university
- Recommended timing for 2025
Digital SAT/ACT 2025: test-optional policies, target scores and timing
Understand the role of standardized tests in 2025, set realistic target scores and plan your test dates to maximize your chances of admission and merit scholarships.
Contents
Test-optional in 2025
Many universities remain test-optional. Even so, submitting a strong score can strengthen your application, help you qualify for merit scholarships and offset an isolated weakness in your transcript.
- Check each school individually: score-use policies, guideline thresholds and submission windows.
- Scholarships: some require a score for eligibility or ranking.
- Selective programs: a strong score is still a clear academic signal.
Digital SAT vs ACT: which should you take?
Digital SAT
- Adaptive by module, with a shorter test time.
- Calculator allowed throughout the Math section.
- Reading and Writing in short passages, so stamina is easier to manage.
ACT
- Consistent format with four separate sections.
- Fast pace; an advantage if you read very quickly.
- Useful subscores (STEM, ELA) that give a more detailed picture of your profile.
The pragmatic choice: take a diagnostic practice test for each exam, compare your percentiles and how you handled the timing, then focus on the one that suits you best.
To learn more, read our guide: Free SAT Readiness Assessment.
Target scores by type of university
Aim for a percentile in line with each school’s selectivity. The ranges below are a guide:
- Highly selective: aim for the very top percentiles.
- Selective/target schools: above the school’s published median.
- Safeties: comfortably above the median.
Tip: check each university’s recent admitted-student data and set your goal 2–3 ACT points (or the SAT equivalent) above the median you are aiming for.
Recommended timing for 2025
- Spring–summer before your final year of high school: diagnostic test, choice of exam, study plan, first sitting.
- September–October: last attempt for Early Decision/Early Action.
- November–December: final window for Regular Decision.
Don’t let a late test date come at the expense of your essays. Keep your application as a whole balanced.
An effective prep plan
- Diagnostic → plan: identify your 3 main weaknesses and schedule targeted 2–3-week cycles.
- Weekly routines: grammar/reading, math by topic, timed drills.
- Full practice tests: 1 every 1–2 weeks, with a careful review of your mistakes and updated revision notes.
- Time management: question-order strategies, flagging time-consuming questions, keeping your pace in check.
Month-by-month timeline
June–July
- SAT and ACT diagnostic tests.
- Choose your test and set a weekly plan.
- Book your 1st test date.
August–September
- 2–3 timed practice tests.
- Targeted review of recurring mistakes.
- Official sitting no. 1.
October
- Sitting no. 2 if applying ED/EA.
- Finalize your admissions essays.
November–December
- Sitting no. 2 or 3 for RD.
- Submit your final application.
Resources and useful links
Go further with YDS coaches and guides:
FAQ
Should I send my score if a school is test-optional?
Yes, if your score is competitive with the data for the school you are targeting. If not, consider leaving it out and strengthening your essays and activities instead.
How many times should I take the test?
Two to three sittings in total are usually enough to maximize your progress while leaving time for the rest of your application.
Should I prepare for the SAT and ACT at the same time?
No. Take a diagnostic test for each, choose the one that suits you best, then focus on it so you don’t spread yourself too thin.
📚 Related articles
- Studying in the United States in 2026: the complete guide
- Common App 2026: the complete guide
- Harvard 2026: admitted student profile and deadlines
Need support? Discover our admissions coaching: your first consultation is free.
See also
- ACT or SAT in 2026: which gives you the best chance of admission?
- Digital SAT 2026: test structure, what’s new and strategies
- Prepare effectively for the SAT with Your Dream School
ACT vs SAT: complete 2026 comparison (FAQ)
What is the main difference between the ACT and the SAT?
The digital SAT (2026) lasts 2 hours 14 minutes and puts more emphasis on reasoning, vocabulary in context and multi-step math. The paper ACT lasts 2 hours 55 minutes (3 hours with the Science section), with a faster pace (more questions per minute) and a Science section that the SAT does not have. Students who are comfortable with scientific graphs and fast reading often prefer the ACT; those who want more time per question tend to choose the digital SAT.
Comparing ACT and SAT scores
The SAT is scored out of 1600 (400–1600) and the ACT out of 36 (1–36). A 1400 on the SAT is roughly equivalent to a 31 on the ACT, a 1500 to a 34, and a 1550+ to a 35–36. US universities accept both tests with no preference: use the official College Board/ACT concordance table to convert your target score.
Which test should you choose: ACT or SAT?
Take a diagnostic test in both formats (available free of charge). If your percentile is significantly higher in one format, choose that one. As a rule of thumb, the 2026 digital SAT suits methodical students better (more time per question, adaptive format), while the ACT suits students who work quickly and are comfortable with science.
Do universities still accept the ACT and SAT in 2026?
Yes. More than 1,900 US universities have gone back to being test-required or test-preferred (the Ivy League, MIT, Georgetown, Dartmouth, Yale, Brown, Caltech, Stanford and others). Only a few universities remain test-optional. See our admissions test prep hub for the up-to-date list.
How long should you prepare for the SAT or ACT?
Three to six months at 5–10 hours a week is the norm if you are aiming for a top score. Students starting from an SAT score of 1100–1200 can gain 200–300 points with structured preparation. Our complete 2026 SAT guide sets out the optimal preparation plan.
Further reading
- The complete 2026 SAT guide: prepare, score high and succeed
- ACT or SAT in 2026: which one maximizes your chances?
- Admissions test prep hub (IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT)
Author
With a Bachelor's (LLB) from UCL and Assas, and the Grande Ecole program at HEC Paris, Adam co-founded Your Dream School in 2018. Since then the company has coached more than 1,000 students through university admissions and interview preparation for top global institutions.
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