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Three Reasons to Stick With the ACT This Year

With the newness of the digital SAT, the ACT offers stability for savvy students

Posted on by Caroline Hertz

 

act or digital sat

Rising juniors in the Class of 2026 are heading into what will likely be their busiest year of high school yet. In addition to managing the demands of schoolwork and extracurriculars, it’s also time to start thinking about ACT/SAT prep. This year, there is an additional curveball—the SAT has gone digital. And while this change may be exciting for some, it also adds a layer of uncertainty for students. So, for many test-takers, the ACT may be the better choice. Here’s why:

1. More resources and materials

The digital SAT is a new test. Not only is it taken on the computer, but the question styles themselves are different from the old version. So far, the College Board has released six practice tests — meaning that students can get a more limited sense of the digital SAT in advance. On the other hand, choosing the ACT means students will have access to years’ worth of tests to practice from and can head into the ACT feeling confident in their preparation.

2. No technology issues

As anyone who has ever had wifi issues or computer bugs knows, technology is an incredible tool—when it works. And while the College Board has done its best with the digital SAT, there is always the possibility of tech issues on test day. Standardized tests can already be stressful, but opting for the paper ACT removes the variable of technical difficulties during test day.

3. More consistency in tests and scoring

Because the digital SAT is still in its first years, the College Board seems to still be ironing out the test. We have heard mixed reviews of how similar the real SAT is to the practice tests the College Board has released. The scoring is also less transparent, and there will not be real released tests available. While the ACT has offered pilots of a new digital format, they have stressed that they are not phasing out the paper version of their test anytime soon, that they want to preserve students’ ability to choose their preferred format, and that their test will not be changing at all in structure or content.

The ACT will be a good fit for many students this year; it’s a known quantity as compared to the uncertainty of the SAT. Still not sure? Contact us for more information and to discuss the best options for your child.

Caroline Hertz