Thinking about college can be a confusing and stressful experience. Part of the process includes choosing which standardized test to take, if any, for college admissions. 

Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, CPS has transitioned to requiring all students in Illinois to take the ACT in school. In previous years, CPS required the SAT to be taken in school instead. 

At Northside, students must take the ACT their junior year at no cost. Students also take the PSAT in the fall of their junior year to be able to apply for a national merit scholarship. At Northside, students take the PSAT freshman and sophomore year as well.

This switch has caused some confusion. Northside ACT Coordinator Ms. Micah Grice says the setup for the ACT has more steps and can be more confusing for proctors. The ACT also has two additional, optional sections: writing and science. 

“A lot of students don’t want to take [science section] because it is new and optional.” At Northside, however, students must take the science section. If a student wants to take the writing section, however, they must sign up for the ACT outside of school. 

Ella Prentice (Senior) shares her thoughts about the transition from the SAT to ACT. “It was definitely weird hearing about when it first was decided because I had gotten so used to taking the PSAT for freshman and sophomore year, but part of me was relieved because I really did not like the SAT.” When asked about why she didn’t like the SAT, Ella said, “I was intimidated that it was out of 1600 and I also didn’t like the free response math questions. The ACT just felt faster.”

Why might some students choose to take the SAT in addition to the ACT?

The main reason someone might take the SAT in addition to the ACT at Northside is to have multiple test score options. Isaac Morowitz (Senior) shares why he decided to take both tests. “I took the ACT and SAT the same month. The goal was to compare my scores and then take the test again that I liked more. I think I took them both just to keep my options open,” he said. 

Furthermore, the testing format influenced Isaac’s decision. Isaac said, “I preferred the ACT because I took it on paper and it was less straining on my eyes than a computer.” At Northside, the ACT is taken digitally, but it can be taken on paper outside of school. However, the SAT does not have a paper option.

The SAT and ACT also have different types of questions. For example, the SAT Math section has a stronger focus on algebra, while the ACT tests a wider range of math topics. On top of that, the SAT includes a few free response answers, while the ACT is all multiple choice. For reading and English, the SAT questions are generally considered more complex with more time per question, and the ACT questions are generally more direct, but faster paced. 

Liz Worely (Senior) says, “I definitely prefer the ACT because it shorter and I’m a naturally fast test taker so it gives me a little bit of an advantage.”

In the end, finding which test is right for you comes with trial. Taking the PSAT and PACT during junior year helps with getting a feel for the differences in the two tests. There are no true set advantages that distinguish the SAT and ACT, the decision comes down to personal preference and performance.