USA Edition · Tests

SAT, ACT, PSAT and AP, without the myths

Formats and scores·Real college policies·Checked Oct 2026

Tests still matter at some colleges and not at all at others. Here is how each test works, what the scores mean, and what real colleges require right now, checked on their own admissions pages.

Do colleges require tests? SAT vs ACT
SAT total400–1600
ACT Composite1–36
AP score1–5 per exam
Colleges rating tests "considerable importance"4.9%
Real colleges, checked

Do colleges require the SAT or ACT?

Some do, some don't, and some don't look at scores at all. Across four-year colleges, 4.9% gave test scores "considerable importance" in NACAC's Fall 2023 survey, versus 76.8% for grades in college-prep courses — yet several highly selective colleges have brought requirements back.

Test-requiredYou must send SAT or ACT scores.
Test-optionalYou choose whether to send scores; applying without them is allowed.
Test-free (test-blind)Scores are not considered even if you have them.

Examples checked on official admissions pages

CollegePolicyDetails
MITRequiredSAT or ACT required for first-year and transfer applicants. Official page
Yale UniversityRequiredAll first-year and transfer applicants must submit ACT or SAT scores; AP/IB scores optional but encouraged. Official page
Princeton UniversityOptional now, required laterTest optional for students entering in fall 2027; SAT or ACT required for students entering in fall 2028. Official page
University of CaliforniaTest-freeSAT and ACT scores are not considered for admission or scholarships. Official page

Testing policies change often and differ even among similar colleges. These are examples checked on official admissions pages; always check each college's own page. Checked 2026-10-07.

Side by side

SAT vs ACT

Colleges that use scores accept either one. Pick the test whose format suits you better.

SATACT (enhanced)
Made byCollege BoardACT
Scores400–1600 (Reading and Writing 200–800; Math 200–800)Composite 1–36 (English, Math, Reading (each 1–36); Science optional; Writing optional)
Format and lengthAbout 2 hours 14 minutes (Reading and Writing 64 minutes, Math 70 minutes), digital and adaptive: each section has two modules, and the second adjusts to how you did on the first. SourceAbout 2 hours 5 minutes for a Composite score: English (35 min, 50 questions), Math (50 min, 45 questions), Reading (40 min, 36 questions); Science (40 min) and Writing (40 min) are optional. Source
Good to knowTotal score is the sum of the two section scores. College Board college-readiness benchmarks: 480 Reading and Writing, 530 Math.Since the September 2025 national test, the Composite is the average of English, Math and Reading only; Science is optional. Students who take Science also get a STEM score; students who take Writing also get an ELA score. State and district (school-day) ACT tests moved to the enhanced format from spring 2026.
Every high school test

PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP and IB at a glance

TestTypical gradeScore rangeWhat to know
PSAT 8/9
College Board		 8 and 9 240–1440
Reading and Writing 120–720; Math 120–720		 Uses a lower score range (240–1440) than the PSAT 10, PSAT/NMSQT (320–1520) and SAT (400–1600). Source
PSAT 10
College Board		 10 320–1520
Reading and Writing 160–760; Math 160–760		 Same test as the PSAT/NMSQT, but scores do not enter the National Merit Scholarship Program. Source
PSAT/NMSQT
College Board (with National Merit Scholarship Corporation)		 10 or 11 320–1520
Reading and Writing 160–760; Math 160–760		 Only 11th-grade (junior-year) scores count toward the National Merit Scholarship Program. Uses the same score scale as the SAT. Source
SAT
College Board		 Usually 11 and 12 400–1600
Reading and Writing 200–800; Math 200–800		 Total score is the sum of the two section scores. College Board college-readiness benchmarks: 480 Reading and Writing, 530 Math. Source
ACT (enhanced)
ACT		 Usually 11 and 12 Composite 1–36
English, Math, Reading (each 1–36); Science optional; Writing optional		 Since the September 2025 national test, the Composite is the average of English, Math and Reading only; Science is optional. Students who take Science also get a STEM score; students who take Writing also get an ELA score. State and district (school-day) ACT tests moved to the enhanced format from spring 2026. Source
AP Exams
College Board		 Usually 10–12, after an AP course 1–5 per exam 5 — extremely well qualified; 4 — very well qualified; 3 — qualified; 2 — possibly qualified; 1 — no recommendation. Each college decides which scores earn credit or placement; many give credit for 3 or higher. Source
IB Diploma Programme
International Baccalaureate		 Usually 11 and 12 Up to 45 points Six subjects graded 1–7, plus up to 3 points for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) earns no points but must be completed. At least 24 points plus other conditions are needed for the diploma. Source
Advanced Placement

AP exams: cost and college credit

Fee (2027 exams)$99 per exam at U.S. schools, $129 elsewhere; $40 extra for late orders. Schools may charge more to cover local costs; some states add fee help. Fees
Help with costStudents with significant financial need can get a $37 College Board reduction per exam; ask your AP coordinator about state help.
Credit and placementEach college decides which scores earn credit or placement; many give credit for 3 or higher. Credit policies
After college

Tests for professional school

Medicine, dentistry and law add their own admission tests after (or near the end of) a bachelor's degree.

TestForWhat to know
MCAT
AAMC		Medical school (M.D. and D.O.)Total 472–528. Four sections, each 118–132: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. Source
DAT (Dental Admission Test)
American Dental Association		Dental school (D.D.S./D.M.D.)Survey of the Natural Sciences (biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry), Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Reasoning. Source
LSAT or GRE
LSAC (LSAT) / ETS (GRE)		Law school (J.D.)ABA Standard 503 still requires a valid and reliable admission test, but the ABA grants variances; 21 of 198 accredited schools held one as of August 2026. Source
PCAT (retired)
Pearson / AACP		Pharmacy schoolRetired January 2024. No new test dates; do not list it as a pharmacy school requirement. Source
Practical tips

Testing without wasting time or money

  • Check your list first. If every college you are considering is test-free or test-optional, heavy test prep may matter less than your grades.
  • Try both formats. Take an official practice SAT and ACT before choosing; colleges that use scores accept either.
  • Use grade 11 well. The PSAT/NMSQT in grade 11 is the only year that counts for National Merit, and it is good practice for the SAT.
  • Ask about fee help. AP fee reductions and state programs exist for students with financial need.
Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Colleges that use test scores accept either. Take a free official practice test of each and focus on the one that suits you; there is no admissions advantage to one over the other.
You may apply without scores and will not be penalized; if you send scores, the college will consider them. Test-free (test-blind) colleges do not consider scores at all, and test-required colleges need them.
Sometimes. Each college decides which scores earn credit or placement; many give credit for a 3 or higher. Check each college's AP policy.
No. The PSAT is practice and, in grade 11, the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Colleges do not use it for admission.
Keep going
High SchoolGPA, AP, IB, plan College & MoneyDegrees, costs, aid Career Pathways20 fields with BLS data International StudentsF-1, OPT, H-1B
Sources

Where these facts come from

Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.