SAT vs ACT – Which to Choose? A Complete Comparison for Polish Students

SAT vs ACT – which to choose? For Polish students, the SAT is the better choice in 90% of cases: cheaper ($107 vs $175+), more widely accepted in Europe, with less time pressure, and a built-in Desmos calculator. The ACT is worth considering only if you have excellent English and strong biology or physics. But that’s the short answer – the devil is in the details.

One of the most common emails we receive at College Council is: “Should I take the SAT or the ACT?” The extended version of this question looks like this: “I have good math skills, average English, I want to apply to the Netherlands and the USA, I have budget X – what should I choose?” And every time, the answer begins with the same sentence: probably the SAT. But “probably” isn’t “definitely” – and that’s precisely why this article is 5,000 words long, not one sentence.

Let’s start with the basics. Both the SAT (College Board) and the ACT (ACT Inc.) are standardized tests accepted by all universities in the USA. There isn’t a single university that prefers one over the other – Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale – each of these institutions treats both scores identically. If someone told you that “the Ivy League prefers the SAT” or “Midwestern universities prefer the ACT” – that’s a myth from the 90s that has no basis in the reality of 2026.

But just because universities treat both tests equally doesn’t mean the tests themselves are the same. They differ in structure, pace, scope of material, costs, and – what’s particularly important for you as a Polish student – acceptance in Europe. These differences can decidedly tip the scales in one direction.

Before we delve into the specifics, a disclaimer. This article is written from the perspective of a Polish student planning to study abroad. If you live in the USA, attended an American high school, and English is your first language – the calculation looks different. But if you’re in Warsaw, Krakow, or Gdansk, attending a Polish high school, and reading this article because you’re wondering whether the SAT or ACT will give you a better chance at MIT, Bocconi, or the University of Amsterdam – read on. Let’s get to the specifics.

Exam Structure – What Exactly Are You Taking?

At first glance, the SAT and ACT appear to be two different exams testing the same things. And to a large extent, they are – both assess reading comprehension, English grammar knowledge, and high school-level mathematics. But the structure, pace, and format differ enough that one approach might suit you much better than the other.

SAT – Two Sections, Adaptive Format

Since 2024, the SAT has been fully digital and adaptive, meaning the difficulty of questions in the second part adjusts based on your performance in the first. The exam consists of two main sections:

Reading & Writing (54 questions, 64 minutes) – divided into two 32-minute modules. Each question has its own short text (50–150 words) – you don’t read long passages like on the ACT. Questions cover grammar, rhetoric, text logic, vocabulary in context, and argument analysis. After the first module, the algorithm assesses your level and adjusts the difficulty of the second module – if you performed well, you get more difficult questions (but worth more points). If the first module was weaker, the second is easier, but your potential maximum score decreases.

Math (44 questions, 70 minutes) – also two adaptive 35-minute modules. It covers algebra, advanced algebra (quadratic functions, polynomials, exponentials), geometry, trigonometry (basics), and data analysis. Approximately 75% of questions are multiple-choice, the rest are student-produced responses. The Desmos calculator is built into the testing platform and available for the entire duration of the Math section – you don’t need to bring your own.

There is a 10-minute break between sections. Total time: 2 hours 14 minutes.

ACT – Four Sections, Fixed Difficulty

The ACT is a longer and more traditional exam. From 2025, it is available in digital format, but it is not adaptive – every test-taker receives questions of the same difficulty, arranged from easier to harder within each section.

English (75 questions, 45 minutes) – tests English grammar and rhetorical skills. You receive 5 texts, each with 15 questions related to underlined portions. You must decide whether the portion is correct or requires revision. Pace: 36 seconds per question – the fastest of all sections on both exams.

Math (60 questions, 60 minutes) – broader than the SAT. It covers algebra, geometry, trigonometry (more than the SAT), statistics, probability, and at the highest difficulty level – logarithms and complex numbers. Questions have 5 answer options (instead of 4 on the SAT). You can use your own calculator (from the list of permitted models), but you do not have access to Desmos.

Reading (40 questions, 35 minutes) – reading comprehension in a traditional format. 4 long texts (prose, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences), with 10 questions for each. You must read the entire text, then answer the questions – you don’t have short passages like on the SAT. Time per text: 8 minutes 45 seconds including answering.

Science (40 questions, 35 minutes) – a unique ACT section that the SAT does not have. Despite its name, it does not test scientific knowledge – it assesses the ability to read graphs, tables, experiment descriptions, and draw conclusions from data. There are 6–7 data sets, each with several questions. Three types of tasks: data interpretation (graphs), research summaries (experiments), and conflicting viewpoints (two opposing scientific theories). Basic knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics helps, but 90% of the answers can be found within the data itself.

Writing (optional, 1 essay, 40 minutes) – an argumentative essay. Almost no universities require it anymore. Our ACT guide discusses it in detail, but a quick tip: don’t take it unless a specific university requires it.

Key Structural Difference: Adaptivity

This is a point many students overlook, yet it has real consequences. The SAT is adaptive – the algorithm assesses your answers in Module 1 and, based on that, selects the difficulty of Module 2. If Module 1 goes well for you, Module 2 will be harder, but you’ll be rewarded with more points for correct answers. If Module 1 is weaker, Module 2 will be easier, but your potential maximum score decreases. In practice, this means you’re not stuck on questions that are completely beyond your reach – the exam adapts to you.

The ACT is not adaptive. You receive an identical set of questions as every other test-taker – from easy at the beginning of a section to difficult at the end. The upside is predictability: you know exactly what to expect. The downside is that the last 10–15 questions in the Math or Science sections can be truly demanding, and if you get stuck on them, you lose time you could have spent on easier tasks.

Time and Pressure – A Key Difference

If I had to point out one thing that most distinguishes the SAT from the ACT in practice, it’s the pace of the exam. Not the structure, not the scope of material, not the format – the pace. And here, the SAT decidedly wins for Polish students.

Look at the numbers. On the SAT Reading & Writing, you have an average of 71 seconds per question. On SAT Math – about 95 seconds. This is a comfortable pace that allows you to read the question, think, and check your answer. On the ACT, the situation is completely different: the English section gives you 36 seconds per question, Reading – 53 seconds (including reading a long text), and Science – also about 53 seconds per question plus analysis of graphs and tables.

Why is this so important? Because you read English slower than a native speaker. This isn’t a judgment of your proficiency – it’s a fact. Even if your English is at a C1 or C2 level, processing text in a second language takes 15–30% more time than in your native language. On the SAT, this extra time isn’t an issue – you have enough buffer. On ACT Reading, where you need to read an entire long text and answer 10 questions in 8 minutes 45 seconds, every extra second counts. Many Polish students who have tried both diagnostic exams say the same thing: “On the SAT, I finished comfortably; on the ACT, I left 5–8 questions unanswered in Reading.”

There’s also the issue of adaptivity. The SAT adjusts the difficulty to your level – if the first module goes well for you, the second is harder, but you are rewarded with a higher score. If the first module is weaker, the second is easier. This means you’re never stuck on questions that are completely beyond your reach. The ACT doesn’t have such a mechanism – you get the full spectrum of difficulty from question 1 to question 60 (in Math) or 75 (in English), and the last 10–15 questions in each section can be truly difficult. If you get stuck on difficult questions towards the end, you lose time you could have spent on easier ones.

Pace Verdict: The SAT is more forgiving time-wise, which is hugely significant for a non-native speaker. If you know that your English “suffered” under time pressure during tests – the SAT minimizes this risk.

The ACT Science Section – Opportunity or Trap?

The only section the SAT doesn’t have is ACT Science. And here, many people have a misconception – they think the Science section tests knowledge of biology, chemistry, and physics. It doesn’t. The ACT Science section is 90% data interpretation – you’re given a graph, table, or experiment description and must answer questions like: “What was the temperature in sample 3 after 10 minutes?” or “Which scientist would predict a higher pH value?” It’s more about reading comprehension in a scientific context than a physics exam.

For a Polish student with an advanced curriculum in biology, chemistry, or physics (rozszerzona biologia, chemia, fizyka), this section can be an asset. A basic understanding of scientific concepts (pH, density, velocity, mitosis) allows for quicker grasp of the context and focus on the data. But there’s a catch: you have 53 seconds per question, and each question requires reading a graph or table. If you read English slowly, scientific jargon (independent variable, exothermic reaction, allele frequency) will slow you down even further.

Who should consider the Science section an argument for the ACT? Students who: (1) read English quickly, (2) have experience interpreting graphs and scientific data, and (3) can maintain concentration for 2 hours and 55 minutes without a drop in performance. If you don’t meet all three conditions, Science won’t be an asset for you – it will be an additional section that demands your time and energy.

Mathematics – SAT vs ACT

For Polish students, mathematics is traditionally a strong suit on both exams. The curriculum of Polish high schools – with its emphasis on algebra, analytical geometry, and functions – aligns better with the test material than the curricula of many English-speaking countries. However, SAT and ACT math differ in scope and format.

SAT Math covers four main categories: algebra (linear equations, inequalities, systems), advanced algebra (polynomials, exponential, quadratic functions), geometry and trigonometry (angles, areas, Pythagorean theorem, basic trigonometric identities), and data analysis (descriptive statistics, probability, interpreting graphs). The Desmos calculator is built into the testing platform and available throughout the section. This is a huge advantage – Desmos plots graphs, solves equations, and calculates statistics. You don’t need to bring your own calculator or worry if your model is permitted. Practice with Desmos on okiro.io – it’s the same calculator you’ll see on the actual SAT.

ACT Math is broader. In addition to everything the SAT includes, it adds logarithms, matrices (basics), complex numbers at a higher difficulty level, and more trigonometry (trigonometric function graphs, identities). Questions have 5 answer options (instead of 4 on the SAT). Calculator? You can bring your own from the list of permitted models (e.g., TI-84), but you don’t have Desmos. Some of the most difficult questions need to be solved quickly in your head or on paper.

Which is harder? That depends on your profile. If your math curriculum ends at the level of the advanced Polish high school leaving exam (rozszerzenie maturalne) – SAT Math covers practically 100% of the material, while ACT Math goes slightly beyond. But if you’re taking advanced math and have thoroughly covered logarithms, geometric sequences, and trigonometry – ACT Math shouldn’t surprise you. The problem is that the ACT gives you less time for it (60 seconds per question vs 95 on the SAT) and doesn’t provide Desmos.

Math Verdict: SAT Math is narrower in scope but offers better support (Desmos, more time). ACT Math is broader but comes with greater pressure. For most Polish students, SAT Math is an area where they can achieve a near-perfect score – 750–800 is attainable with systematic preparation. On ACT Math, achieving 34–36 requires speed that takes longer to build.

There’s another aspect rarely discussed: the answer format. On the SAT, approximately 75% of math questions are multiple-choice with 4 options, and the rest are student-produced response questions. On the ACT, all 60 questions are multiple-choice, but with 5 options instead of 4. Mathematically, the chance of guessing a random answer correctly on the SAT (25%) is higher than on the ACT (20%). For questions where you can eliminate 1–2 options, this difference increases. On the SAT, eliminating 2 options gives you a 50% chance; on the ACT – 33%. It sounds like a detail, but with 60 questions, these percentages add up.

You can find more about math preparation strategies in our SAT guide.

Acceptance in Europe – The SAT Decidedly Wins Here

This is probably the most important argument for College Council readers. If you’re considering studying not only in the USA but also in Europe – and many of you are – the SAT gives you a much wider range of options.

Why? Because European universities historically collaborated with the College Board (creator of the SAT), not ACT Inc. When Bocconi in Milan, IE University in Madrid, or University College London introduced a standardized test requirement, they specified “SAT” – because that was the test they knew. The ACT joined later and wasn’t adopted everywhere.

This doesn’t mean the ACT is worthless in Europe. Many universities accept it. But if you look at official admissions websites, you’ll see a difference: the SAT is mentioned more frequently, more prominently, and in a greater number of countries. Here’s an overview:

• United Kingdom – most universities accept the SAT as an additional criterion (alongside A-Levels or IB). The ACT is accepted by some, but less frequently mentioned in official materials.
• Netherlands – universities such as the University of Amsterdam, TU Delft, and Erasmus list the SAT in their admission requirements. The ACT is accepted by some, but not all.
• Italy – Bocconi requires the SAT or ACT (both accepted), but Politecnico di Milano and other universities more often refer to the SAT.
• Spain – IE University requires the SAT. The ACT is accepted by some private universities.
• Denmark – Copenhagen Business School and other universities accept the SAT. The ACT is less frequently mentioned.
• Switzerland – ETH Zurich and EPFL do not require SAT/ACT from European students, but accept the SAT as a supplementary document. The ACT is rarely mentioned.
• Ireland – Trinity College Dublin, UCD accept the SAT in the admissions process.
• Scandinavia – universities in Sweden (Lund, KTH) and Norway accept the SAT for English-taught programs.

Key rule: if you are applying to both the USA and Europe, the SAT covers both markets. The ACT may limit your European options. This isn’t a matter of preference – it’s a practical consideration. Imagine you take the ACT, get an excellent score of 34, and then find out that a university in Denmark you want to apply to only accepts the SAT. You’d have to retake an exam. With the SAT, this problem doesn’t exist.

There’s also a practical matter: test centers. The SAT has significantly more locations in Poland – usually Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, and several other cities (details in our SAT registration guide). The ACT has fewer centers in Poland, which might mean a longer commute. If you live outside a major city, test center availability is a real logistical factor.

You can find a full list of European universities accepting the SAT in our guide to SAT in Europe. If you’re wondering what SAT score is needed for European universities, read our article on SAT scores in Europe.

Costs – The SAT is Cheaper

Money is a concrete argument, and there’s no debate here: the SAT is simply cheaper. For an international student (and as a Pole, you are one), the cost of one SAT attempt is $107 (approx. 430 PLN at an exchange rate of 4.00 PLN/USD). The ACT costs $175 without the Writing section or $200–225 with Writing (700–900 PLN).

That’s a difference of $68–118 for a single attempt. It sounds moderate, but consider the full picture. Most students take the exam 2–3 times to achieve an optimal score. Two SAT attempts cost $214. Two ACT attempts cost $350–450. The difference accumulates to $136–236, which is over 500–950 PLN – enough to buy a prep book or a month of an online course.

In addition, there are score sending fees. The SAT allows you to send 4 reports for free when you register (to universities chosen before the exam). Each additional report costs $14. The ACT has a similar structure, but sending fees are higher.

If you plan two attempts at the exam plus sending scores to 6 universities, the total budget looks like this:

575 PLN in savings is a significant amount – with that money, you could buy access to an online prep course or several official practice test books. And if you add the cost of travel to a test center (the ACT has fewer locations in Poland), the difference grows even more. For a student self-funding their preparations for studying abroad, every 500 PLN matters.

Score Concordance – How to Convert Scores?

Universities treat the SAT and ACT equally, but how do you compare an SAT score of 1400 with an ACT score of 32? The College Board and ACT Inc. have jointly published official concordance tables that map scores from one exam to the other. Here are the most important thresholds:

What does this mean in practice? If your SAT score is 1400, a university will treat it the same as an ACT score of 32. If your ACT score is 34, that’s equivalent to an SAT score of 1500. There is no “better” score – both are equivalent. Therefore, the SAT vs ACT decision should not be based on the belief that “it’s easier to get a high score on one.” Both scales are calibrated so that the 99th percentile signifies the same level of ability.

The only exception: if you have very strong math skills but a weaker language section, the SAT might yield an optically better score because it consists of two sections (Math + R&W), not four. On the ACT, a weak Reading section lowers the composite more because it accounts for 25% of the score – on the SAT, the R&W section is 50%, but it also includes grammar (where Poles generally perform better than in pure reading comprehension).

Are you wondering what SAT score is worth aiming for at European universities? Read our SAT scores guide.

Preparation – Materials and Time

Regardless of which test you choose, preparation requires time and consistency. But there’s a difference in the availability of materials.

For the SAT, the situation is exceptionally good. The College Board provides a free Bluebook app with full practice tests, Khan Academy offers a free prep course, and numerous platforms provide access to diagnostic tests with immediate score analysis. In addition, there are official practice books (Official SAT Study Guide) and dozens of online courses. The SAT prep ecosystem is vast and largely free.

For the ACT, there are fewer materials. ACT Inc. publishes official practice tests (The Official ACT Prep Guide), but free online resources are significantly scarcer than for the SAT. Prep courses exist (Kaplan, Princeton Review, Magoosh), but they are usually paid. If your prep budget is limited, the SAT offers you more free materials to work with.

How much time do you need? For both exams, we recommend 3–6 months of systematic preparation, 6–10 hours per week. Students with strong English and math skills can shorten this to 2 months. Students starting from a lower level might need up to 9 months. Key: start with a diagnostic test to know how much work lies ahead. Our 12-week SAT prep plan breaks down the entire process into specific weekly goals.

It’s also worth mentioning our SAT practice test – you can take it to see what the actual exam looks like and how many points you’d score without preparation.

Verdict – SAT or ACT for a Polish Student?

Time for a clear recommendation. We won’t beat around the bush.

Choose the SAT if:

• You are applying to both the USA and Europe – The SAT covers both markets. The ACT may limit your European options. If you plan to apply to, for example, Bocconi, IE University, TU Delft, and simultaneously to several universities in the USA, the SAT is the only test you’ll need.

• You prefer less time pressure – an average of 71–95 seconds per question vs 36–60 seconds on the ACT. For a non-native speaker, this is a crucial difference. You have time to read the question twice, think, and check your answer.

• Your math skills are strong – the Polish high school curriculum is a natural asset for SAT Math. Many Polish students achieve 750–800 in Math with relatively short preparation. This boosts the overall score, even if R&W is weaker.

• You want to use Desmos – the built-in graphing calculator is a huge advantage. You don’t need to buy a TI-84 (approx. 400–600 PLN / $100-150 USD), and you don’t have to worry if your model is permitted. Desmos draws graphs, solves equations, and is available throughout the exam.

• You want to save money – $107 vs $175+ per attempt. With two attempts, you save over $140.

Choose the ACT if:

• You have native-level English proficiency – if you read English at the same speed as Polish, the ACT’s time pressure isn’t an issue. This mainly applies to students from international English-speaking schools, dual citizens, or those who have lived in an English-speaking country.

• You enjoy interpreting scientific data – the ACT Science section is your fifth section, but it counts towards your composite score. If you’re the type of student who can quickly read a graph, identify a trend, and draw a conclusion – this section can boost your overall score.

• You are applying exclusively to the USA or UK – if Europe beyond the United Kingdom is not in your plans, the ACT’s limited European acceptance is irrelevant.

• You prefer a non-adaptive exam – some students get stressed thinking that their Module 1 score determines the difficulty of Module 2. The ACT is straightforward: you get the same questions, from easy to difficult, and that’s it.

Summary: For 9 out of 10 Polish students, the SAT is the better choice. It’s cheaper, more widely accepted in Europe, has a more forgiving pace, and a built-in calculator. The only strong reason to choose the ACT is if your English is at a native speaker level and you have strong science skills.

We also have students who ask: “What if I take both and send the better score?” Technically, it’s possible – universities don’t require you to report both scores. But preparing for two different exam formats means double the work. The time you spend learning the specifics of ACT Science could be dedicated to perfecting SAT Math or R&W. Our recommendation is: choose one test, prepare for it thoroughly, and take it 2–3 times to achieve an optimal score. Dividing your focus between two exams rarely yields better results than concentrating on one.

Decided on the SAT? Start with a free diagnostic test on okiro.io – you’ll find out your baseline score and what to work on. If you prefer the ACT, read our complete ACT guide.

How to Check Which Test Suits You Better?

Before making a final decision, do one simple exercise: take an official diagnostic test for both exams. The College Board provides full SAT practice tests in the Bluebook app (free). ACT Inc. publishes official tests on its website. Take both under exam conditions – with a timer, without interruptions, and without peeking at answers.

Compare your impressions:

• Time – did you finish both? How many questions did you leave unanswered on the ACT vs SAT?
• Comfort – on which did you feel more confident? Which format was more intuitive?
• Score – convert both scores to the other exam’s scale using a concordance table. If you perform 2+ points (ACT) or 50+ points (SAT) better on one – that’s your exam.

You can also take an SAT practice test online – many platforms provide an immediate score and section-by-section analysis of strengths and weaknesses. This is a good starting point before you commit to a specific test.

If the scores are similar, choose the SAT – for the reasons we discussed above (costs, acceptance in Europe, pace). If the ACT clearly performs better, don’t ignore that – a better score is a better score, regardless of which test produced it.

Summary – Your Next Steps

If you’ve made it this far, you now have a complete picture of the differences between the SAT and ACT. You don’t need to read this article again – here’s a four-step action plan:

1. Take an SAT diagnostic test – on okiro.io, you can take a free diagnostic test to see your baseline score and what to work on. The platform analyzes your answers and highlights your strengths and weaknesses in each section.

2. Read our complete SAT guide – the SAT exam guide discusses each section in detail, with solving strategies and examples. If you still choose the ACT, we also have an ACT guide.

3. Plan your preparation – our 12-week SAT study plan breaks down preparation into weeks, with specific goals and materials. The optimal start is 3–6 months before your planned exam date.

4. Check exam dates – SAT dates 2026/2027 help you plan when to take the test. Most students aim for the spring or fall of their third year of high school.

Remember: the choice between the SAT and ACT is an important one, but not irreversible. If after 4 weeks of SAT preparation you feel something isn’t right – you can switch to the ACT. Many skills (grammar, algebra, reading comprehension) overlap between the tests. But statistically, for a Polish student planning to study abroad, the SAT is the safer and cheaper choice.

Have questions? Write to us – we respond to every email. And if you want to check if the SAT is for you, read our decision-making article.

One last thought, because we know decisions can be paralyzing. There is no “wrong” choice between the SAT and ACT – both tests open doors to the same universities. The difference lies in which one will allow you to present yourself in the best light. For most of you, that’s the SAT. But if, after reading this article, you feel the ACT better suits your profile – trust yourself and prepare for it thoroughly. The score, not the test name, determines admission. Good luck with your exam.