The SAT and ACT are both offered in all 50 states, although the SAT tends to be more popular along the East and West Coasts, and the ACT is more commonly used throughout the Midwest. Many students elect to take both exams. Still others choose based upon which test they feel best caters to their strengths.

The SAT Reasoning Test is more known for tricky questions, with ¼-point penalties for wrong answers, while the ACT is somewhat more content-based. ACT questions are sometimes long, but wrong answers are not penalized.

Both tests cover reading, grammar and usage, and mathematics. The SAT also covers vocabulary and writing, while the ACT covers science reasoning and includes an optional writing section (often required by colleges). Four-year US colleges will accept either SAT or ACT scores, so the choice of which to take is often up to the student. Some students may also wish to check which test is more popular in their area, or which is preferred by the colleges of their choice.