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Meta title: SAT or ACT: Which Test for US Admission 2026–27 | StudyU
Meta description: SAT or ACT in 2026–27: format, pacing, non-US dates and fees ($111 vs $188.50), where to test from Russia and the CIS, which universities require a test.
Last modified: 2026-09-24

# SAT or ACT: Which Test to Take for US Admission in 2026–27

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US universities treat the SAT and ACT as equals: Dartmouth, for one, states that it has no institutional preference. So the choice is not about prestige but about which test gives you the higher score and which you can actually sit on the dates and in the places available to you. The SAT is shorter and adaptive: 2 hours 14 minutes, 98 questions, two sections. The ACT is linear: English, maths and reading make up the composite score, and science is optional. Outside the US the SAT costs $111 and the ACT from $188.50. There are no SAT centres in Russia or Belarus; the nearest are in Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia and other neighbouring countries. Outside the US the ACT is available only on a computer at a test centre.

This guide covers which universities require a test for fall 2027, how the formats really differ, 2026–27 dates and fees, where to test if you live in Russia or elsewhere in the region, how to convert scores between the tests and how not to waste an attempt when sending scores.

The Reading Room of Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, a Gothic Revival hall for independent study, Seattle, USA. Photo: Priyaranjan Pattnayak / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suzzallo_Library_reading_room.jpg), [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

## SAT and ACT at a glance {#section-1}

| Item | SAT | ACT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sections | Reading and Writing, Math | English, Math, Reading; Science and Writing optional |
| Questions and time | 54 questions in 64 minutes + 44 in 70 minutes; 2 h 14 min plus a 10-minute break | English 50 in 35 minutes, Math 45 in 50, Reading 36 in 40; Science 40 in 40; Writing 40 minutes |
| Format | Digital, in the Bluebook app; the second module of each section adapts to your performance on the first | Outside the US, computer-based at a test centre only; everyone gets the same questions |
| Scale | 400–1600 (two sections of 200–800) | Composite 1–36, the average of English, Math and Reading; Science feeds only a separate STEM score |
| Fee outside the US | $68 + $43 international fee = $111 | $188.50; with Science $198.50; with Writing $213.50; with both $223.50 |
| 2026–27 dates | 7 November, 5 December 2026; 6 March, 1 May, 5 June 2027 (3 October registration has closed) | 23–24 October, 11–12 December 2026; 12–13 February, 2–3 April, 11–12 June, 9–10 July 2027 |
| Score sending | Four reports free if ordered within 9 days of the test; then $15 each | Four colleges included in the fee; extra reports $20 |
| Centres in Russia | None | Check ACT's test-centre search when registering |

## Do you need a test at all? University rules for fall 2027 {#section-2}

First find out whether you need a test, then decide which one.

| University | First-year applicants | Transfer applicants |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MIT | SAT or ACT required | Required |
| Harvard | Required; in exceptional cases AP, IB, A-level or national leaving exams | Required |
| Cornell | Required | Not required |
| Dartmouth | Required; five ways to meet it for applicants from schools outside the US | — |
| Princeton | Optional in 2026–27; required from the 2027–28 cycle (fall 2028 entry) | Optional for 2026 and 2027 entry |
| Columbia | Optional in 2026–27; required from August 2027 | Same |
| University of California | Not considered for admission or scholarships | — |

Test-optional does not mean useless. Where tests are optional, a strong score can help and a weak one can be withheld. For scholarships, a score sometimes decides on its own: some public universities publish automatic merit awards tied to SAT or ACT bands for international students.

## How the formats really differ {#section-3}

### Pace

Divide the time by the number of questions and the difference is clear:

| Section | Seconds per question |
| --- | --- |
| SAT Reading and Writing | about 71 |
| SAT Math | about 95 |
| ACT English | about 42 |
| ACT Math | about 67 |
| ACT Reading | about 67 |
| ACT Science | about 60 |

The SAT gives more time per question, but passages are short and questions dense. The ACT demands a steady pace, especially in English. If time pressure makes you slip on easy items, that points to the SAT.

### Adaptivity

Each SAT section has two modules. The first mixes easy, medium and hard questions; the second becomes harder or easier depending on how you did. In practice, accuracy in the first module matters a lot. The ACT is the same for everyone, and every question weighs the same.

### Science

The ACT has a separate Science section: 40 questions on graphs, tables and experiment descriptions from biology, chemistry, physics and Earth sciences. Since September 2025 it has been optional and excluded from the composite, but it produces a separate STEM score. Most universities do not need it: MIT and Cornell say explicitly that they do not require it. The SAT has no separate science section.

### Calculator and device

For the ACT you may bring a permitted calculator, and the computer version has a built-in one. The SAT runs in Bluebook on your own device or one borrowed from College Board; device loans must be requested at least 30 days before test day.

## Dates and registration for 2026–27 {#section-4}

SAT (the same dates for US and international students; 22 August and 12 September 2026 have passed, and registration for 3 October closed on 22 September):

| Test date | Register by | Changes and late registration by |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7 November 2026 | 23 October | 27 October |
| 5 December 2026 | 20 November | 24 November |
| 6 March 2027 | 19 February | 23 February |
| 1 May 2027 | 16 April | 20 April |
| 5 June 2027 | 21 May | 25 May |

ACT outside the US (each date is a two-day window with morning and afternoon sessions):

| Dates | Register by | Late (extra fee) by | Initial scores |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 23–24 October 2026 | 25 September | 9 October | 29 October |
| 11–12 December 2026 | 13 November | 27 November | 17 December |
| 12–13 February 2027 | 15 January | 29 January | 18 February |
| 2–3 April 2027 | 5 March | 19 March | 8 April |
| 11–12 June 2027 | 14 May | 28 May | 17 June |
| 9–10 July 2027 | 11 June | 25 June | 15 July |

ACT warns that scores usually arrive within days but occasionally take up to eight weeks, so the October ACT window is a risky choice for a 1 November early deadline.

## Where to test from Russia and neighbouring countries {#section-5}

College Board's test-centre search shows no SAT centres in Russia or Belarus for 3 October, 7 November and 5 December 2026 or 6 March 2027. For 7 November it lists: Kazakhstan 45 centres (Almaty, Astana and other cities), Uzbekistan 34, Azerbaijan 16 (Baku and Nakhchivan), Georgia 15 (Tbilisi, Batumi), Kyrgyzstan 7, Armenia 6 (Yerevan, Dilijan), Türkiye 97, the UAE 81, Serbia 1.

For applicants in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan, it is simply a test in their own city. For Russian residents, it is a trip: check entry rules, choose a city with seats and register as soon as possible, especially for November and December. If you need a second chance before January deadlines, test in November and keep December for a retake.

As a US organisation, College Board is bound by US sanctions rules and may block registrations or payments from sanctioned persons. That is not an obstacle for an ordinary student, but the payment itself must go through a legal route; see [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

Outside the US, the ACT is taken only on a computer at a test centre; there is no home version. Check ACT's test-centre search for your country before building your preparation around the ACT.

## How to choose: one full practice test of each {#section-6}

1. Take a full practice SAT in Bluebook with timing and the break, as on test day.
2. Take a full practice ACT. ACT's official "Preparing for the ACT" guide for 2026–27 includes a complete practice test, including Science and Writing.
3. Convert both results to one scale using the official concordance table below.
4. Compare how it felt, not just the scores. Where did you run out of time; which mistakes came from rushing and which from gaps.
5. Pick one test and prepare only for it. Preparing for both in parallel usually produces two average results.

| If you… | Better fit |
| --- | --- |
| Have strong algebra, read carefully, make mistakes when rushed | SAT |
| Read fast and handle graphs and tables confidently | ACT |
| Need scores for a 1 November early deadline with minimal travel | SAT: MIT and Harvard accept November scores, while the ACT has one pre-November window with a risk of delayed scores |
| Have no centres for one of the tests in your country | Whichever is available |
| Apply only to universities that do not need a test | Possibly neither; invest the time in English and essays |

## SAT–ACT score conversion {#section-7}

ACT and College Board published a joint concordance table in 2018; it is not updated annually. When a single number is needed, use these pairs:

| ACT | SAT |
| --- | --- |
| 36 | 1590 |
| 35 | 1540 |
| 34 | 1500 |
| 33 | 1460 |
| 32 | 1430 |
| 31 | 1400 |
| 30 | 1370 |
| 29 | 1340 |
| 28 | 1310 |
| 27 | 1280 |
| 26 | 1240 |
| 25 | 1210 |
| 24 | 1180 |

For a sense of competition: among students admitted to MIT for the Class of 2029, the middle 50% ranged from 780 to 800 in SAT Math, 740 to 780 in SAT Reading and Writing, and 34 to 36 on the ACT composite. That is not a cut-off: MIT says it has no cutoff or recommended SAT/ACT scores and reads them in context.

## Sending scores and superscoring {#section-8}

- Self-reporting. Harvard, Cornell and Dartmouth let you enter scores yourself and require official reports only after you enrol. Cornell warns that it may revoke an offer if official scores do not verify the self-reported ones.
- Free reports. Four SAT reports are free if ordered within nine days of the test; later, each costs $15. ACT includes four colleges in the fee if you list them at registration.
- Superscore. Many universities combine your best section scores across sittings. MIT considers the highest score in each section, Cornell the highest SAT sections and the ACT superscore, and Dartmouth superscores automatically. ACT calculates a superscore itself if you have at least two test events, and Science does not count toward it.
- All sittings. MIT asks you to list all official sittings, including planned ones, and not to enter a self-calculated superscore as a single sitting.

## A preparation plan by deadline {#section-9}

| Goal | SAT | ACT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Early deadline, 1 November 2026 | 7 November (register by 23 October): MIT and Harvard accept November scores for early applications | 23–24 October window (register by 25 September, late until 9 October), but scores may be delayed |
| Regular deadline, early January 2027 | 7 November or 5 December | 23–24 October or 11–12 December |
| Transfer in spring 2027 | By 6 March; MIT accepts transfer tests taken by 31 March | 12–13 February |
| Applying in autumn 2027 (a year earlier in school now) | Spring 2027 for a first attempt, autumn 2027 for a retake | April or June 2027, then October |

Getting from scratch to a strong score usually takes several months of regular work; the gap between your diagnostic result and your target will tell you more precisely.

## If you cannot take the SAT or ACT {#section-10}

- Apply where tests are optional or not considered: Princeton and Columbia in 2026–27, the University of California.
- Dartmouth accepts from students at schools outside the US three AP exams, IB or A-level results (predicted grades are fine for these) or final results of a national exam standardised across a country or region. Predicted national exam results do not count, and if results arrive after February, Dartmouth asks you to use another option — which rules out national exams taken at the end of the final school year in many countries.
- Harvard, in exceptional cases when tests are inaccessible, accepts AP, IB, A-level or national exam results and lets you explain the situation. If you can realistically take a test, it still expects one.

## Common mistakes {#section-11}

- Preparing for both tests at once. The formats differ, and parallel preparation eats time.
- Registering late. November SAT registration closes on 23 October, and a trip abroad still has to be planned.
- October ACT for an early deadline. Scores may arrive after 1 November.
- Paying for Science and Writing "just in case". Most universities do not need them, and they add $10–35.
- Missing the free SAT reports. After nine days, each report costs $15.
- Entering a self-calculated superscore. Report results the way each university asks; mismatches with official scores are risky.
- Choosing by other people's opinions. One full practice test of each tells you more than a dozen reviews.

## How StudyU can help {#section-12}

Only the initial consultation is free. University selection that accounts for testing rules, a testing and application calendar, document planning and application support are provided under an agreement with StudyU. Scores are issued by College Board and ACT, and admission decisions are made by universities. See also [applying to US universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-us-universities), [US university after 11 years of school](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-us-university-after-11-years-of-school) and [Study in the USA](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-usa).

## FAQ {#faq}

### Which is easier, the SAT or the ACT?

Neither is easier overall. The SAT is shorter and gives more time per question; the ACT moves faster and includes an optional Science section. Universities accept both equally, so choose based on one full practice test of each.

### Which test do US universities prefer?

Neither. Dartmouth, for example, states explicitly that it has no preference, and the official concordance table lets you compare scores across the two tests.

### Can I take the SAT in Russia?

No. For the autumn 2026 dates, College Board lists no test centres in Russia or Belarus. The nearest centres are in Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye.

### How much do the SAT and ACT cost outside the US?

The SAT costs $111 ($68 plus a $43 international fee), with an extra $24 at some centres. The ACT costs $188.50 for English, Math and Reading; $198.50 with Science, $213.50 with Writing and $223.50 with both.

### Do I need ACT Science?

Usually not. Since September 2025 it has been optional and excluded from the composite. MIT and Cornell do not require it; if your universities do not ask for Science, do not pay for it.

### How many times should I take the SAT?

Most applicants plan two attempts: the first with time to spare before the deadline, the second as a safety net. Many universities superscore, but MIT, for example, asks you to list all official sittings, so do not sit the real test unprepared "just to see".

### What SAT score do selective universities expect?

Leading universities publish no minimums. For reference, the middle 50% of students admitted to MIT for the Class of 2029 scored 780–800 in SAT Math and 740–780 in Reading and Writing. Less selective universities expect less; check each university's own statistics.

## Sources {#section-14}

- [College Board: SAT structure](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/whats-on-the-test/structure), [2026–27 dates](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/dates-deadlines), [international fees](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/international-testing/fees), [international policies](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/international-testing/policies), [test-centre search](https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/test-center-search) — checked 24 September 2026
- [ACT: non-US registration and dates](https://global.act.org/content/global/en/products-and-services/the-act-non-us/registration.html), [non-US fees](https://global.act.org/content/global/en/products-and-services/the-act-non-us/registration/fees.html), [test enhancements](https://global.act.org/content/global/en/products-and-services/the-act-non-us/test-preparation/test-enhancements.html), [scores](https://global.act.org/content/global/en/products-and-services/the-act-non-us/scores/understanding-your-scores.html), [sending scores and superscore](https://global.act.org/content/global/en/products-and-services/the-act-non-us/scores/sending-your-scores.html), [online testing](https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-changes.html), ["Preparing for the ACT" 2026–27](https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Preparing-for-the-ACT.pdf), [ACT–SAT concordance](https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/scores/act-sat-concordance.html) — checked 24 September 2026
- [MIT: tests](https://mitadmissions.org/apply/firstyear/tests-scores/) and [transfer](https://mitadmissions.org/apply/transfer/deadlines/); [Harvard: requirements](https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/application-requirements) and [dates](https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/apply/first-year-applicants); [MIT: admissions statistics](https://mitadmissions.org/apply/process/stats/) — checked 24 September 2026
- [Cornell: testing](https://admissions.cornell.edu/policies/standardized-testing-policy); [Dartmouth: testing](https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/testing-policy); [Princeton: testing](https://admission.princeton.edu/apply/standardized-testing); [Columbia: testing](https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/apply/process/testing); [University of California: SAT/ACT not considered](https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-freshman/filling-out-the-application.html) — checked 24 September 2026

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [US University After 11 Years of School: How to Apply From an 11-Year System](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-us-university-after-11-years-of-school)
- [Applying to US Universities: Step-by-Step Plan, Documents and 2027 Deadlines](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-us-universities)
- [How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia)
- [Studying in the USA for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-usa)
- [Bachelor's Degree in the USA: How It Works, What It Costs and How to Apply for 2027](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-the-usa)
- [Financial Aid for International Students in the USA: Need-Based Grants, Merit Scholarships and Assistantships](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-financial-aid-for-international-students-usa)

Updated: September 2026