# Should I retake the ACT or try the SAT instead?

**URL:** <https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/should-i-retake-the-act-or-try-the-sat-instead/7527>\
**Category:** Answers\
**Tags:** sat-retake, sat-writing, act-writing, act-retake, sat-scores, act-scores, act, sat\
**Created:** [January 25, 2016, 10:17am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/should-i-retake-the-act-or-try-the-sat-instead/7527 "2016-01-25T10:17:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sam\_prepscholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@sam\_prepscholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/sam_prepscholar)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 10:17am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/should-i-retake-the-act-or-try-the-sat-instead/7527/1 "2016-01-25T10:17:13Z")

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I got a 30 on the ACT, but I didn't take it with Writing. I wasn't expecting to get this high of a score the first time around, so I figured it was fine to save Writing for a retake.

At this point, I have to either take the ACT again with Writing or take the SAT. I'm thinking maybe I should go with the SAT because I'm better in English/Reading, and I know the SAT slightly favors that type of student. Then again, I'm more familiar with the ACT since I've already taken it.

What should I do? And will colleges consider my SAT essay score alongside my high ACT score if I take the SAT and get a less impressive score overall?

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**Author:** ![sam\_prepscholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@sam\_prepscholar](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/u/sam_prepscholar)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 10:30am UTC](https://experthub.prepscholar.com/t/should-i-retake-the-act-or-try-the-sat-instead/7527/2 "2016-01-25T10:30:18Z")

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**I would advise you to stick with the ACT.** [The new SAT is similar to the ACT in many ways](https://blog.prepscholar.com/complete-guide-to-the-new-sat-in-2016), so you're unlikely to gain anything by switching over. With the elimination of a separate Writing score, the SAT no longer favors students who are better at English and Reading. [The Math sections on the new SAT](https://blog.prepscholar.com/new-sat-math) test essentially the same concepts as the ACT math section). Your best chance of getting a higher overall score lies in retaking the ACT because you already have experience with the timing and format. **To answer your follow up question, in the event that you did choose to take the SAT, colleges wouldn't look at your [SAT essay score](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-get-a-perfect-sat-essay-score) in conjunction with your current ACT score.** There is no cross-test [superscoring.](https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-does-act-superscoring-affect-your-test-strategy)

**If you're still concerned that you might be throwing away an opportunity for a higher score on the SAT, I'd recommend taking a real timed [SAT practice test](https://blog.prepscholar.com/complete-official-sat-practice-tests-free-links) to get a sense of how your scores would look.** That way you can make a decision that's directly informed by your personal experiences rather than just adhering to generalized advice about [which test is better for which types of students.](https://blog.prepscholar.com/should-you-take-the-act-or-the-new-2016-a-guide) If you'd like to compare your SAT practice test score to your ACT score, the College Board recently released [concordance tables](https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/higher-ed-brief-sat-concordance.pdf) to help with these conversions. **A 30 composite score on the ACT is approximately equivalent to a 1400 on the new SAT.**