For many homeschool families, standardized testing creates one more senior-year decision: Should my student take the ACT, the SAT, or both? There is no automatic “homeschool test.” Your student does not need to choose one test simply because they were homeschooled. The better question is which test format allows your student to show what they know most effectively, and which scores are useful for the colleges, scholarships, honors programs, or other opportunities they are considering.

The ACT and SAT have both changed significantly in recent years, so advice from an older sibling, friend, or even a test-prep book from a few years ago may be outdated.

Start With the Current Tests

The SAT is now a digital, adaptive test with two sections: Reading and Writing, and Math. It takes 2 hours and 14 minutes of testing time and includes 98 questions total. Each section has two modules, and performance on the first module helps determine the difficulty of the second. SAT scores range from 400 to 1600.

The current ACT has three core sections: English, Math, and Reading. The core test takes about 2 hours and 5 minutes. Science is optional for national testing, as is Writing, and the ACT Composite score is calculated from English, Math, and Reading rather than including Science. ACT section and Composite scores remain on the familiar 1–36 scale.

ACT vs. SAT at a Glance

Which Test Fits Your Student Better?

The best way to choose is not by asking which test is supposedly “easier.” Neither test is easier for every student.

The SAT may be a better fit for a student who:

• Likes having a little more time to think through individual questions.

• Is comfortable testing on a computer.

• Prefers shorter reading passages rather than long reading sections.

The digital SAT uses short passages or passage pairs followed by a single Reading and Writing question, rather than the long reading sections many parents remember from older versions of the SAT.

The ACT may be a better fit for a student who:

• Works quickly and is comfortable with faster pacing.

• Prefers a more traditional, linear testing format.

• Simply performs better with the ACT style of questioning.

Homeschool students taking the national ACT can choose paper or online testing where online testing is available, and they may choose whether to add the Science section.

Students considering science, engineering, health professions, or other STEM areas may also want to consider taking ACT Science even though it is no longer part of the Composite score. ACT still reports a separate Science score and a STEM score when Science is taken. Individual colleges and programs may establish their own policies about whether they want or use that information.

Do Not Choose Based on Someone Else’s Score

A student who earns a strong ACT score may not earn an equally strong SAT score without changing anything about what they know. The tests present material differently, pace students differently, and use different scoring systems.A much better strategy is to take one official, timed practice SAT and one official, timed practice ACT before committing significant time or money to preparation.

Try to recreate real testing conditions. Use the correct time limits, take the permitted breaks, and avoid stopping to look up answers.

Then look beyond the raw score. Ask:

• Which test produced the stronger result?

• On which test did the student feel less rushed?

• Which types of questions caused the most trouble?

• Did the student finish each section?

• Which test would require less work to improve?

That gives you much more useful information than simply asking another family which test they liked.

What About Test-Optional Colleges?

Do not assume that “test optional” means standardized testing no longer matters. Admissions policies vary by college, and score requirements can be different for admission, merit scholarships, honors programs, athletic programs, course placement, or particular majors. A school may allow a student to apply without a test score while a scholarship the student wants still considers one. Before deciding to skip testing entirely, check the current policy for each college and each major scholarship your student is seriously considering.

For seniors, deadlines matter too. Look at the last ACT or SAT date whose scores will arrive in time for the student’s earliest application or scholarship deadline before choosing a test date.

Don’t Miss the Fee Waiver

If testing costs are a concern, check fee-waiver eligibility before paying out of pocket. Homeschooled students can qualify for both SAT and ACT fee waivers based on financial need.

SAT fee waiver

Eligible low-income 11th- and 12th-grade homeschool students can request a fee waiver directly from College Board or obtain a code through a local high school counselor. College Board instructs homeschool students to use 970000, Home School, as their high school code in the My SAT profile when requesting fee-waiver benefits.

The SAT fee waiver can cover two SAT Weekend registrations, and eligible students may also receive additional benefits such as college application fee waivers.

ACT fee waiver

Eligible 11th- and 12th-grade students can receive up to two ACT fee waivers. For the 2026–27 testing year, the waiver covers the ACT registration fee plus optional Science and Writing add-ons and includes additional score-report and test-prep benefits.

ACT’s homeschool guidance directs eligible homeschool students to contact a local school to request a waiver, with ACT Customer Support available if assistance is needed.

A Few Things Homeschool Families Should Know

• SAT school code: For SAT Weekend registration, College Board instructs homeschooled students to enter 970000 as their high school code.

• Accommodations: Homeschool students with documented disabilities can apply for ACT accommodations even when they do not attend a traditional school, although families may need to submit documentation directly.

• Keep your records: Save registrations, accommodation approvals, score reports, login information, and application deadlines with the rest of the student’s senior records.

What If Your Student Has Already Taken One Test?

You probably do not need to start over simply because someone tells you the other test is better. If your student already has an ACT or SAT score that works well for their goals, it may make more sense to concentrate on improving that score rather than preparing for an entirely different exam. Both tests also provide ways for students to benefit from strong performances across multiple testing dates. ACT produces an official Superscore using a student’s highest English, Math, and Reading section scores across test attempts. Colleges determine their own policies for how they use superscores and score reports, so always check the institution’s current requirements.

For the Class of 2027

If your senior has not taken either test yet, do not panic. Start with the student’s actual post-graduation plans.

If the student is applying to colleges or scholarships where a score could be useful, identify the deadlines first. Then take practice tests, choose the better-fitting exam, and schedule a test date that leaves enough time for scores to be reported and, if possible, another attempt if the student wants one.

If standardized testing is not relevant to the student’s next step, there is no reason to build senior year around a test simply because traditional-school students are taking it.

The goal is not to collect every possible credential.

The goal is to make sure your graduate has the records, scores, documentation, and opportunities that support the path they are actually pursuing.

Remember

ACT versus SAT is not a decision about which student is “better” at school. It is a decision about format, goals, timing, and which test gives that particular student the best opportunity to demonstrate what they know.