While both are accepted by an increasing number of business schools, they cater to slightly different skill sets and are viewed differently by admissions committees.

Let’s break down the key factors you should consider when making this crucial decision.

1. Business School Preferences

First and foremost, check the admissions criteria of the schools you’re targeting. While many business schools accept both the GMAT and GRE, some might prefer one over the other. Schools will often provide guidance on their websites, or you can contact the admissions office directly.

2. Career Goals

If you’re targeting a specific industry post-MBA, it might be worthwhile to see if there’s a prevailing preference among potential employers. Some recruiters in the finance and consulting sectors, for instance, have been known to ask that GMAT scores be included on applicants’ resumes.

3. Test Structures And Your Skill Set

Evaluate your strengths. If you’re stronger in critical thinking, the GMAT might be a better showcase of your skills. However, if you have a liberal arts background or are more comfortable with vocabulary-based questions, the GRE might give you a better avenue in which to excel.

4. Flexibility For Other Graduate Programs

If you’re considering multiple graduate programs beyond an MBA, such as a dual degree in public policy or international relations, the GRE offers broader acceptance across various programs.

5. Test-Taking Experience

If you have previously taken one of these tests for another application, consider your comfort level and previous performance. If you have already prepared for and taken the GRE, for example, it might be easier to improve on that rather than starting fresh with the GMAT.

Weigh The Options

Choosing the GRE or GMAT is an individual decision based on various factors, including your school choices, career aspirations, skill set, and personal preferences. Do your research, possibly take a practice test of each to gauge your comfort level and consult with mentors or advisors. Remember, the goal is to present your best self to the admissions committee.

In Minnesota, the ACT has traditionally been the test of choice. Enter the new digital SAT. Students have quickly learned it is a shorter test and that has begun to drive demand. And while it’s true that the new SAT is indeed shorter, it’s also harder.

You might be familiar with the SAT college entrance exam, but perhaps the term “Digital SAT” is new to you. To understand the difference between the old paper version of the SAT and its new digital format, check out our article, “Understanding The Paper SAT vs. The New Digital SAT”.

This quick comparison of the digital SAT vs ACT can help determine which will be best for your student.

Pros of the Digital SAT vs. ACT

1. Shorter Test = More Time To Answer.

Students who take the SAT have a better chance of avoiding test exhaustion with the shorter exam duration. They also have more time to answer each question, reducing the stress of time management.

2. Digital Format For Digital Natives.

Taking an exam on an electronic device such as a laptop, Chromebook, or iPad is now normal for many students, and will likely be more comfortable and familiar for students than a paper test.

·While the ACT also has a digital option, it is not available in all locations.

3. Adapts To Student Ability.

The adaptive test format means that SAT sections (reading/writing and math) are comprised of two stages:

A student who does well in the first stage will receive a more challenging second stage–a key part of achieving a higher score. For a student who struggles with the first stage, the SAT software will deliver an easier second stage, to better gauge actual ability level and help prevent the student from leaving the test feeling deflated.

Cons of the Digital SAT vs. ACT

More Time To Answer = More Complex Questions

Because students have more time to answer, SAT developers are known to include some unique and sometimes unfamiliar approaches to testing concepts. Some questions require students to reason through SAT questions vs. simply choosing straightforward answers, and test-takers may find the question formats different than what they’re used to in the school setting. This makes practice testing important, to build familiarity with the testing approach.

Scoring Impact Of Weighted Questions.

Questions on the ACT are weighted equally – the easiest question on the test is worth just as much as the most difficult question on the test – so it is possible to guess on the most challenging questions and still receive a strong score. That is not the case with the SAT. It is a more sophisticated test where some questions count for nothing; others are more heavily weighted. Careful answers are required throughout the SAT exam as errors on some questions can be quite costly.

Limited Availability.

At this time in Minnesota, seats for the SAT are limited, and students may have to wait to test. SAT popularity has increased with the digital rollout, and schools are not yet meeting current demand. Based on our conversations with schools around the Metro Area, it can be challenging to offer the new digital SAT since students need to show up to the testing site with fully charged testing devices that have the appropriate software already loaded. We’ll all have to stay tuned to see if availability improves.

The Digital SAT vs ACT: Still Not Sure?

Your student can take both a practice digital SAT and a practice ACT exam with us to see which is a better fit. Flying Colors offers practice exams every weekend of the year.

You can learn more and register here. Check it out and start answering the “which test to take” question with confidence.

A More Flexible Exam

Are you ready for a “new and improved” ACT test? Changes coming to the new ACT exam in April 2025 should help to address two often-cited drawbacks of the test: stressful time constraints and a mandatory science section.

Test scores will still be reported on the current scale of 1-36, and online testing will continue to be offered in select locations, but the content and structure of the new exam will be noticeably different.

The New ACT Core Test

If the ACT makes good on its promises (and that’s a big “if”), students testing in Spring 2025 will enjoy a shorter core ACT test— just two hours instead of the current three—with sections in English, math, and reading.

The reduced testing time is a result of three updates: fewer questions in each section, shorter passages in the reading and English sections, and the elimination of science as a required section. With these changes, students will have more time to answer each question

Science Optional

Along with the current optional writing section, the science section will also become optional beginning in April 2025 according to the ACT’s proposal. This change will likely make the new ACT more appealing to students who might typically choose the SAT due to a lack of confidence in their science knowledge.

While there may still be colleges that require the ACT science section, the core ACT exam will be on a more even playing field with the SAT exam for those who do not identify science as a key skill or interest.

Greater Flexibility

With flexible options for added subject testing, the new ACT will offer students the opportunity to “focus on their strengths and showcase their abilities in the best possible way.” Students will have four testing options: the core ACT, the ACT plus writing, the ACT plus science, or the ACT plus both writing and science.

A Student-Centered Approach

Over the years, the ACT has had to overcome several perceived weaknesses of its test, including difficult pacing, the reluctance of some students to be tested on science, and even questions about the reliability and accuracy of the science section itself.

With the new optional science section and a shorter core exam, the new ACT has taken a step towards addressing these concerns and offering a testing experience with more appeal to a broader audience of college applicants.

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Will The ACT Be Shorter Soon? The June 8 ACT Surprise

Some students who took the newly available digital version of the ACT on June 8, 2024 were surprised when given their testing instructions and overview that morning. It turns out that what ACT has described as a “randomized subset” of testers that day were served a newer, shorter version of the test.

Why The Change? Likely To Keep Up With Its Competition, The SAT.

When the College Board rolled out its adaptive, digital SAT in March 2024, it was quickly embraced by today’s students. As one of the earliest digital-native generations, rising high school juniors and seniors have more experience testing and learning in online environments than they do with traditional pen-to-paper formats. Their preference for digital college-entrance exams is not surprising.

If Comparing Simply On Digital + Duration Time: The SAT Wins.

The digital format was not the only benefit students saw in taking the SAT over the ACT. The test duration, 134 minutes and 98 questions for the SAT vs. 175 minutes and 215 questions for the ACT is also more student friendly. The ACT may sense that it didn’t go far enough by simply offering its exam online.

Yes, The New SAT is Shorter But It’s Also More Difficult.

Because students have more time to answer, SAT developers are known to include sometimes unfamiliar approaches to testing concepts. Test-takers may find the question formats different from what they’re used to in the school setting.

In addition, while all ACT questions are weighted equally – that is, the easiest question is worth just as much as the most difficult question – the new SAT includes questions whose worth varies. Some questions count for nothing; others are more heavily weighted.

What Does This Mean For My Student?

While the SAT has always been popular on the national level, Minnesota students have largely preferred the ACT – until now. The appeal of the SAT’s digital format had our state’s students scrambling to find seats at SAT sites last spring, and often being disappointed with the lack of availability due to the sudden increase in demand.

SAT availability is still not on par with the ACT, so if timing is important, the ACT may be your best option. And we’re hopeful that the ACT is on its way to creating an exam that is just as appealing as the new SAT. As always, we’re here to help you assess the current state of this ever-changing landscape to help you find the best option.

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Now, besides worrying about ACT or SAT testing itself, families must worry about making other big decisions: to test or not to test, and whether to report scores or withhold them from the application.

Applying To Test Optional Schools: The Flying Colors Point Of View

Even when applying to test optional schools, we maintain that test scores are best used as one piece of a college application portfolio. Test scores add further support for a student’s GPA and other qualifications. But, unlike a GPA, test scores can be improved in a relatively short period of time.

When there is a discrepancy between a student’s GPA and test scores, good test prep can help a student close that gap and improve scores to better reflect their academic abilities.

Strategies For The Test-Optional Environment

If your student will be applying to some test-optional schools, here are a few things you should know:

Conclusion: Exam Scores Still Help, Even With Test Optional Schools

Despite what may feel like uncertain territory with the new test-optional admissions model, good grades supported by good test scores remain among the best ways to achieve success in the college application process – whether or not you’re applying to test optional schools.

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Here are five tips to follow prior to your first college entrance exam registration!

1. Don’t Take A Real ACT Or SAT To Establish A Baseline Score.

Rather than take a real exam to get baseline results, start by taking a practice test with Flying Colors. We offer full-length proctored practice exams EVERY weekend, and you’ll receive scores in a few days…not in a few weeks.

Our practice exams are real tests administered under the same time constraints as an actual test day, and results are comparable to the real test environment. Practice testing lets your student maximize every testing opportunity rather than “wasting” a real test for data we can help you obtain.

When the actual exam registration time comes around, your student will be prepared and confident. Click here to register for a practice exam with us.

2. Summertime Is Ideal Test Prep Time.

Most students – whether rising juniors or seniors – benefit from doing exam prep during the summer, when their schedules are less busy. Shifting some of the test prep work they will do during the school year to the summer can help to ease a busy student’s schedule in the fall.

3. Test Scores Can Yield Scholarships. Wait, What?

It’s true. Not all, but many outstanding colleges and universities offer merit scholarships. Competitive test scores and GPAs can help students secure these coveted scholarships.

4. Double The Odds.

If your student has completed exam registration for an in-school ACT in March or April, we recommend signing your student up for the April national ACT as well. Especially if they are doing test prep, this gives your student the opportunity to get two shots at reaching their best score potential.

Because over 400 schools now superscore the ACT, students will also have twice the number of chances to improve their individual section scores and boost their superscore.

5. Taking The July ACT? Sign Up EARLY.

If your student intends to take the July ACT, do not wait until the June deadline for your exam registration. Relatively few testing sites offer the July ACT, so the Twin Cities sites typically reach capacity quickly. In fact, in recent years, students have had to travel to Duluth, Rochester, Hudson and northern Iowa to find a place with open seats in July.

Ready To Prep For Your Exam? Get Started With Flying Colors.

As Minnesota’s leader in college entrance exam test preparation and tutoring, Flying Colors is ready to help your student shine to their full potential.  To get in touch with us, please email [email protected], and we’ll follow up within one day.