ACT or SAT: What's the most accepted college admission test?

Hello, I'm a junior starting to think about college admissions tests. Which among the ACT or SAT is the most accepted or preferred by colleges? Any useful tips for preparing for the chosen test would also be appreciated.

The simple answer is that all colleges in the United States equally accept both the ACT and SAT. There isn't one test that is more accepted or preferred by colleges over the other. What matters more is the result you achieve on the test you take, and how that aligns with the score ranges of colleges you're considering.

One common advice to decide which test to take is to try a practice test of both the ACT and SAT. From this, you can tell which exam aligns better with your strengths. For example, the SAT is more focused on reasoning and problem-solving while the ACT tends to be more straightforward, testing what you've learned in school.

For your second question, a generally effective way to prepare would be to understand the structure of the test you choose, discover your weak areas, and target those areas specifically in your study. A study schedule is paramount and slowly ramping up your effort as the test day approaches helps. Also, make use of test prep resources such as CollegeBoard and ACT.org, or third party test prep companies if you're interested. Remember, taking official practice tests under timed conditions is the most effective way to prepare for the real test.

If you're looking for a more holistic, non-test focused evaluation of your college admission chances, CollegeVine has a free chancing engine which might be useful to you. It takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurricular, and demographic information to calculate your chances of admission at hundreds of colleges.

Remember, standardized tests are just one component of your application. While it's important to prepare and aim to score decently, spend time on your essays, extracurriculars, and other components of your application as well. Good luck with your preparation!