SAT or ACT...Which one should I take?

I am sure this is a question that most rising juniors and even some seniors are constantly asking themselves.  We, at the UNC Wilmington Undergraduate Admissions Office are happy to finally lay to rest this age-old question troubling high school students across the nation.  Our answer is that we recommend taking whichever of the two standardized tests you feel most comfortable taking.   Not quite the earth shattering answer you were expecting, huh?  The reasoning behind our answer is that the SAT and ACT are structured differently, and therefore how well you do on the SAT or ACT will be based on your own personal areas of strength.  The SAT is an aptitude test while the ACT is an achievement test.  To begin learning more about the differences between the SAT and ACT, we recommend starting with the Kaplan and Princeton Review websites. 

Advice from the UNCW Admission Committee

Take standardized tests at least twice before sending results to colleges. Review all scores and consult with your counselor and college admission offices to discuss the options below for reporting your scores:

• SAT score choice can reduce test-day anxiety by allowing you to choose the SAT scores by test date to send to colleges or universities at no additional cost.


• If you submit all SAT test scores, most universities will select the highest of each section, possibly from different test dates, to create your highest overall score.


• As an alternative to SAT, the ACT with writing exam is offered at various high schools in your area as well as at UNCW. Unlike SAT, admissions offices are unable to choose the highest score from the ACT sub sections from different test dates; they will simply take the highest composite score.


• UNCW encourages SAT score choice. Should your scores fall outside of our average, hold your scores and consider taking the ACT with writing exam. Send in only your highest score from the ACT with writing or submit several SAT scores for us to create your highest overall score.

 What we are looking for...


At UNC Wilmington, we accept both the SAT and the ACT.  The middle 50% of the current incoming class scored between 1130-1250 on the SAT. Please be mindful that this score only reflects the critical reading and math portions of the test.  As for the ACT, we require that students take the ACT with writing.  The middle 50% for the ACT composite score is between 23-28 for the current incoming class. 

UNCW ACT code – 3174

UNCW SAT code – 5907