<p>does MIT (or most other schools for that matter) prefer 1 to the other? or are both of them looked upon as equal? Why are there more people nationwide that take the SAT than the ACT?</p>
<p>Either test is acceptable. There are, I believe, a few schools here and there that do not accept the ACT, but everybody takes the SAT. On the other hand, some schools don't make you take SAT 2s if you do the ACT, so you could save yourself some testing if you do well on the ACT. Also, to compare the two, I've heard the ACT has easier sections, but of course more of them, while the SAT is more rigorous but only tests Math, Reading and Writing (so if you have a mental block when it comes to Science or Social Studies, nobody will know).</p>
<p>It's your preference. Are you a person that prefers easier questions, but more of them? Then take the ACT (time constraints are crazy). OR would you rather want more difficult questions (not that much more difficult), but more time? The SAT would fit you in this case.</p>
<p>Matt McGann and Ben Jones have said multiple times in the past that MIT does not prefer one test over the other, so take either. Note however that if you take the ACT instead of the SAT I, you are still required to submit SAT II Subject Test scores for a math test and a science test.</p>