<p>i took them each once and listed both on the common app, although one's just slightly better. so do i need to submit both score reports or just the better one?</p>
<p>You only need to list the tests that you are going to send. No schools require both ACT and SAT. However, some require that if you submit the ACT it must be with writing, and some require SAT II scores, so be sure to double check what is required at each school. It’s fine to choose the better of the two and send just the one even if you report both on the app. </p>
<p>I could think up reasons to send both sets of scores, but for the most part sending both won’t help you. Most schools will just look at the higher scores as between the two tests (although a very few will cross-superscore the subsections from both ACT and SAT). </p>
<p>One possibile reason for sending both would be if you SAT is higher than your ACT but you have a very strong Science subscore on the ACT. If you transcript has some lower grades in Science, you might submit the SAT because of the high scores and also the ACT to show that you have mastered the science material despite your lower grades.</p>