Table of Contents
- Why the Switch from ACT to SAT?
- What Makes the SAT Different from the ACT?
- Benefits for Kentucky Students
- Will Colleges Accept the SAT?
- What Students and Parents Should Know?
As a state-funded admission exam, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will start taking the SAT instead of the ACT beginning in spring 2026.
On June 30, 2025, the contract between the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and ACT will officially end. Now Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) thinks that it will be better for the department and also for students if they start taking the SAT instead of the ACT.
That’s why they just made a deal for 4 years with the College Board, which runs the SAT.
Why the Switch from ACT to SAT?
According to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), the main reason to switch to the SAT is that it will help save around $350,000 annually for the next 4 years.
It means the cost of the SAT exam will be around $30 per student for the next 4 years.
What Makes the SAT Different from the ACT?
SAT and ACT are both exam formats used nationwide for admissions. But these two exams have some differences:
The SAT exam is generally taken on a digital platform.The ACT exam is paper-based.
The SAT exam is generally shorter than the ACT exam.The SAT results are published earlier compared to the ACT because the SAT is digital.
The SAT exam has Reading, Writing, and Math sections.The ACT exam has Reading, Writing, Math, and Science sections.
In the SAT exam, the reading passages are shorter compared to the ACT. Because in the SAT, there is usually one question per passage, while in the ACT, there can be 10 questions from one long passage.
Benefits for Kentucky Students
Robbie Fletcher, Kentucky’s Education Commissioner, said the SAT exam will be more beneficial for students compared to the ACT exam.
Because with the SAT, students can prepare themselves by following Khan Academy lessons for free. Also, they will get free access to the College Board’s Bluebook testing app.
The SAT exam is considered more student-friendly, and the results are believed to be more reliable compared to the ACT exam.
Will Colleges Accept the SAT?
In the U.S., the SAT is accepted nationwide. Many top universities in Kentucky already accept the SAT, like:
1. University of Louisville (UofL)
2. University of Kentucky (UK)
3. Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)
4. Western Kentucky University (WKU)
Students will not face any disadvantages by taking the SAT. It is accepted nationwide in the U.S. and is also internationally recognized.
What Students and Parents Should Know?
All Kentucky students will be required to take the SAT starting in spring 2026. For SAT preparation, all materials will be available in Khan Academy and the Bluebook app for free.This new system will help save taxpayer money and also help students integrate better with technology.