The new test will be worth a total of 2,400 points. Zeitlin said the grammar section will account for more than 500 points — which can make the difference between a student's first-choice college versus a backup school.

Shelly Bennion, Kaplan's Utah/Idaho director, said most Utah students to take the ACT to get into state schools, though most colleges across the United States will accept both.

"But students have been researching more and more and coming into our centers and taking practice exams to find out what their best option is — whether it be the SAT or ACT — so that they can take the test that best fits them," Bennion said.

Zeitlin said that last year nationally 1.2 million students took the ACT and 1.4 million took the SAT. The changes to the SAT were approved by The College Board, which writes the test.

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