With the recently held October SAT Reasoning Test, Pawtucket college fair, college application meetings, and graduation slowly approaching, SAT’s and ACT’s are on many students’ minds. Some parents and teachers recommend students to take both the SAT and ACT, while others recommend to choose one and prepare for it thoroughly. Confusion, stress, and frustration over deciding which test to take will eventually lead a student to walk into the test center for both the SAT and ACT, not knowing what to expect from either. Nowadays, nearly every college will accept the scores from either test. So, why are there two different standardized tests and how does a student decide which one to take?

The SAT is widely known as the main test required by most colleges to measure the academic reasoning of students. It is scored out of 2400 points, each section being scored on a 200-800 point scale. The SAT consists of a required essay, math, reading, and critical writing sections, and has a stronger emphasis on vocabulary. The three main sections are broken into ten smaller sections that last 10-25 minutes. There is no science section. The SAT is a better choice over the ACT for students who are more detail oriented, who are stronger in vocabulary and grammar, and who have sharp reasoning skills and common sense.

The ACT is not talked about as much as the SAT, but is nonetheless accepted by almost all colleges as a measure of the academic aptitude of students. It consists of four sections-math, english, reading, and science, each scored out of 1-36. The final ACT score is the average score of the four sections. ACT questions are more direct, and tend to include more advanced math concepts.

One main difference between the SAT and the ACT is the science section. Senior Tristan Laughlin said, “I took both the ACT and SAT and thought the SAT better suited me. The science section had difficult analytical questions and I felt as though I was not given enough time to complete it.” Another difference is the optional essay. Although many colleges will ask a student to complete the ACT essay, it is not mandatory. The ACT focuses on the composite score more than each individual section. Students who are more apt in the subjects of math and science, who are not as detail oriented, who look at the “big picture” of things and who better understand simpler, more straightforward questions should consider taking the ACT.

Standardized testing can be stressful and difficult, so take the time to learn what kind of student you are and how you learn best.  Keeping in mind that every student is unique and processes information differently, it is relieving to know that most colleges today will accept the scores from either the ACT or SAT. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help you decide which standardized test to take, and choosing the right test will give you more successful results and a greater chance at the college of your dreams.