McClatchy-Tribune

With struggling to balance homework, tests, projects, sports, jobs, and a social life ,the daily existence of a high school student is already stressful enough. On top of this, juniors and seniors are faced with yet another dilemma. How do you know if you should take the ACT or the SAT? The choice actually does not have to be that difficult if you know the facts.

Which Colleges Prefer Which Test?
All colleges will accept either the SAT or ACT, so it is important to choose a test based on your own strengths and weaknesses. It is a common misconception that more selective schools on the east or west coast only take SAT results when accepting applications.

In the New York Times, Marlyn McGrath-Lewis , director of admissions at Harvard, reassures students that choosing one test over the other does not give them an advantage.

“Since it’s a choice you can make, it has the feeling of being a significant choice, fraught with implication, but I don’t think it does matter,” Mcgrath said.

What Makes the Tests Different?
According to the Princeton Review, the ACT typically has more straightforward questions that may be easier to comprehend right away, whereas the SAT requires more thought to figure out what questions are asking. The New York Times says that the ACT tends to be more strictly curriculum-based, and the SAT focuses more on logical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Another way to consider the tests is to compare the fact that the SAT is broken up into more, smaller sections than the ACT. However, when looking at scores, it is those individual section scores that really matter with the SAT as opposed to the ACT, which is evaluated by looking at the overall composite score you earn.

Which Test Is Better for Me?
The SAT has a stronger emphasis on vocabulary and does not include a science section, so it may be more favorable for those who excel in English or struggle with science.

The ACT features more advanced math problems and does not have a required writing portion, so it may appeal to students whose strengths are in math and science.

The ACT lasts a total of 2 hours, 55 minutes as opposed to 3 hours, 45 minutes for the SAT, so if you tend to lose focus or get distracted easily, the ACT may be a better fit.

How Can I Prepare?
More information about the SAT can be found on the CollegeBoard website, which offers resources such as practice and review questions, an SAT question of the day, an SAT study plan and even a free practice test that can be taken online.

The ACT also has an official website to provide students with similar opportunities including review questions, a question of the day, online test prep, and general tips for test taking.