It’s April and you know what that means; it’s testing season. As juniors continue thinking about college, some questions may come up: “Do I need to take the SAT?” “How is it different from the ACT?”  “What looks better on my record to colleges?” Have no fear juniors some advice is here!

Let’s start by covering how you are scored on the two tests. The total score you get on the ACT is based on the average score you got on each section totaling to a score ranging from 1-36. On the SAT the total score you receive is again an average score that you got on each section totaling to a range of 600-2400.

The ACT is a content based test and the SAT is a reasoning test. The two tests are used for colleges to determine just how educated you are and what your strong subject is. You will be tested on reading, vocabulary, grammar and usage, writing and math on the SAT. Content that the ACT tests on is: grammar and usage, math, reading, science and reasoning, and writing(optional). The levels of math the ACT covers are: arithmetic, algebra 1 and 2, functions, geometry and trigonometry. Formulas will not be provided. The math levels covered on the SAT are: arithmetic, data and analysis, algebra 1 and 2, functions, and geometry. Formulas are provided.

With this information juniors may be able to have a better idea of what to study and how to prepare  for each test. As well, when choosing which test to retake come senior year(if you can’t afford to retake both or it’s just too stressful)retake the one that was easier for you and do some extra studying so that you can improve your score. Also with this information you may better distinguish which one is more fit for you in how you think and what your best at.

For example if you have always done better in English then math and science and have a lot of common sense and use reasoning when taking tests; the SAT may be a better choice. However if you are a math and or science wiz and love statistics then the ACT is most likely the better option if you are to just take or retake one.

It is highly encouraged by most to take both at least once. Even if you are horrible at math and science it  is free for you to take the ACT thanks to the district. Take advantage of that and take the ACT and do your best. You are showing colleges that you’re not afraid of a challenge, you’re keeping your options open since some colleges do prefer one test over the other, and even though math and science may not be your best subject it’s still possible for you to be better at it than the average person.

The same goes for those that now know they will most likely be better at the ACT. Sure the ACT is free and you may be a math and science lover, but still take the SAT because it will do nothing but benefit you. You may not be the worlds greatest writer or love deductive reasoning, but you also are probably not the worlds worst writer. So juniors don’t chose one or the other take both! Come Senior year you should then choose to retake at least one of them to try and improve your score, because most students do improve the second time they take the ACT or SAT.