If you’re applying to college, most schools require that you take one of two tests–the SATs or the ACTs. And this month, every junior will be taking the SATs, paid for by the state of Rhode Island in an effort to encourage more public school students to take the test. But if you’re seriously considering going to college, you should probably take the test more than once and send your higher score to the school of your choice. These two tests, however, have their differences, and you’re likely going to do better on one than the other. So which one should you take?

    While these tests are fairly similar, there are some important differences that you should know of before you take them. In terms of math, both tests cover arithmetic, algebra I, algebra II, geometry, and trigonometry. The SAT, however, also covers data analysis in its math section. There are formulas provided in the SAT, but not the ACT. You are allowed to use a calculator on all ACT math questions but you can only use them for certain SAT questions that are in the designated calculator section.

    Both tests contain language arts portions with optional essays. Both cover reading, with the SAT having five passages and the ACT having four. They both have sections on grammar, and the SAT has an additional section on relevant words in context. The SAT essay tests you on comprehension of a given text, whereas the ACT essay tests you on your ability to analyze and evaluate complicated, relevant issues in a written form. You are given 50 minutes for the SAT essay and 45 minutes for the ACT essay.

    The biggest difference between the two tests in terms of subject matter is that the ACT includes a science portion. The SAT does not. The science portion of the ACT isn’t a test of science knowledge, though; it’s a test of your critical thinking skills. This is slightly similar to the data analysis section of the math portion of the SAT, just with more of an emphasis on scientific principles. You’re tested on science comprehension in some of the reading passages of the SAT as well.

    The ACT is scored on a scale from 1-36, and the SAT is scored on a scale of 400-1600. You won’t lose points for incorrect answers on either test. The difficulty of the questions on the SAT increases as the test goes on, but the difficulty of the questions on the ACT is completely random. The questions on the SAT are more context-based and try to focus on real-world problem solving in multiple steps. The questions on the ACT tend to be longer, but they’re usually easier to decipher. Overall, the SAT test is more of an assessment of your ability to problem solve, whereas the ACT is more of an assessment of general knowledge.

    Most students in Rhode Island take just the SAT or a variant of it, such as the subject tests or the SAT with the writing component. The ACT, while offered everywhere, tends to be taken by students west of the Mississippi river, according to LHS senior Michael Matkowski. He felt that the ACT was a better reflection of his abilities. Fellow senior Nicole Carpenter prefers the ACT because you can find out more specifics about the questions ahead of time. For example, “you can look up how many math questions regarding trigonometry” will be on the test, whereas “you’re going in blind” with the SAT. A survey of LHS students showed that they feel more encouraged to take the SAT, just because they know more about it and it’s more popular in this part of the country, and a majority of them said they planned on taking the SATs at least once. Matkowski doesn’t think that that should deter anyone from trying other options, though, saying that “each student should take both tests to see which one works better for them.”

    So which one should you take? It all depends on your personal abilities and strengths. If you’re good at problem solving and in-depth analysis, then the SAT is probably the right choice. If you’re better at answering straightforward questions, analyzing issues without necessarily having a lot of context, or if you want to show the schools you're applying to your science skills, then the ACT might be better for you. Personally, I don’t test well in math, but I do tend to test well in language arts, and I found the ACT to be a much better fit for me than the SAT model.  (Disclosure:  My experience thus far is limited to the PSAT,as I haven’t taken the SAT yet, but the approaches are the same.). If you’re someone who doesn’t do well with time constraints then the SAT might be better for you because it gives you a little more time. Ultimately, it’s up to you to do your own research and to make an informed decision on which test will be best for you and your abilities.