Let’s be honest, the SAT and the ACT are both brutal tests and students probably don’t like any of them. They are just picking the lesser of the two evils. Picking a test might also be based on what students might be good at as well. For example, one person might be great at math and if so, the SAT is for you as that is 50% of the test. On the other hand, if another person excels more in science, then ACT should be the test you take. There are many factors to consider in order to pick a test.

SAT IS THE WAY TO GO- Anthony Ortiz

Since its debut in 1926, the SAT has had many tweaks, changes, and improvements to fit in with the new age. It has adapted to the times rather than sticking with the same old structure. However, even with all the changes, colleges have always preferred the SAT because it proves that students are worthy to join their university. 55% of colleges take students who submit their SAT scores rather than the ACT which is at 45%. The reasoning behind this is that the SAT puts student’s real-world skills to the test.

When preparing for the SAT, students will usually go through a series of steps that help them understand where they excel and where they need to spend more time practicing. Being able to look at your performance, evaluate it from an objective perspective and make plans for changing is a set of skills that can be used in many other areas of life. This can actually cause this to be less studying for the SAT.

Even students who dislike the SAT, admit that the ACT does take longer to study for. “I didn’t study for the SAT as much, but for the ACT I took a lot of time to study for it.” Senior Zahara Durand says. Some questions on the SAT may not need studying because some of them are common sense. The SAT can in turn help yourself in the future with building healthy habits rather than cramming in 3-4 hours of studying at night.

ACT IS THE BETTER TEST- Micah Lopez 

However, since 1959, the ACT has slowly been gaining popularity as the test to take with its wide range of benefits. 

The ACT is an assessment that tests students on their understanding of their high school curriculum, covering English, reading, math, and science, which it’s worth mentioning that the SAT doesn’t cover science. The ACT is also more balanced, with each subject only equaling 25% of the total score. This makes it so each test subject carries less weight in your score, making higher scores more attainable. The SAT on the other hand has two subjects covered (math and reading), resulting in each subject equaling 50% of your final score and therefore adding more pressure on the test taker. 

While both tests evaluate skills in reading, writing and math, the SAT is said to be harder to take. Senior Noah Escobar took both the SAT and ACT and felt the same way. “The SAT has a lot more writing on it, so it’s a little more difficult.” 

Additionally, another benefit is that after taking the ACT the scoring system gives you detailed insights into your strengths and weaknesses, along with an answer key. This information can help you choose the right classes during your high school career and can add focus to your studying if you decide to retake the ACT to improve your scores.