Taking standardized tests like the SAT or ACT is definitely not the most exciting part of the college application process. Yet, hundreds of Lexington High School students sign up for them every year. But how do these tests differ?

The SAT assesses students in English and mathematics over the course of around two hours. The test presents two modules for each subject, with the second module adapting to the student’s performance on the first to create a fairer testing system. 

The ACT consists of five sections: English, math, reading, science, and an essay. Both the science section and the essay section are optional, but with them included, the entire test takes around three and a half hours. 

With this in mind, which test do students prefer? 

Many choose the SAT because it is relatively similar to MCAS, Massachusetts’ statewide standardized test that can help students prepare for the exam. Additionally, other opportunities that the College Board offers, like taking the PSAT, can help students succeed. The test also focuses more on pattern recognition and features multiple problems that can be solved with a similar methodology. 

However, some consider the SAT indirect in its questions.

“The whole test is meant to trick you,” Nate Johnson, a senior at Burlington High School, said. 

The ACT also has its pros and cons when compared to the SAT. The biggest area of debate comes from the differences in question format. 

“I tend to solve problems that are more straightforward [more] quickly, which made the ACT a lot more appealing to me, because the SAT has a lot more drawn-out questions,” Anushka Aiyar, a junior at LHS, said.

Since LHS is a largely STEM-focused school, students may also be more inclined to take the ACT for its science section. 

A drawback of the ACT is that it was recently modified. This September, the Enhanced ACT (EACT) was introduced: a shorter and arguably easier version of the ACT. Because easier tests can inflate scores, the ACT may lose its credibility as it becomes a less accurate way of evaluating students’ knowledge. 

Although the tests differ, they both require significant amounts of studying. LHS students must balance classwork and extracurriculars on top of studying vocabulary and Desmos shortcuts. A solution may be to take these tests in the summer, when there is more time to prepare. Still, many students take these tests during the school year, resulting in a need to balance studying and schoolwork.

“I’d say [I study] a good … hour or two per day, maybe every week Monday to Friday; And then if [I] have sports … I’d tone that down to around thirty minutes on a weekday, and then do some extra work on the weekend,” Yaotong Zhang, a senior at LHS, said.

Regardless of whether it is the SAT or ACT, unfamiliar test-taking environments, such as other schools, may make the exam feel uncomfortable or nerve-wracking. Aiyar took her test at Phillips Academy in Andover, where students were placed in the field house.

“It was cold … I was a little surprised at first, and it took me a second to get into the actual test,” Aiyar said.

However, one shared benefit between the exams is that they can be retaken. And ultimately, it is normal for students to have varying preferences for test formats and question types. The SAT and ACT are both just steps a high school student can take to exercise their test-taking skills and supplement their college applications.