The ACT or the SAT? The age old dilemma is becoming more stressful for students and parents alike as the ACT has become an increasingly more acceptable alternative to the SAT. Should I take just one? If so, which one? What about both?

The ACT test is shorter in length, and features grammar, essay, math, reading comprehension, and science sections. The science section tests the student's skills in data interpretation from graphs and reports, not their ability to recall information from Chemistry and Biology classes. ACT test takers are not penalized for incorrect answers, but the sections have more questions than the SAT, making it harder to complete under the time limit. Despite this, many ACT test takers liken the ACT to tests they have taken during high school.

The SAT is nearly four hours in length. It features grammar, math, critical reading, vocabulary, and essay writing sections. Students are penalized for incorrect answers, but not for skipped or unmarked answer choices. For this reason, the SAT can often be considered a strategy-based test, as students can skip questions they are not likely to answer correctly, but venture educated guesses when answer choices can be eliminated. Most students with SAT experience gripe that the test attempts to trick them by including deceptive answer choices.