Click image for enlargement. SAT and ACT scores factor a great deal into college admission, and students should prepare for whichever test they decide to take. Photo illustration by Leah Parr/R-Jeneration

On the quest for higher learning high school seniors have to fill out college applications which will often require an admissions exam score from either the ACT or the SAT, and so the dilemma occurs. Which test is best?

Often students have no idea what to expect or what the differences are between the two. "Both are predictors of college success and rely heavily on math and verbal skills," said Las Vegas High School counselor John Gilbert. "The differences are more in the areas of the formatting and scoring system."

The difference between what is being tested is often explained as, the SAT measures a students reasoning and aptitude whereas the ACT focuses more on the high school curriculum. "I recommend both because even though they test similar things some students do better on one than the other," Gilbert said. Most admissions offices take the higher score if the student has taken an exam multiple times. As for which is easiest, Gilbert said it depends on the individual.

"Although the ACT has a science section, I still felt it was easier," said Las Vegas High senior Suzy Benito who has taken both the SAT and the ACT. There are differences in the way each test is set up. The SAT has no science reasoning portion whereas the ACT does.

As the first admissions test, the SAT has been the most widely used test preferred by schools on the East and West coasts and the ACT was mainly required in the Midwest and southern states. However, now more and more colleges and universities are accepting either test, some requiring both.

Registration for both tests can be done online in less than 30 minutes each and only requires online access, a printer and a credit card. The registration for the SAT must be done online at collegeboard.com. The ACT, besides being registered for online at act.org, can also be registered though a student's counselor who has the needed paperwork. However, to take either admissions test, registration must occur weeks in advance.

The SAT test alone costs $41.50 and the next SAT testing date is January 27 for both the SAT & the SAT Subject tests. Any student who plans to take it must register by December 26. Registration after that date and until Jan. 4 will include an added late fee.

The ACT costs $29.00 without the optional writing section, which costs and extra $14.00. The ACT's next testing date is Feb. 10 and registration must be accomplished by January 5, otherwise a late fee will be issued for registration between Jan. 6-19.

The best time for students to start preparing and taking the admissions exams is during their junior year, because it will affect the type and number of scholarships that will be available to them, said Angela Bellamy of Las Vegas High's Career Center.

Gilbert suggests students prepare for the SAT by visiting the College Board Web site and completing a practice exam. Students also can prepare for either test by obtaining one of the numerous books from either a library or bookstore.

To prepare Las Vegas High senior Channchi Chau recommends that all students taking entrance exams should time themselves while completing a practice test. "Basically put yourself into that testing situation," Chau said.

"The SAT felt longer because it was divided into more sections," Benito said. The SAT has three sections each of the critical reading, math, writing portions and one experimental section. During the SAT students are given three hours and 45 minutes testing time.

The ACT is split into four sections -- English, math, reading and science reasoning. The test itself takes two hours and 55 minutes not including an optional writing portion.

"It was rather stressful," said Carter Jones, a senior at Coronado High School. "My advice would be to get a good night's sleep the night before and have breakfast." Benito agrees that sleep is essential especially, she said, for making it though the reading sections.

Besides length differences, there are also differences in the types of questions asked in similar sections between the two admissions tests. In the math categories the ACT asks trigonometry questions, SAT does not. The SAT has a section that stresses vocabulary. The ACT, on the other hand, tests English grammar but does not focus on vocabulary.

Even scoring is different, If you get questions wrong on the SAT it is negative points, but the ACT encourages answering every question and the test does not dock points for incorrect answers, Benito said.

The highest possible score on the SAT is a 2400 and the highest score on the ACT is 36.

As for students who are unsure which test is for them, Coronado High School senior Ashley Kim said, "Take both of them and if you don't like your score take it one more time because it will increase your score." Students can retake either test as many times as they desire. The SAT is offered seven times a year and the ACT is given six times a year.