title: Is there any difference in performance between Database.SqlQuery and EF 6.1?
body: <p>I have two different ways to get data from my SQL database:</p>
  
  <pre><code>var sql = @"Select Exam.Name, Test.TestId, Test.QuestionsCount, Test.Title
              FROM Test
              INNER JOIN Exam
                 ON ( Test.ExamId = Exam.ExamId)
              WHERE Test.TestStatusId = 1";
          var tests1 = db.Database.SqlQuery&lt;TestDTO&gt;(sql).ToList();
  
          var tests2 = await db.Tests
              .Include(t =&gt; t.Exam)
              .Where(t =&gt; t.TestStatusId == 1)
              .Select(t =&gt; new TestDTO
              {
                  ExamName = t.Exam.Name,
                  Id = t.TestId,
                  QuestionsCount = t.QuestionsCount,
                  Title = t.Title
              })
              .ToListAsync();
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I realize the 2nd way seems to be the more "popular" but from a performance point of view is there any difference between the two ways. In particular is it possible to have an async version of the first method or is there likely to be minimal benefit in having that anyway?</p>