so that后面是加的完整的句子。in order to后面加动词原形。
in order to意思是“为了”，约等于to，但比to的目的性更强，后接动词原形。
so that 约等于in order that，在一般情况下，so that前后两句主语不同。
so that和in order to的区别在与后年跟随的成分不一样。in order to是表达目的、为了以及以便的意思，但是in order to作为词组短语后边一般跟随动词原形的词组短语，而非完整的句子，而so that常用于引导从句，用来表达为使、结果是以及以便等意思，是表达目的的状语从句，后面跟随的是句子，常用于为了去唱歌，汤姆匆忙的做完作业这种句式。
so that和in order to的区别例句
I got up early in the morning so that I could catch the first bus to school.
I got up early in the morning in order to catch the first bus to school.
so that例句
She burned the letters so that her husband would never read them.
她把那些信都烧了以便永远不让她丈夫看见。
I studied Italian so that I would be able to read Dante in the original.
我学习意大利语以便能读但丁的原著。
Can you work it so that we get free tickets?
你能不能为我们搞到些免费票？
in order to例句
It's embarrassing the extremes he'll go to in order to impress his boss.
他为了给上司留下深刻印象，不惜走极端，真令人难堪。
Doctors examine their patients thoroughly in order to make a correct diagnosis.
为了作出准确的诊断，医生会对病人进行彻底的检查。
We stood up in order to get a better view.
我们站起身来以便看得更清楚。
此外同样表示“为了”的意思的还有：soasto后面接动词原形,表示结果.sothat后面接从句,表示结果.inorderto后面接动词原形,表示目的.inordethat后面接从句,表示目的.