In my experience, ACT questions are always more straightforward and less context-based than SAT questions. For example, while the math section of the SAT asks more conceptually tricky/unconventional questions, the ACT’s questions are more in line with the “shut up and calculate” philosophy. For the reading sections, the SAT asks evidence-based analysis questions while the ACT seems to ask questions that have more to do with comprehension. Yes, the ACT has more stringent time restraints, but that really doesn’t matter considering good students all around know how to manage their time. Also, there were 2,760 students who got perfect ACT scores compared to only 1083 who got perfect SAT scores: that’s over a 250% discrepancy. Speaking anecdotally, nearly everyone at my school agrees that the ACT is an easier test and scores at least 1 ACT point higher on the ACT than their SAT’s concordant ACT score. All this to say, am I seeing things or getting something wrong about understanding the difficulty of these tests?
Time constraints can matter tremendously for some kids. Speed isn’t always about time management and is only tangentially related to intelligence. Some kids read and/or process and/or write (even for bubbling, which involves both visual tracking and motor speed) much more slowly than others.
Note that the College Board’s 2016 concordance between SAT and ACT is wrong. A new concordance is “in development” and will be published in summer 2018. Your observation about there being a 1 point difference is a pretty good estimation.
College Board published new percentiles in September, actual percentiles for the Class of 2017, that differ from the 2016 percentiles that were predictive based only on a research study. If it helps, here are the most recent SAT and ACT percentile charts:
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/understanding-sat-scores.pdf
http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/MultipleChoiceStemComposite2017-18.pdf
The SAT is better for me because I’m a very slow reader. I never finished my mock ACTs but I got a really good score on the SAT. I just never came close to getting to all the reading and science questions.
Our guidance counselor said that in her experience 1/3 of the people do better on the ACT, 1/3 of the people do better on the SAT, and 1/3 of the people do the same on both exams. It all depends on a person’s strengths/weaknesses as a test taker.
My son is 21 and has never done any standardized testing, but he is ready to start prepping for the SAT or ACT…or both.
He is currently getting 100% in his com. college Calculus class (3/4 way through,) but he never took Algebra or Geometry (he started with Trig). His vocabulary is excellent, as is his knowledge of writing mechanics and his ability to grasp nuance, etc. But essay writing (especially under pressure) is not yet his forte´.
Wondering which of the two tests might make more sense for him at this point? He’s slowly collecting credits in CC and hoping to transfer to a university in about a year-ish.
Also, he is highly ethical and I suspect he will avoid any and all test prep companies if they offer any tips that might be construed as “cheating.” I think he feels good about Khan Academy (since The College Board partnered with them), but if anyone has suggestions for other reputable ones, I’m all ears.
Thanks!
How many CC credits will he have by the time he wants to transfer? It might be that colleges won’t want to see standardized testing from him if he has 2 or so years of college under his belt.
Also your S is entitled to his opinion but IMO test prep companies, tutors etc. are not “cheating” they are “preparing.” It is understood that people will prepare for standardized tests in whatever way works and is affordable for them. That is part of the process. The agreement with the Khan academy was to try to make at least some level of test prep available to everyone.
@JeanJeanie If he started with Trig, the ACT might be better because there are definitely some trig questions, although ACT also tests coordinate and plane geometry, but both the SAT and ACT do this. I suggest he take official practice tests from both SAT and ACT. Collegeboard provides many practice tests with an app that scores them automatically and goes over the questions thoroughly. Go on College Board’s website and you can find them. ACT also has many official practice exams you can google “ACT official practice exams” too. Taking one of each will help suggest which one he should take. He should familiarize himself with the time constraints as well and then just take both, and then he can work from there. That’s honestly the best route to me.
As far as essays go, he might like the ACT essays because they require you to read a topic, read three perspectives on said topic, and then form your own position on it and describe your position in relation to at least two of the given perspectives, using evidence from your own knowledge to construct the argument. The SAT requires you to analyze a text and explain how an author builds their argument, etc. There are official ACT and SAT essay prompts he can practice with too.
The Collegeboard definitely provides more prep resources, but the ACT also has a prep book, to help avoid anything you mi
Hope this helps!
*anything you might deem unethical
sorry my post got cut off there haha!
@happy1 He’s got 41 units so far, but was told by three local LACs (this year) that he would need an SAT score to apply since he doesn’t really have high school transcripts to speak of. I presume that stance would change if he gets to the 60-unit mark at his CC.
Re test prep caution, that’s just the way he is. It didn’t come from his parents, I assure you! 
@Classicgirl17 thanks for the SAT-ACT writing comparison. If that’s the case, he’d probably lean toward the SAT, actually!
@JeanJeanie well awesome! Best of luck!