<p>Which one is harder? Just wondering</p>
<p>The ACT requires trig and perhaps some precalculus to ace it. There is less time for each question on the ACT, so you have to move faster.</p>
<p>The SAT only tests through geometry and you have more time per question. The questions, however, are sometimes rather convoluted, and you may have to use “reasoning skills” to interpret them.</p>
<p>Definitley ACT math is harder…try 60 questions in 60 minutes, the sat math II math subject test is easier to score on… 50 questions in 60 minutes + super easy curve</p>
<p>ACT math has similar concepts to the SAT Math II subject test and isn’t broken into sections; for that reason, many people agree that ACT math is more difficult in theory. However, I find that many test takers make more mistakes on the SAT math on problems they “could have gotten.”</p>
<p>i find sat math harder. its questions are way trickier and you can easily make careless mistakes. although u have less time on the act, the questions are straightforward and dont take much time. it covers a bit of trig and higher math, but if you took them already, its a breeze.</p>
<p>ACt math is a breeze most of the time. SAT math is a little harder because of the last one or two of each section can be tricky. And the grid-ins also make SAT math harder. However the curve for SAT math has been getting harsher as time goes on. ACT math, there is no penalty for guessing, but there is for SAT math. SAT math is harder…</p>
<p>ACT math includes 4 trig problems, generally taught in precalc. SAT math stops at Alg II. </p>
<p>ACT math is requires more speed, but the problems are more straightforward. SAT math requires more reasoning (if a train leaves Chicago going east at the same time a train leaves Cleveland heading west…). You can have 15 minutes for that question alone, but if you don’t know the average rate-time formula, it’s darn near impossible to ‘reason’ out.</p>
<p>Love this thread because I was about to ask the same question! I have been struggling with the SAT Math and went to check out some ACT practice math questions online and actually found them easier. If I am taking Pre Calc currently do you think I actually might do better on ACT since that stuff is more fresh in my head?</p>
<p>Both straightforward.</p>
<p>^^I think that the SAT makers would be saddened to hear that since they spent millions upon millions of research to ensure that the SAT-M is NOT straightforward, but requires reasoning skills to solve quickly.</p>
<p>SAT has much more high-logic questions. If you prefer memorization over reasoning, pick the ACT. The SAT is also really tricky in its answer choices.</p>
<p>they are both very similar in my opinion. act has trig concepts. sat does not. i feel that if you are slower, the act is better since it isnt split in sections. act is more straightforward. i think act is very very similar to SAT II math.</p>