I took a full length ACT (it was given in the past) over the weekend at a prep center. It was just to get a baseline, as I’ve taken the PSAT a few times, but never any ACT type test before. I had to study a lot to get a 1450 on my PSAT (like a lot), but I got a 33 on the ACT with barely any prep at all (I read a few articles the night before- they didn’t even help much). I didn’t even feel confident during the test. I know some people are better at one test, but I’m confused how I could be this much better. I mean my PSAT score before I started prepping was 1230! Has anyone else experienced this?
Congrats. I think it’s just a case of some people performing better on one of the two exams. We have friends who did much better on the SAT; one of them was 1400 vs their ACT of 25. My D19 was pretty even at 1510 and 33.
The two tests are similar enough that prep for one will probably help you on the other one. But there may well be a tendency to do better on one than the other. The 1450 and the 33 aren’t far off - both are fine scores. Are you potentially National Merit or are you not a junior?
Just keep in mind that some of the prep center tests might be a tad outdated. I’d shoot for anything that had been administered 2015 or later, if possible.
Was it a real test or just a practice? One may easily get ± 1-2 points in ACT even after thorough practice. It is in the margin of error. The new SAT and ACT are similar and yet different. By practicing SAT, you may have also improved your Math/reading. On the other hand, you may just perform better on the Science section. Anyway, one cannot draw conclusion from a single test. In the student population, ACT and SAT are compared in percentile. Some perform better in one test or the other but they average the same. Last but not least, using a real test to gauge baseline score is a very bad idea.
I found the ACT easier.
They’re a bit different, but prepping for one often helps with the other.
My DD found the math ACT easier, and just needed a little practice to get the pacing right on the reading and to get used to the science section.
My son was pretty even with a 34 and 1480 (taken in December and October). He did a single official ACT practice test beforehand (got a 33), but no additional prep.
For the SAT, he took 3 practice tests and did a little bit of math on Khan Academy. He found the ACT reading and English easier than the SAT reading and writing, and that made the difference in his scores.
Most of my friends say the SAT is easier for them. The math on the SAT is more straightforward in general imo.
I definitely thought the old SAT was harder than the ACT, but I haven’t taken the new SAT. I did take the new version of the PSAT, though, and found it comparable/slightly easier than the ACT.
New PSAT is a lot like new SAT. Only 15 min. shorter as well.
I thought the ACT was a lot easier when I took it last year, too. Took the SAT three times, studied really hard every day, and I couldn’t crack 1400, but when I took the ACT on a whim with no prep, I got a 34. I think overall, the ACT is more straightforward but with less time, while the SAT is tricker but with more time alotted.
There isn’t an easier test, but some students do better on one rather than the other. I always recommend that students take a practice test of each one, and then stick with the one that they a) hate less and b) score higher on. And whatever you do, don’t jump back and forth between the two. Just pick your test and stick with it 