<p>Hi, I've taken the SAT already, and I was just wondering to what degree I have to study on the ACT, and how is the difficulty compared to the SAT, and maybe some general info about connections between the two.</p>
<p>On my SATs, I received a 2130, with a 700 reading, 760 math, and a 670 writing. On my PSATs (if it means a thing), i received a 214 (99 percentile), with similar scores as my SAT. On both of these i studied less than average, dare I say "very little".
So basically my question is, if i want a good score on the ACT, how much studying, relative to the SAT, do i have to do? (by good score, i mean equivalent of around a 2200-2300 on the SAT).</p>
<p>Thanks all,
bilp7891</p>
<p>It's really hard to say if you haven't taken the ACT before. I would consider the reading and math sections of the ACT as about the same or easier than the SAT, so I really don't think that you need to study up for those very much. I got a 36 on the reading and an 800 on CR, and a 35 on the math, and a 780 on the math--basically the same scores. Your writing score is a bit lower, but I think that the English section of the ACT is easier than the SAT. However, it has a different format than the SAT WR--for one, it directly tests punctuation--so I would suggest you spend a bit more time studying for it. </p>
<p>I would suggest that you focus on the Science section, since it is so different. Everyone says that it is really just another reading comprehension question, but that is only partly true. Science ability does come into play. It isn't that you need to know any specific science facts, but...it's just not automatic that if you are good at reading you will be good at science. I got a 36 on the reading portion, and a 29 on the science section. So I would say focus on this section and perhaps do some brushing up on the english section.</p>
<p>k thanks for the tips, from what I've heard from friends the science section, and the social studies, were very different, while the reading and math were similar. (like you said), good to know i only have to study for part of it :P</p>
<p>Everybody has a different opinion on the act vs sat thing. I personally think the act is considerably harder, across the board. the english section's rolling format bothers me...i prefer the sat writing section because it breaks it all up. I think the math on the act is harder too because of the way its tested, 60 questions in 60 minutes, also the material itself is more advanced than sat math. I also think the reading section on the act is much harder than the sat as well, and dont even get me started on the science section!</p>
<p>I scored significantly higher on the sat than the act (my sat converted to act is about 3-4 points higher than my real act score). However, most kids I know that did well on the act are very good in math, and obviously your 760 shows you fit the profile, so I expect that you'll do great on the act. Sorry, it's late and I just felt the need to rant about my hatred for the act.</p>
<p>^^I can see what you are saying about writing and math, but I do have to say that, while I am sure that you are being truthful when you say that the reading is harder for you, you are the first person who I have heard say so. In my experience, the ACT tends to favor strong math/science students, and the SAT CR section is not kind to these kids. Two examples: The salutatorian of our school (very strong math/science) got a 35 ACT and a 2090 (!) SAT. Another kid, ranked in the top 1%, got a 34 ACT and a 2130 SAT, which isn't as big of a gap, but...he got an 800 math and a 600 CR. Neither one submitted the SAT score!</p>
<p>But your point is a good one--no one can make any promises that the ACT is going to be easier for someone. Personally, I also prefer the SAT, although my scores are pretty similar (2290 SAT/34 ACT). I did relatively poorly on the science section (29), and I was NOT going to spend the time studying that section up, so I basically abandoned the ACT. To each his own!</p>
<p>One advantage to the ACT was many colleges accepted it and you did not have to take any SAT subject tests. ACT supposedly tests what you have learned like the subject tests do.</p>
<p>I know PENN for example lets you send in the ACT with no SAT Subject tests required.</p>
<p>advantagious, that's true I am also the only person I know that thinks sat critical reading is much easier than the sat (I got 710 cr first and only time and 26 reading on the act first and only time). I know a ton of kids like the ones you mentioned, each with very different experiences comparing scores between sat and act. At least where I live, it seems like everyone thinks the act is an easy ticket into selective schools, which is far from the case.</p>
<p>oh and drizzit, the only school i know that DOESN'T take the act in exchange for subject tests is Georgetown. you can send your act instead of sat, but you still need sat IIs.</p>
<p>I think that the ACT passages are far more inane than the SAT CR passages, which are actual pieces of writing. That might be part of the reason why you actually found them harder--they are lame as reading material! But yeah, 710 to 26 is a big disparity...maybe you're also really good at sentence completions? </p>
<p>To add to the "Schools that don't take ACT in place of subject tests", Princeton also requires three SAT II's, whether you take the ACT or not (as a kid at my school found out this January...way after anything could be done about it). Personally, I think that this policy is fairer for all involved. I think it is a little odd to compare someone who only took the ACT to someone who took the SAT I and at least 2 or 3 SAT II's...I mean, why only require the SAT II's if you don't take the ACT? If they are important enough to be asked for from some of your kids, why not all of them? I don't really get this policy...maybe it is to encourage more midwesterners to apply, since many of the top Northeastern colleges are swimming in apps from New England and Mid-Atlantic-ers.</p>
<p>i took both. and liked the act a lot more. i didn't study for either, but i got a 28 on the act, a grade i was happy with. </p>
<p>i think just grab a review book and get used to the format of the questions. my only hard point was the science part. You shouldn't have to do too much actual studying with grades like that on the sat.</p>
<p>seems like the common concensus if that ACT science sucks</p>
<p>yeah but you can still get through it fine if you can read a graph. i got a 24 on that part...my worst of all the grades. but still, not bad.</p>
<p>The Princeton Review often offers free Practice Tests at your local office. Mine's about a 20 minute drive, so it's pretty close. That way, you can get a real testing experience for free. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.princetonreview.com/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=2694&type=LOBBY%5B/url%5D">http://www.princetonreview.com/testprep/testprep.asp?TPRPAGE=2694&type=LOBBY</a></p>
<p>PR Offers practice tests for the ACT, SAT, and the "PRA", which is a combination of both to see which one you'd do better on. If you try taking a PRA in your area, you can see your SAT Score relative to your ACT score.</p>
<p>About the ACT- It may be because I live in Oklahoma and have been conditioned for the ACT, but I don't think that the Science Section is that bad. It's just a bunch of charts and graphs, along with experiments and disagreeing scientists. I think it is kinda like reading with less words. You won't need to recall any facts about science, but it really helps if you know what they are talking about. On the last two sections, make sure you move FAST. Sometimes, I don't even read the passages. I got a 33 on the science section, so take my advice as you will. (Not reading the passages doesn't work on the Reading section, where I got a 28- ouch. English-34/Math-33)</p>
<p>Science killed me.</p>
<p>34 Reading
30 English
31 Math
26 Science</p>