<p>Pros and cons?</p>
<p>The ACT is much more straight forward and predictable. The SAT is more of a reasoning test and can be deceptive. There are really no specific "pro" or "con" of either tests, it's all based on personal preferences. I personally like the SAT because I find it amusing- but the ACT bores the **** out of me.</p>
<p>Math: ACT has some more advanced problems. The student who has completed all or most of precal, trig, etc. will have an advantage over students who have not taken these courses. This often allows the more "advanced" math student to obtain a higher percentile. Of course, percentile correlates with score. The questions are not tricky, unlike the SAT math. However, the hardest part about the SAT math is the inclusion of a few tricky questions. The sections are pretty similar.</p>
<p>SAT critical reading vs ACT reading: The SAT contains some vocab question. The ACT does not. The ACT reading is easier that the SAT (in my opinion, at least) - there are less tone, mood, intention, etc. questions. Example...ACT reading: "What does the speaker say about""?" SAT: "In line "", what is the purpose of the speaker's actions?" Note - these are not real questions. </p>
<p>SAT Writing vs ACT English: Although the questions on the tests are very similar, the questions appear in different formats. On the ACT, most (or all? I can't remember...) of the questions appear in a column to the side of the respective paragraph. SAT questions are in the same format as most of the other SAT question. Although the questions present about the same amount of difficulty as do the SAT writing questions, the ACT format can be a little distracting - it was for me, anyways.</p>
<p>Essays: I conjecture, based on the two times that I have taken the ACT and the three times that I have taken the SAT, that the ACT essay is slightly more like an AP English essay that is the SAT essay. I do not mean that the ACT essays are like the AP Eng exam essays. The ACT essay is more specific. I thought that the ACT essay was much the easier of the two - but then again, that is only my opinion.</p>
<p>Science: Unique to the ACT. It is essentially a reading section that includes graphs, charts, data, etc. analysis.</p>
<p>If infinitesimal amounts of time accompanied both tests, I think that the ACT would be easier. The time limit perhaps is the most challenging part of the ACT. The SAT catch: the SAT makers attempt to trick test takers with the presence of some tricky questions. Make sure that you read the questions, particularly the math word problems, verbatim! I advise you not to skim the SAT math word questions. I did that in the past and, consequently, missed some "obscure" information.</p>
<p>Overall, the two tests are very similar. Take both!</p>
<p>I think the ACT is much easier, and I like the ACT better because I feel it's less stressful. Although most schools like the SAT better, the SAT is basically 3 subjects repeated over and over which gets really tiring after the first couple of times. Honestly though, these tests don’t say anything about how you going to perform at a certain school, so I like how some schools are not requiring them anymore, like Colby.</p>
<p>Difficulty wise, the SAT is hands down the harder test.</p>
<p>^ I agree. But overall, I think the time limit on the ACT balances it out.</p>