<p>Hey,
I was wondering how difficult the ACT was in comparison to the SAT. If you prepared for the SAT, was it pretty much preparing for the ACT as well, besides the science section? Can anyone who has taken both attest to which was easier? Thanks</p>
<p>I've taken both, and I think they are of similar difficulty. When my Jan. SAT Scores come in, I'll be able to definitively answer this. </p>
<p>However, the ACT Math is much more straightforward. It doesn't try to trick you. However, the timing of the Reading test always gets me. On that you have to move very quickly, since you have 35 minutes to read 4 passages. That's less than 9 minutes per passage.</p>
<p>I feel I did pretty well on the ACT (32) , but I'm going to retake it in hopes of a 34+. I didn't feel very confident on the SAT, however. On that, I'd be lucky to get a 2000.</p>
<p>I see, thanks for your input. Are the Reading and Writing/Grammar sections similar on the two tests? If it makes any difference, I scored 2020 on the October SAT in 2006.</p>
<p>You can get a good idea of the format of the Reading and English sections at the Actstudent website.</p>
<p>I studied for the SAT and felt it prepared me well for the ACT. I got a 34 and a 2250. Those scores are pretty much equivalent. I feel that there is more luck involved on the ACT because the time constraints are so severe. On the few practice tests I took I ranged from a 32 to a 36. However, the SAT practice tests were dead on with my actual score.</p>
<p>
However, the ACT Math is much more straightforward. It doesn't try to trick you.
</p>
<p>Very true, but on the other hand, the ACT Math covers more material than the SAT (up to trigonometry).</p>
<p>and the ACT has killer timing. an hour for 60 questions was really fast paced for a really long time, which was way too much for me.</p>
<p>IMO, the best way for an individual to gauge difficulty of a particular exam is to purchase a prep book and work through sample tests. Not an expensive investment. That will give someone a very good idea of what their score would be if they took an actual test tomorrow, or how difficult it would be to raise a score to a certain level.</p>
<p>I do agree that the ACT is more of a test of "speed". There are less difficult, relatively speaking, questions on the ACT than on the SAT, but you do have to work quickly to have a shot at a top score.</p>
<p>I think the ACT was waaaaay easier. I got a 31 on the ACT, (35 English, 31 Math, 32 Reading, and 25 Science).. I could've done much better if it wasn't for f-ing science. x<em>x; Anyway, I only got like a 1800 on the SAT, but I didn't feel the best that day. I thought I did much better on the SAT essay, but I scored higher on the ACT one, which I thought was worse. I think ACT Math seemed harder, but I might have just gotten lucky, because math is not normally my subject. The time restraints didn't bother me too much, except for science. The science section sucks, but I hate science and graphs freak me out. Good luck! I'm so glad I'm done with Standardized Tests. Almost. I still have AP in Spring and placement tests... x</em>x;</p>
<p>TheVeganActress is right though. The fast pace can be overwhelming. I had a huge breakfast that morning, and by 1:00 when the test was done, I was starving and exhausted. It really drains you.</p>
<p>I am a fast test taker so it really was never a problem. With the SAT is was more of a " I just don't know it" issue. And this is why I did significantly better on the ACT. Also if your a guy(no offense to the ladies), you will most likely do better on the ACT. I think the Math and the Science and straightforward Reading and Writing sections, make it much easier for guys then the SAT. Not that girls aren't as good, but from what I have seen from us , math= good, comprehension=bad.</p>
<p>SAT(1st att)- R-620 W-590 M-790- 2000
(2nd att)- R-630 W-610 M-760- 2000
ACT- M-35 S-33 W-30 R-29- Composite: 32</p>
<p>Worst part about the ACT for me, was the fact I got a speeding ticket after having the adrenaline after feeling like I "beat the test."</p>