<p>Is the ACT easier than the SAT? My SAT scores are pretty bad, but I'm a really good student and have a great memory</p>
<p>In My opinion, the questions on the ACT are more simple and easier to understand.
However, you are given far less time to complete them. You have to be continually moving.</p>
<p>English- 45 Minutes for 75 questions.
Math- 60 Minutes for 60 Questions
Reading- 35 Minutes for 40 Questions
Science- 35 Minutes for 40 Questions</p>
<p>If you pause for a minute, especially in reading and science, you're dead meat. On the SAT, you're usually given more than a minute a question, so if you zone out, it's still bad, but not as bad.</p>
<p>I add that memory would probably help you out more on the SAT, which tests rote memorization of vocabulary. You don't really need to memorize anything for the ACT.</p>
<p>Its very worth it to give it a try!</p>
<p>Take a practice test and see how it goes!</p>
<p>how hard is the science part?</p>
<p>I think most people would agree that science is the hardest section to master; the time limit really makes it difficult.</p>
<p>What does the science part cover? Biology? Phys science?</p>
<p>Honestly, it's been awhile since I took the test, but I <em>think</em> it's three sections (bio, chem, phy), but I'm not sure.</p>
<p>Like the other sections, though, the exam is meant to test skills more than knowledge acquisition. However, a basic understanding of the scientific principles of each of the aforementioned natural sciences is a big plus.</p>
<p>A lot of CCers say you should skip the passages, or skim them at best. Personally, I think you can read the whole thing fairly quickly, and still get through the problems faster than constantly going back and forth searching for details.</p>
<p>Are you guys kidding me? Not to be arrogant or anything, but I thought Science was the easiest section, even easier than math. I mean, you do not need any prior knowledge, and all you have to do is read the question carefully, refer to the charts/figures, and theres the answer! Easy stuff, don't worry about it. Reading is defintely the hardest section.</p>
<p>I've never heard of anyone doing better on the SAT than the ACT. I do a lot better on the ACT, and I personally think it's an easier test. Also, I think more stupid people take the ACT.</p>
<p>do ivies prefer the sat over the act?</p>
<p>ACT makes my head hurt less.</p>
<p>I personally thought the ACT was a lot easier, and I did a lot better on it (32 vs. 1280). The science is the most confusing even though it really ends up just being data/graph analysis. I'd advice to skip the passage and then go back and look for the answers, but that's just me.</p>
<p>I'm taking the ACT instead as well. My SAT scores are garbage.</p>
<p>My counselor explained it to me this way. The ACT covers harder material, but doesn't try to trick you. The questions are worded in a straightforward way and it's a predictable test since it hardly varies from one month's test to the next. On the other hand, the SAT is basically a strategy test. If you know the test, then you'll do fine. She was cold though; she's like if you can't master it in the first three or four practice tests (see a good improvements) then you won't do well period.</p>
<p>The Sci. section is a gift from God! Easy way (for me at least) to raise your composite. Now, the math section... personally I find it to be a *****!</p>
<p>I've noticed that the science section is the easiest section as well. The math section is a lot tougher than the SAT math. That's a bit discouraging, but if you've taken higher math classes, then you really shouldn't have trouble with the material; only the time, as with all ACT sections, should cause problems.</p>
<p>Overall, I'd say that the ACT is easier. It's broader subjects allows for more room for excellence. However, I agree that the ACT math is harder than the SAT math. For comparison, here's my scores:</p>
<p>SAT:
Critical Reading: 690
Math: 770
Writing: 790</p>
<p>ACT:
English: 35
Math: 30
Reading: 32
Science: 35
Composite: 33
Writing: 8 out of 12</p>
<p>The hardest part about the ACT is the reading section (surprisingly, I scored higher on it than the math), mainly due to the timing. If you're a slow reader, you're in TROUBLE. I'm a somewhat slow reader and I was freaking out when taking the practice exams since I would run out of time when I still had an entire passage + questions left to answer.</p>
<p>Is the ACT easier than the SAT? Some say yes, some say no. My personal opinion is that I absolutely love the ACT because it does not try and TRICK you like the SATs do. </p>
<p>For the reading section, you do not have to learn a million vocabulary words that you will probably never use again (like phlegmatic and saundry). All you need to be able to do is interpret passages. </p>
<p>For the math section, the questions are MUCH easier for me than the questions on the SAT. Everything is very straightfoward. </p>
<p>For the science section, time is an issue for pretty much everyone, but you honestly need to know very little about science to do well. All the information you need is given to you in the passages, and it's mainly common sense.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the only section that really resembles the SAT in regards to difficulty is the english section, but for me that is not a problem because writing is my specialty.</p>
<p>That's what I've noticed as well. The math section is easy for me on the ACT. I try the SAT math and I notice that I'm getting low-700s, which disturbs me because I'm in the hardest math class I can take now. Then I try the ACT math, which is harder, but overall more straightforward, and I nail it.</p>
<p>For the english part. Do you guys read the whole passage then refer to each problems to get the whole idea. Because I am taking my first ACT in one week and I need some tips and suggestions on what to do to get higher than 30.</p>
<p>I like the ACT more than the SAT. </p>
<p>As with many people here, I agree that the Science and Math sections are the best; they raise your score a hell of a lot. </p>
<p>peteyflow, what I do is that I read the questions as I read the passage for the English section.
But I think you're refering to the Reading Section. For that, I skim it really really fast, then answer the specific questions (line, word, etc.), then the more broad questions. I'm expected to get a 30+ on English, and a 30ish on Reading.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that ACT helps you, not like the SAT. The ACT has a lot of bogus answers and when there's two choices that are completely opposite, you can pretty much eliminate the rest and focus on those two choices.</p>
<p>Comparison (for me) between the two:
ACT (Feb)
30C
30E
35M
27R
28S
30E/W
10/12 Essay</p>
<p>SAT (CB Practice Test)
530CR
750M
600W</p>