<p>I have taken the SATs twice (without prep) and I was not pleased with my scores so I decided to look into the ACT. Without prep, I took my first practice exam throughout the day yesterday from the Real ACT book, and ended up with a 32 composite. For some reason, I found almost every question very easy to answer )I know the curve is tough though).</p>
<p>My question is, am I missing something? Is this test representative of what the real ACT is like, or has someone familiar with this particular test found it exceptionally easy? My ACT score seems like it will be a lot better than my SAT with less prep. Thanks guys.</p>
<p>The Real ACT book really is close to what the real ACT is like. You shouldn't be all to worried that your ACT score is inflated from your SAT score -- many people find that they are much better at one over the other.</p>
<p>I'm guessing if you went to the SAT board, you might hear the same thing from test takers who have only taken the ACT exclusively before. The ACT is much easier for some people, while the SAT is much easier for others.</p>
<p>The Real ACT book is great, but the last ten problems on the real Math sections are more difficult than any problem you'll find in that book (I never had the time to actually work them all out...I could if given more time, but not at a minute or so a problem). I got a 30, 32, and 33 on the Math sections in the book but two 28s and a 29 on actual tests. </p>
<p>SAT math is ridiculously easier than ACT math for me, but the ACT is a much better test.</p>
<p>I'd recommend taking a practice test from CRACKING THE ACT book by Princeton Review. I got a 31 composite on two of the REAL ACT PREP book tests and a 29 on the PR test.... When I took the actual test, I got a 29 too so the PR test, seems to be more representative imo..</p>
<p>posters are saying that certain people find that they are much better at one test or the other (ACT v SAT). What kind of people are generally better at the ACT? girls/ boys, math science people/history english people, etc. also, how do the two writing sections compare? do the ACT readers actually take more than 60 seconds to read the essays or is it some stupid formula like the SAT writing?</p>
<p>The only thing I've heard is that it is ability to answer tricky questions (SAT) versus speed (ACT). I don't know how to actually predict well who will do better on one or the other; it is best to just take some practice tests and see.</p>
<p>I think I like the ACT so much better because I have a short attention span. The SAT has way too many sections for me, so I just get irritated and don't do as well as I should on the Reading and Writing parts (35/650 and 34/650 don't match up at all). I think my highest score on the SAT was 2040 and my highest ACT was 32 (could have been a 33 or 34 if not for math, ugh).</p>
<p>I think the reason why ppl think is easier is that some schools focus their cirriculum much more on the ACTs than on the SATs (esp. if you live in the midwest). Like in my school, we never had vocab quizzes or grammar lessons related to the SAT, but instead, we learned how to use correct punctuation, commas, the like. I think it depends on the cirriculum of your school...
But-->the ACT may be easier, but the curve is extremely harsh.</p>
<p>Basically the ACT is really that easy if you can speedread and take tests fast because that is all that it is.</p>
<p>If you are fast the curve helps you in the ACT as even brillant people who are going to top schools can't even finish the ACT reading and science sections. So the curve is generous to the fast and screws over the slow. That is basically the test.</p>
<p>I love the ACT as I'm a speed reading freak, 35 Composite...I hate you grammar, pulled me down so much.</p>
<p>Golden Bear, just curious, what are your speed reading techniques? I bought a book that supposedly teaches speed reading before I took my first ACT, but I never got around to finishing it. Now that I plan on taking the ACT again, I think I might go back to the book.</p>
<p>But, basically, the first chapters just say to glide your fingers across all the lines at a constant rate.</p>