I have no idea which one to take.I went to a local tutoring center and took practice tests of the SAT and ACT.On the practice SAT I got 970 (460 on R&W , 510 on Math), but on the ACT I got 22.I’m currently a junior, so I don’t have much time.
If you can afford it, I would suggest taking both as soon as possible then focusing on whichever you did better on and we’re more confident with.
Both the tests are pretty similar now just pick one that you prefer and focus on that one only.
There are two main differences. The SAT is much more generous with time, to a significant degree. The ACT has a science section which many find difficult. I describe it as a reading and logic test. It doesn’t need much outside knowledge of science. There is no separate science section on the SAT, though there will be science in the reading section.
Some people find the ACT to be more straightforward and feel the SAT uses more convoluted language. I understand that ACT has upgraded its math section so that it now inlcudes several much more difficult problems. SAT math is broken up into several sections interspersed with reading and English.
The essays are now different for each test also. IMO, the ACT essay is much easier, as it is easy to just make up whatever you like in terms of support for a thesis. The SAT essay requires reading a document and developing a thesis based on that document, and supporting it with evidence from within that document. So the ACT essentially just wants to see that you can write an essay, whereas the SAT wants to see not only that you can write an essay, but that you can understand and analyze a document.
Haveing said all that, there are more similarities than differences. One isn’t easier than the other. It’s best to do a practice test of each to see which you prefer, unless you can make a clear decision based on the facts I just listed.