Which Do You Think Is Harder to Study For: the SAT or ACT?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Do you think that, generally, it is more difficult to study for the SAT or the ACT? In other words, which test would you imagine would be more difficult to prepare for?</p>

<p>My guess is that it would be the SAT because, despite what CB says, the SAT still seems like somewhat more of a reasoning test? I do understand, however, that the ACT convers more content.</p>

2

<p>It depends on the student. ACT has english, science, math, reading, and optional essay writing. SAT has reading, math, writing with essay. SAT has more sessions going back and forth among different sections. My daughter spent more time on SAT preparation than ACT and she found the ACT test to be easier for her. Again, this is going vary from individual to individual.</p>

3

<p>Probably SAT, ACT feels very straightforward if you know the content.</p>

4

<p>I do PSAT/SAT test prep, and have done ACT also. IMO, the SAT is easier to prep for because the types of questions are predictable and become very familiar with practice–so I think it is easier to raise your score with SAT prep (also, more prep materials out there). The ACT is a more reading-based test and more time-pressured. If you are a really fast reader, the ACT might be more your style. A lot of people complain about the ACT science section. If you have little experience reading info. from charts/graphs, the science section might give you trouble.
Some people say the SAT is “tricky”–but the types of tricks (like tempting wrong answer choices) also become familiar with practice, so you can identify and avoid them.</p>

5

<p>For reading, the SAT, because of vocab. For math, ACT, because of trig and the fact that I thought SOHCAHTOA was some sort of dinosaur until I cracked open the red book.</p>

6

<p>It depends on strength of each person. You may try sample test to see which one is suitable for you.</p>

7

<p>Perhaps it is just a personal experience, I found the SAT score to be less predictable from your practice (i.e. more surprise) than the ACT.</p>

8

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<p>billcsho,</p>

<p>Why do you think that your daughter found the SAT t o be harder to study for? </p>

<p>Is it because the SAT is alleged to have more trick questions?</p>

9

<p>I’ve taken both. Sat problems change more frequently, as billscho said, than ACT problems.</p>