What does you think
ACT is easier overall but it is a faster test which makes it harder for some. SAT is harder overall but you have more time per question.
I think this depends on the person. In my opinion, ACT has harder math section. The SAT has a harder English section, but since math is 50% of your score it might be easier to get a higher composite score if you’re good at math. It might be a good idea just to take both and see where that leads you.
The harder test is the one with the lower percentile score, of course. Take a cold practice test for both - testing agencies will often run these for free or for a minimum charge - and figure out which one you liked better. Your overall score, how you felt about the test, even looking at section scores and figuring which ones can be improved upon the easiest, will all help you in this determination.
A very specific strategy, assuming you are a rising junior, would be to prep now for PSAT using Kahn and take the October exam. Your score will tell you whether to continue with SAT or switch to ACT. If you choose the latter, take a cold initial exam and target the April test for your prep.
My son’s guidance counselor said that 1/3 of students typically do better on the SAT, 1/3 of students typically do better on the ACT and 1/3 of students typically do the same on both. So I guess it depends which third you are in.
You have multiple threads asking people to compare things when the determining factor in all of them should be finding what is the right fit for you.
this is all good advice but there is a reason so many kids now take the ACT and the ACT has taken so much market share from the SAT–it is easier. The math is ridiculously easy–SAT still hews a bit to logic and abstract thinking. The ACT is much easier to prep for.
^^^^ However the ACT is more time constrained and that does not work well for everyone.
“Easier” in terms of what - prepping or scoring well? Last I checked the percentile table for ACT I noticed that not everyone was scoring a 34 -36.
@JBStillFlying this is a great point because if the test is easier, the curve will be higher (as we saw with the June SAT where the test was easier but overall scores stayed the same or went down for most test takers compared to their scores from previous tests). As was suggested, take practice tests of both the SAT and ACT and see which one is easier for YOU.
It completely depends on the person and the type of skills they mastered. For me personally the SAT is way better but to others ACT is a piece of cake. To find out which one is easier for you I suggest taking a practice test of both and see how they compare to each other( you can find online charts that show you how to convert your sat score to ACt and vice versa).
As stated take practice test for both. Many test centers will offer a limited version of both tests to take on a weekend to see which one is better for you.
For my kids the Act was much better even though our state turned into a SAT state and was given free at their school.
That’s definitely not the only reason so many people are taking the ACT.
The other reason the ACT has become popular is that it fulfills the subject test requirement for many schools.
ACT is shorter time and a lot more straightforward imo. SAT allows for more “think time” but the reading section can be a doozy for some.
ACT has an extra “science” section which I’m not familiar with.
@Center I don’t think at most schools that’s true anymore that the ACT fulfills the subject test requirement.
@UglyMom - do you have a list of ones where it does not? And @Center , where it does? That’d be super helpful.
Families I know have selected ACT for that reason (as well as easier to prep for – easier to teach speed than reasoning).
Duke strongly recommends two subject tests if you are submitting the SAT.
I definitely preferred the ACT and it was easier to prepare for. The time crunch might be stressful to others though so that could make a difference.