ACT's vs. SAT's question wise?

Question

What's the difference between the two tests question wise. Easier? Harder? I know the difference for colleges but I'm asking about the problems on the actual tests. (I've taken the SAT already and am taking the ACT in April.) What's the difference with the math, English, and writing?

Thanks

Answer 1

I thought the ACT questions were killer. I got a 30 on the ACT and a 1300 on the SAT, but the ACT gave me a MAJOR headache. The science section on the ACT is mega-hard. The problems in that section don't make sense. That SAT is more like basic knowledge, I think, like the basic stuff you learn in H.S. but I think the ACT wants you to interpret stuff more. I think the questions in the math, reading, and writing sections were about equal on both, but that is probably because I like problems where you can do an equation and get a definite answer, and I just understand Language Arts. But for the science section, you have to look at charts and graphs and compare and even do a little bit of chemistry (like products, yields, that stuff) and it is KILLER. I believe there is a social studies section on the ACT too, but NONE of the stuff on either test expects you to just recall stuff out of your memory. There is always a chart or a paragraph or a diagram or SOMETHING. Now, you have to use your memory to figure out the answer, but it is never a question like, "What is the name of the 5th president of the US?" Its more like "Read this passage and answer this quesion..."

Answer 2

I took both test and scored much higher on the ACT (over 100 SAT points).

I found the ACT's math section to be easier and i would say the SAT and ACT have comparable English and writing sections.

The big difference between the SAT and ACT is that the SAT has no science portion. The ACT science portion is easy, as the answers are all there in the graphs. BUT...i found it impossible to finish the science portion either of the two times i took the test! There are usually several sections within the Science portion, each with their own set of info you have to read in a very short amount of time. That is really the problem I found with the whole test, there are many sections of the ACT which all need to be finished in a short amount of time. On the plus side though, you are not deducted 1/4 of a point for incorrect answers! So guess away at the remaining questions :]

Answer 3

I took both in high school, and I found the ACT to seem a little harder (there's a science portion as well), but after I got my scores from both tests and calculated the differences between the two scoring systems, I actually scored A LOT higher with the ACT.

With the new SATs (which I did not take), the ACT should be a lot easier. I don't think there's an essay or anything (but things might have changed since I took them last...)

Go here for more info.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACT_%28examination%29#Differences_between_SAT_and_ACT

Answer 4

The ACT tests your knowledge of subject material - the stuff you should've learned in high school. The SAT doesn't - it judges your reasoning skills. There are separate SAT exams for specific subjects (math, science, ...), and some colleges require you to take the subject tests if you don't take the ACT.

Answer 5

I found that the ACT much easier--it is the stuff that you should already know, but you just have answer all the questions quickly before you run out of time.