SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Is Easier to Score Higher On?
Is one of the standardized tests objectively easier to score higher on? I am trying to decide between the SAT and the ACT, and I want to pick the one where I can easily get a better grade with the least amount of friction.
14 Answers
If the ACT gives you less time, does that mean it's harder to get a perfect score on it?
Actually, statistically, it is slightly easier to get a perfect 36 on the ACT than a perfect 1600 on the SAT! Because the ACT has so many questions, the curve i…
I struggle with tricky wording on tests. Is the English section easier on the ACT then?
Yes, the ACT English section is much more straightforward and rule-based than the SAT Reading/Writing section. However, you have to read 4 passages in just 35 m…
What about the math sections? Is one math section clearly easier than the other?
The ACT lets you use a calculator for the entire math section, which many students love. However, the ACT covers more advanced geometry and basic trigonometry. …
I'm not great at Science. Does that mean I should avoid the ACT entirely since it has a Science section?
Don't let the name scare you! The ACT Science section isn't testing your knowledge of biology or chemistry formulas. It is essentially a reading and data interp…
How do I actually figure out which one is easier for me before I pay to take the real thing?
Take a full, timed official practice test for each one at home on back-to-back weekends. Grade them both, and use the official ACT-to-SAT concordance table to s…
If I study for the SAT and then decide the ACT is easier for me, will all my prep be wasted?
Not wasted at all! Because the tests have become much more similar over the years, studying grammar rules, reading comprehension, and algebra for the SAT will d…
Are there any guessing penalties on either test? I want to make sure I don't lose points for blind guessing.
Nope! Neither the SAT nor the ACT has a guessing penalty anymore. If you have 30 seconds left in a section and 5 blank questions, you should absolutely fill in …