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I'm taking the ACT for the first time this saturday. I've been looking through a practice test and it looks like it is much easier than the SAT. Plus, you can guess without penalty. The only thing is I heard that a lot of people run out of time. So what are some of your opinions on the ACT compared to the SAT? Is it as easy as it looks? Thank you for any comments.

By Crazylicious (Crazylicious) on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 11:50 pm: Edit

"I heard that a lot of people run out of time."

If you're not a "math mind", you will run out of time - Myself, and 2 other friends who are more mathematically inclined - had a good 5-10 questions unanswered when there were less than 4 minutes left(on math). We guessed randomly. This was a first time taking an ACT. I also had the whole last page (3-4 questions) left on the science question when there was little time left. I suggest you practice a lot under simulated timing conditions - BUDGET YOUR TIME.

I did poorly on the ACT (26), which is the SAT equivalent of 1180 (ouch). However, I feel I could perform much better at a second try on the ACT (which I will definitely do). I got 32+ on the english sections (over 90 percentile or something), but math and science were dismal. I took the SAT this past weekend (for the first time)... I'm hoping for a 1200-1350... We'll see.

Just keep doing practice tests.

By Sandwraith (Sandwraith) on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 12:02 am: Edit

I thought the ACT was much harder than the SAT but I got about the same on both (35 composite and 1500) so I guess they are pretty similar. Like you said, the biggest issue I had was not with problem difficulty or anything like that-- just time constraints. If you're a fast reader you should be fine. Even if you're not (I'm not either) you probably will do ok.

By Vanessa1378 (Vanessa1378) on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 12:09 pm: Edit

On the SAT I got a 1320, but when I took an ACT practice test I got a 23- and now I'm debating on whether to take it Saturday.

By Eeeeyor (Eeeeyor) on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 01:08 pm: Edit

not only is the are the time constraints harsh, but the curves are bad as well. if you miss like 3 science questions your already down to like a 31!

By Bfjava (Bfjava) on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 01:14 pm: Edit

take it again. the ACT is easier than the SAT as long as you took a good courseload in HS. I haven't found a single ACT question that does not make sense unlike the numerous ?s on the SAT verbal. ;)

Crazyilicious...ehh, I disagree. You don't have to be excellent in math to finish the math section under time. The later questions are harder than the earlier, thus you should save time for the last 5-10 at the end. In all honesty, the ACT's math is far simpler and easier than that of the SAT's. The ACT questions are rather straight forward whereas the SAT ones make you think. However, again, if you did not take good math classes, then you won't do very well. It tests pre-alg, alg, alg2, geometry, and trig. If you took a good alg2 course, all the alg is covered. Geometry could be tricky depending on if they ask questions requiring knowledge of obscure rules. So far those kind of questions that I have seen can be done in other ways. The obscure rules tend to speed the ? along but are usually not the only method. Trig...yea this sort of sucks if you havne't taken trig. All you really need to know is SOHCAHTOA; however, having taken precalc and calc makes this area no sweat at all. So in other words, the math section complexity all depends on which math courses you took in HS. How high up in math did you take?

By Crazylicious (Crazylicious) on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 01:51 pm: Edit

Bfjava > Well I agree that the ACT is much more straightforward in math (and verbal too). I'm took Algebra II (this junior year) and previously took Geometry honors and Algebra I honors.

I just have big issues with math. I actually thought the (April) math ACT was rather difficult. I thought the SAT math this June was easier...hmm

I know I got like above 34 on the verbal ACT parts (I'm really good at verbal, crappy at math)... We'll just wait and see how I compare to my SAT I's (which I took this June)

By Crazylicious (Crazylicious) on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 01:52 pm: Edit

Sandwraith > 35 = 1580
very good

By Bfjava (Bfjava) on Tuesday, June 08, 2004 - 02:45 pm: Edit

Crazy - ah, makes sense. You can probably get a decent score with just geometry and algebra II. oh but when did you take the ACT? Now that the year is over you finished Algebra 2, thus you might be surprised to see a nice increase in the math score if you were to retake it.

heh, yeah, for me is the opposite. I took the math section of the real retired ACT in the ACT sponsored book and didn't miss any (but then again, i'm taking Calc BC next year, giving me extra practice and tricks overall with the more math taken), but writing and reading were lower. The questions aren't hard for me but time, ehh. do you have problems finishing the English and/or reading sections? I am a naturally slow test taker and need to speed through them to finish. Fortunatley, speeding through them doesn't seem to lower my accuracy, but nonetheless, I have problems with time. Even when I think I'm doing well on time, I end up hitting a question that I waste my excess time on and have a time crunch again. heh, *sigh*...