Of all the differences between these two tests, Math is the most significant (other than the fact that the ACT has a Science section and the SAT test does not have Science.) Most students naturally do better on one of these than the other. The best way to find out which is best is to take a “mock” ACT test and a ”mock” SAT test and compare the scores. Another way is to take Vogel Prep’s highly predictive “ACT vs SAT Comparison Test”. There are no charges for these tests and follow-up consultations at Vogel Prep.
ACT MATH: BROAD AND LESS DIFFICULT
There are a wide range of math topics which require a basic understanding, but the problems are generally considered to be less difficult than the harder SAT problems. About one-third of the ACT Math problems are Algebra, more than one third are Geometry, and the rest are a few questions on vectors, logarithms and matrices. All of the problems are in the multiple-choice format and approved calculators can be used in all of them. The average time allotted per problem is 60 seconds (60 problems in 60 minutes.) However, ACT Math is only worth 25% of the overall ACT score (but Science adds another 25% of the score). The ACT seems to be much more straightforward.
SAT MATH: FOCUSED AND MORE DIFFICULT
With fewer topics, the SAT Math requires considerable understanding of concepts, content, application and the workings of the test itself. Almost two thirds of the problems on the SAT are the first two years of Algebra. Students are even required to model equations from graphs, create equations from word problems and solve real-world problems. There are only a few Geometry problems, and the SAT even supplies formulas.
However, there are two separately timed sections of Math: One in which use of a calculator is not allowed, and the other in which the student may use a calculator. 13 of the 58 questions are “grid-in” questions where students write in their answers. The average time allotted per problem is about 86 seconds (versus 60 seconds for the ACT problems.)
The SAT math seems to be “trickier”, involving occasional misdirection.
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