Is the SAT Much Harder Than The ACT?

 Reading

The SAT has many easy and medium level questions, but the hardest questions can be really hard – much harder than the hardest ACT questions, in my opinion. They often include difficult vocabulary, logical twists and turns, and tricky answer choices. Sometimes it can even be difficult to figure out exactly what the question is asking.

To me, the SAT seems to test logical reasoning more heavily than the ACT does. Some students are attracted to SAT reading because it has shorter passages, but shorter does not mean easier. The complexity is often packed into the wording and the logic behind the answer choices.

The ACT, on the other hand, feels more straightforward. You read the passage and answer questions about details, inferences, and main ideas. The vocabulary is typically less intense. However, timing can be a real issue. The ACT moves quickly, and many students feel rushed. The longer passages can also feel overwhelming at first – though with strong reading strategies, students can absolutely learn how to manage pacing and break down large passages.

Math

One benefit of the SAT math section is that it tests a more predictable set of concepts, with a narrower range of topics than the ACT. This makes math review more manageable because there are fewer surprises.

However, just like the reading section, the hardest SAT math questions can be extremely logically challenging. In my opinion, this makes it harder to earn a perfect score on the SAT math – even for very advanced math students. The questions often require flexible thinking and strong reasoning skills.

Students also have access to the DESMOS calculator on the SAT, which can be a powerful tool, especially for students who find math more challenging.

The ACT math section tests a broader range of topics, including some pre-calculus concepts. That wider range can make preparing for ACT math more demanding, since students need to review more material to be fully prepared.

While ACT math can certainly be tricky, I generally find it more straightforward and less logically complex than SAT math. The challenge is often the breadth of content and the pacing. If students take the ACT digitally, they now have access to DESMOS, but paper test-takers do not.