its all relative to the individual. some say they are harder, but I mean it is a standardized exam, so that means the scales would be different (harder test, so less reduction of score per incorrect answer in a sense). I think that those who say it was "so hard" just weren't prepared enough, or got hit with information that they didn't know. That's why you need to study things that you are weak in.
There are many random questions on the exam that you probably have never encountered before, but your best bet is to stay calm, and to just pick the most logical answer.
Only in the PAT section are there 15 random q's that don't count.