ACT: A Brief Overview

For a long time, the SAT was by far the most popular college entrance exam in the United States. Even though a high percentage of high school students who hope to go on to a university still rely on the SAT to show their academic prowess, the ACT has gained a lot of ground over the years.

What is it?

Like the SAT, the ACT is a standardized test. With the exception of the optional writing section, all of the questions are multiple choice. There are 215 questions in all, and the exam takes about three hours to complete. The questions focus on four core academic subject areas: math, English, reading, and science, and scores range between 1 and 36.

What does the ACT Measure?

ACT questions focus upon academic knowledge that high school seniors should already have acquired. Since the four sections of the ACT correspond with introductory courses most students will be required to complete during their freshman year, the ACT is a good indication of whether or not students are adequately prepared for the academic challenges of the university.

When was the ACT First Administered?

The first group of students were tested on the ACT in 1959. From the very beginning, the ACT was intended to be a competitor to the SAT. Today, the test is administered and overseen by ACT, Inc. It is more popular than ever before and, in 2007, a little over 40% of U.S. high school graduates opted to take the ACT in lieu of the SAT. Part of the reason for this preference is the belief among many educators that the SAT is culturally biased and therefore an unfair assessment tool.

How are ACT Scores Used by Universities?

Exactly how a student's ACT scores will be used by a university varies from school to school. In some schools, a student's ACT score, along with their GPA, is the chief criteria upon which acceptance decisions are made. At other schools, ACT scores play only a minor role in determining acceptance, and an applicant's GPA, class rank, and community background may be viewed as more important. In any case, a strong ACT score will boost a student's chances of being accepted to the program of their choice. Along with using ACT scores to make acceptance decisions, colleges can use a student's test results in other ways as well. Some colleges offer different course sections - there may be a regular and an advanced course in English literature, for example. Looking at a student's scores on the English and reading sections of the ACT can help college officials choose which course selections would be more suitable to that student's skill level. Colleges that grant scholarships and loans may also consider ACT scores.

How are ACT Scores Used by High Schools?

The questions found on the ACT are based on information taught in high schools throughout the United States. This makes the test a great resource for high schools. Administering the ACT to all high school students is a good way to gauge how well teachers are doing their jobs. If all students scored extremely high on the science section, for example, it would be obvious that teachers in the school were adequately covering the material outlined in the curriculum. On the other hand, dismal ACT test scores would show a need to take a closer look at teachers, current instructional methods, and perhaps the curriculum as a whole. ACT scores are also a good tool to evaluate individual students. By looking at a student's score in each section, schools could identify whether a student was having problems in one or more subject areas. The college or university could then try to identify and resolve these issues, and also by arranging for extra help sessions in the areas where the student is experiencing difficulty.

Four Things You Need to Know About the ACT

During the ACT prep process, you've probably worked through countless sample questions, made an effort to address your weak areas, and read everything you could get your hands on about the best ways to approach different sections of the test. Although the following topics don't relate specifically to the academic subject matters addressed within the ACT, they are reliable tips that every individual preparing for the test should know.

Your Calculator May be Prohibited

Even though all questions in the math section can be answered without using a calculator, it is in your best interest to take one to the exam with you. However, it's important to make sure that the type of calculator you intend to bring to your test is permitted in the examination room. The people administering the ACT have very strict regulations about this - if you are found to be using a prohibited calculator, or a monitor finds you are using a calculator on a section other than the math component, you will be asked to leave. In addition, your answer sheet will not be scored, meaning you'll have to take the entire test again at a later date. The following types of calculators are not permitted: TI-89, TI-92, and TI-Nspire CAS models from Texas Instruments. Certain HP and Casio models are also prohibited. Be sure to check with the testing center to see whether your calculator is acceptable before you go to the test center.

There are No Penalties for Incorrect Answers

On many standardized tests, including the SAT, there are penalties for providing incorrect answers. In such cases, it is better for the test taker to leave a question blank when there is a high probability of entering an incorrect answer. The scoring method used for the ACT is different, however. Points are added for correct answers, but there are no deductions for providing incorrect responses. Because there is no penalty for guessing incorrectly, you should answer every question on the test, regardless of whether or not you are sure of the answer.

All Questions and Sections Are Worth the Same Value

Inevitably, you will find some questions and sections on the ACT more difficult than others. Keep in mind, however, that all questions on the test have the same value. This means you should never let yourself get stuck on one question. Simply move on if you find yourself spending too much time on a single question. Come back to the difficult question later if you have time, or just make an educated guess. The separate sections of the exam are weighted equally as well. So, if you experience a significant degree of difficulty in the math section, and that tends to slow you down, you can make up for that deficit by doing well in the other three sections.

You Can Take the Test Again

Even if you've studied for months and feel fully prepared for the test, there may be circumstances which prevent you from performing as well as you might have. You may be tired on the day of the test, you might be distracted by events in your personal life, or simple anxiety might cause you to forget everything you've learned. The great thing about the ACT is that you can take it again. There are no penalties for retaking the test, and you get to choose which set of scores will be sent to the colleges you are interested in. If you're not pleased with how you did on the ACT, try not to take it too hard - study some more, learn from your mistakes, and give it another try as soon as you can.

The ACT: Preparation, Registration, and Scoring

If you're planning to head to college after you've finished high school, you know just how important the ACT can be to your future. Even though the test will be based on skills you should have acquired during your high school years, it's important to take some time to prepare. You should also familiarize yourself with the registration process, how your test will be scored, and exactly what those numbers mean.

ACT prep

Many of the questions on the ACT will deal with things you already know. Therefore, one of the most effective ways to prepare for the test is to familiarize yourself with the format of the exam and the types of questions that may be asked. You can get a detailed explanation of the subject matter that will be addressed on the exam by visiting the official ACT site and exploring the pages dealing with each of the test sections. Then, you should brush up on each of the topics you may encounter on the exam. For the math section, these topics might include algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and numerous others. Once you're confident you possess the knowledge you will need to do well on the test, work through some sample questions. These will show you how the questions on the actual exam will be worded and precisely how you are expected to respond. This will be a huge advantage on test day because you won't have to waste a lot of valuable time reading instructions or familiarizing yourself with the format of the exam

Another thing you should do as part of the ACT prep process is to take the PLAN test. More commonly known as the "pre-ACT," this test is scored in almost the same way as the ACT. The questions are similar, and taking this test can help you gauge how prepared you actually are for the ACT and the type of score you can expect to receive. If you intend to take the PLAN test, you should make arrangements to do so during your sophomore year.

Registering

The ACT is held on six Saturdays throughout the year. Test dates for the current year can be found by visiting the official ACT site. Registration must typically be completed around a month before the test is administered, so it's important to choose a test date well in advance. Typically, those interested in taking the test can register online or by regular mail, although there are some exceptions. Keep in mind you may want to take the ACT more than once if you aren't satisfied with your score the first time. For this reason, you might want to choose an earlier date instead of a later one. The current cost to register for ACT is $31 if you don't want to complete the writing section, $46 if you do.

ACT Scores

ACT scores can range from one, the lowest score possible, to 36, a perfect score. Each section of the ACT is scored by calculating the number of correct answers. All questions in a single section have the same value. Then, the number of correct answers is converted to a score between one and 36. The scores from the four sections are then averaged to come up with an overall ACT score. If you complete the writing portion, it will be scored separately. With regard to the writing section, two trained evaluators will assign a score between 2 and 12. Your score report will also give you a national ranking, which will tell you how your results compare with those of others who took the test. In 2007, the average score was 21.1, and only 314 people in the entire country obtained a perfect score. When you're evaluating your score and deciding whether or not you should take the test again, it's important to consider not only your actual score, but also whether it is above or below the average national score. If it's significantly or slightly below the average, you might want to schedule another test date to boost your chances of getting in to the school of your choice.

The Format of the ACT

The ACT is a standardized test consisting of 215 multiple choice questions and an optional writing section. The information below will tell you a little more about each section.

English

The English section of the ACT contains 75 questions that must be completed within 45 minutes. There are six types of questions that may be asked in this section. Three categories of question will assess your knowledge of the conventions of the English language. Questions focusing on punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure will be asked here. The other three question types will deal with writing style, organizational skills, and writing strategy.

*Tip: Look for underlined portions in passages. This will tell you whether the question will focus on a specific part of the passage or address the passage as a whole.

Click here for Sample English Questions

Math

There are 60 questions in the math section of the ACT, and 60 minutes are allotted to complete them. The topics that may be addressed in this portion of the test include algebra (pre-algebra, elementary, and intermediate), coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. Even though there are only six main topics, there are a significant number of question types that may be asked. They include questions dealing with linear equations, absolute value, exponents, factoring, inequalities, volume, and right triangles.

*Tips: Many types of calculator are prohibited from use during the ACT. Make sure your calculator is on the "acceptable" list before you go to take the test. If you are caught with a prohibited calculator, you will be asked to leave the test room and your answer sheet will not be scored. Since you have only a minute to complete each question, it's important to work quickly. Don't let yourself get stuck on a question - you'll risk running out of time.

Click here for Sample Math Questions

Reading

You'll be given 35 minutes to answer the 40 questions included in the reading section of the ACT. In this section, you will be presented with four passages related to four different subject areas: social studies, natural sciences, prose fiction, and the humanities. Some of the questions will focus on content which is implicit in the passage. For example, you may be asked about the main idea of the passage, vocabulary included in the passage, or supporting factual details regarding the major premise of the passage. Others will ask you to draw conclusions, seek inferences, or make generalizations about the passage. For example, you might have to identify cause/effect relationships or analyze the methods used by the author to convey an idea.

*Tip: The reading section is not designed to test your prior knowledge of a subject. If you happen to know about one of the topics presented in this section, resist the urge to draw upon this knowledge while you are answering questions. Focus only on the material facts or ideas presented in the test.

Click here for Sample Reading Questions

Science

This section of the test lasts 35 minutes and consists of 40 questions. You may be asked to interpret data presented in tables and graphs, answer questions related to experiments, and analyze conflicting viewpoints and hypotheses. These questions may fall under several scientific disciplines, including biology, astronomy, and chemistry.

*Tip: Most of the information you need to answer the questions will be provided. However, you may have to rely on information you learned during your high school science classes to answer some of the questions.

Click here for Sample Science Questions

Writing

This section is optional, and takes 30 minutes to complete. In the writing section of the ACT, you'll be presented with an issue and two possible viewpoints. You must take a stance on the issue presented and prepare an essay supporting your point of view, making sure to use specific examples and logical arguments.

*Tip: Take at least a few minutes to prepare a brief outline. Decide how you will introduce your argument and the major points you will make during your essay. Refer to this outline as you prepare your final draft.