All About the ACT

The ACT is a form of college entrance exam that allows college admissions judges to evaluate your readiness for college and your current level of knowledge as it is related to the courses you have taken. It is an important test that many colleges require as a part of their admission requirements.

What is the ACT?

The ACT is an achievement test that can help determine your level of knowledge from what you have learned in school so far. You will be tested in various subjects in order to gauge your understanding of these topics and how comprehensive your knowledge is.

What is the format for the ACT?

That ACT can contain up to five sections including Math, English, Science, Reading and Writing. Unlike the SAT, the ACT does not require you to complete the writing section. If you opt to take the writing test, you will be taking the ACT Plus Writing test rather than the standard ACT. The test typically begins at 8 a.m. and, if you decide to take the writing test, ends at 1 p.m. You will be given two breaks.

The test consists of 215 questions plus the 1 writing prompt. Most of the questions will be multiple-choice questions.

ACT Test Structure

English 75 multiple-choice questions
Usage & Mechanics 40
Rhetotical Skills 35
Mathematics 60 multiple-choice questions
Pre-Algebra 14
Elementary Algebra 10
Intermediate Algebra 9
Coordinate Geometry 9
Plane Geometry 14
Trigonometry 4
Reading 40 multiple-choice questions
Analysis of four Reading Passages
Prose Fiction 10
Humanities 10
Social Studies 10
Natural Sciences 10
Science 40 multiple-choice questions
Content areas for Science are Biology, Earth/Space Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics
Data Representation 15
Research Summary 18
Conflicting Viewpoint 7

What does my ACT score mean?

The highest score you can achieve on the ACT is a 36. This is a perfect score. The way your score is determined is a bit complicated, but it can provide for an accurate reading of your skills in several areas at once. First of all, no points are deducted for wrong answers. Each test score is based on the scores you receive on the sections within each test. Then, your test scores are averaged to create a composite score. This is your final score.

How does the ACT benefit me?

The ACT can benefit you in several ways. For instance, a good score could bring you one step closer to the college you have always wanted to attend. You are also being tested on what you actually know rather than your ability to take a test. So, where the SAT tests for reasoning skills, the questions on the ACT are meant to test what you know.

The ACT can also be beneficial to you because, depending on how you do on the test, you can use their “interest inventory” which allows you to figure out if you would be a good match for particular career paths.

How can I take the ACT?

You can sign up for the ACT online using the ACT website, found at www.act.org. You will be given a test date, time and location. Please try to arrive early so you have plenty of time to check in and get settled before testing begins. You will be required to pay a registration fee of $30-$45 when you sign up, though this price includes the cost of having score reports sent to four colleges of your choice.

Taking the ACT is really a valuable experience. Even though the SAT is the test that gets all of the press, the ACT might be a more suitable option for you. Especially when you take into consideration what the ACT tests for. Since you will be tested on what you know—that is, the knowledge you have acquired in high school, your score may be a better reflection of your readiness for college or your ability to fit with a particular school.

However, as with any standardized test, your entire college worthiness cannot be based on it alone. Some people are just not good test takers. Others might just be good guessers. It is a combination of your ACT score, your grades and other factors that will tell college admissions judges whether or not you are a right fit for their institution.