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The ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.
- The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
- The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.
Below are the links for more information on ACT, registration process, preparation resources, ACT fee and other details:
ACT Real Guide
Prep for the ACT with the Real Guide.
www.petersons.com
FAQ About The ACT
Many future college students understand they will need to take the ACT to
gain admission to college but are left with many questions about the ACT.
One of the top questions is about the difference between the ACT and SAT. The
ACT is an achievement test that measures what a student has learned in school.
The SAT is an aptitude test that tests reasoning and verbal abilities. The ACT
has up to 5 components including English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an
optional Writing Test. The SAT has three components: Verbal, Mathematics, and a
required Writing Test.
Many students also want to know when they should take the ACT. Students should
test at least two months ahead of the application deadlines of all the colleges
and scholarship agencies where they intend to apply. It typically takes four to
eight weeks after a test date to receive score reports. However, there are
advantages to testing earlier (as much as one year earlier, such as during the
junior year in high school). This can allow retesting if results are lower than
necessary or performance can be improved. It will also allow time for further
study and preparation if necessary to raise scores. Another advantage to earlier
testing is that colleges and scholarship programs will have access to your
interests and scores in time to contact you early on about admissions, course
placement, scholarships, and special programs.
Future college applicants frequently question whether or not it is to their
advantage to retake the ACT. The answer to this question varies upon
circumstances and individuals. Obviously if outside factors, such as illness or
personal problems, were a distraction or problem on the test date then retesting
after these have been resolved can be beneficial. Similarly, if additional study
or practice is expected to raise scores then retesting can also be a good idea.
ACT research shows that of the students who took the ACT more than once 55%
increased their Composite score; however 23% decreased their Composite score. So
obviously simply retesting is a bit of a gamble.
Once the actual test is over then most students want to know when they can view
their scores. ACT scores can be viewed online. During the early viewing period,
normally for about two weeks after scores are first available to view, an $8 fee
will apply. The official score report will arrive by mail.
Once students have their scores in hand, their question is what does the score
mean. The highest possible ACT score is 36. The required ACT score for admission
will vary from college to college as well as among individual school programs.
If you are not sure which college you intend to apply then it might be useful to
look at national rankings for your score. For example, the national rank for a
Composite score of 22 is 64. This means 64 percent of recent high school
graduates who took the ACT Assessment achieved a Composite score of 22 or below.
However, only 99 percent achieved 32 or higher. The ACT organization offers a
complete ranking chart on its web site to help you determine how your score
ranks.
Taking the ACT and properly utilizing your ACT score is a major step toward
achieving your future goals and dreams. Being informed about the ACT can help
you achieve those goals and reach your dreams.