ACT is a subject-based test with multiple-choice questions covering five areas: English, mathematics, reading, scientific reasoning and writing. Some students prefer to take de ACT because they are more comfortable answering questions knowledge-based.
The writing section isn’t mandatory and consists of one essay question. You must declare your position about an issue and support it with good reasons and many details.
 ACT Structure
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| Usage & Mechanics
| 40
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| Rhetotical Skills
| 25
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| Pre-Algebra
| 14
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| Elementary Algebra
| 10
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| Intermediate Algebra
| 9
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| Coordinate Geometry
| 9
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| Plane Geometry
| 14
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| Trigonometry
| 4
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| Analysis of four Reading Passages
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| Prose Fiction
| 10
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| Humanities
| 10
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| Social Studies
| 10
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| Natural Sciences
| 10
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Content areas for Science are Biology, Earth/Space Sciences, Chemistry,
and Physics
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| Data Representation
| 15
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| Research Summary
| 18
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| Conflicting Viewpoint
| 7
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ACT registration and information
You can register for the ACT online at www.act.org.you will be given a test date, time and location. The registration fee includes the cost of having score reports sent to four colleges of your choice. If you want to pay by check or money order, you must use a registration packet. (URL: http://www.actstudent.org/forms/stud_req.html)
You can also request arranged testing if you are a homebound or confined student or if there is not a near test center of your home (within 50 miles) or you have strong religious beliefs which prohibit Saturday testing.
Calendar Dates
For ACT students have six testing days to choose from. High school seniors, to get applications completed on time, take the ACT in September or October. If you are a high school junior and want to see your perform in ACT, take the test in winter or spring. The summer test date is for who are unhappy with his scores and want to retake the exam.
Colleges usually prefer that students take the ACT test in their junior year, because in this year students will have completed most of the coursework covered in the ACT.
ACT Scores
Each section is scored on a range of 1-36. There is also a composite score that is the average of the four scores.
The ACT reports three additional scores to students who take the Writing Test:
- Writing Test score (2–12)
- English/Writing score (1–36)
- Comments about your writing
The chart bellow shows the range of ACT scores of the middle 50% of admitted students. But you must know that the 25% of admitted students obtained lower numbers listed here.
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| Auburn
| 22-27
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| Carleton
| 28-32
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| Carleton
| 25
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| Duke
| 29-34
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| Harvard
| 31-35
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| Middlebury
| 29-33
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| Pomona
| 29-34
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| Stanford
| 29-33
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| UCLA
| 24-30
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Tips to prepare for the ACT
- A good way to begin your preparation for the ACT is with the practice tests, in this way you will learn your strengths and weakness.
- Rest appropriately the night before the test, so you will be fresh and relax in the morning ready for a good performance.
- Follow the instructions of the testing booklet; if you don’t pay attention your score could be affected.
- Time is important and you must be aware of it. For each section there will be announcements that five minutes are remaining, it will help you to take your time and mark the rest of the answer sheet or review some questions.
- Don’t stay stuck in one question, skip it and come back to it later.
- As in the SAT, try to answer everything because you don’t lose points for incorrect answers.
- If you have time, try to review your answers and make sure some points.
Difference between ACT and SAT
Nowadays, most colleges accept both ACT and SAT giving applicants a better chance to get into a good college.
The ACT is a content-based test; meanwhile the SAT measures applicant’s skills on solving problems. You may perform better on one test than the other depending of your strengths and weaknesses. It is advisable to check with each of your target colleges before taking the tests.
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