The ACT test score is accepted at most four-year colleges in the U.S. This exam is administered by the American College Testing Program, which says the test “assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college level work”.
The ACT has four parts measuring understanding and ability in English, mathematics, reading comprehension, and science reasoning. Composite scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 36.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT includes a writing test that is optional, so check with the colleges on your application list to see if they require the writing portion. The ACT is not an IQ test, nor does it measure aptitude skills, like reasoning, as much as the SAT. Since the ACT is more of an achievement test, you will want to review your coursework using a study guide and may want to utilize study groups or tutoring.
Remember, there is no penalty for guessing and you are scored on the number of right answers. Pay attention to your PLAN scores and develop a process of elimination strategy for narrowing down answers to improve your odds.
Content of the ACT Test
English: 75 items; 45 minutes. Covers grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, style, and organization.
Mathematics: 60 items; 60 minutes. Covers pre-algebra, algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane trigonometry, and trigonometry. Calculators (including four-function, scientific or graphing calculators) are allowed, but not required.