When it comes to standardized testing – you’ve probably got questions! You might have been wondering, “What is the ACT?” and “What does ‘ACT’ stand for?” Never fear, My College Guide has the answers! Read on to find out more about the ACT college entrance exam and why you may want to sign up to take the ACT!
KTVee / Krissy
What is the ACT?
“ACT” once stood for American College Testing and is a standardized test. As you may remember from The SAT Reasoning Test and You article, a standardized test is one in which the conditions that you take the test are the same as someone else taking the test who lives eight states away.
Introduced in 1959, the ACT quickly grew. Just a year later, students all over the country had the option of taking the ACT, and now some states, like Illinois, Kentucky, Wyoming, and Colorado are required by the state to take the ACT as a condition of graduation!
Why Should You Consider the ACT?
So, why take the ACT? At some colleges (and even states), the ACT is actually a requirement. But for those that leave that decision up to you, this standardized test could play more to your strengths! The ACT college entrance exam structure is content or curriculum-based. This test aims to check the knowledge that you have retained over your high school years. The ACT is composed of four sections: English, math, reading, and science with an optional writing section.
david.nikonvscanon / David Blaikie
When Should You Take the ACT?
You probably want to take the ACT twice, once in the Spring of your Junior year and again in the Fall of your Senior year. As we discovered from test prep professionals, just taking the test a second time and knowing what to expect can give your score a boost! According to the ACT website, 55% (of test-takers) increased their composite score on the retest. So — that may be something you want to keep in mind!
How Long Does the ACT Take to Complete?
It will take you just over four hours to complete the 215 questions on the four basic sections of the ACT, but plan on an extra half an hour if you decide to take the optional writing section too. Just don’t forget to bring your #2 pencil!
How is the ACT Scored?
The composite test score ranges from 1 to 36, and the sub-score ranges from 1 to 18. An average score for the ACT is around a 20 or 21.
Let’s say you earned a Composite score of 30 on the ACT. According to the ACT website, a 30 shows that your score nationally ranked 96%, which means that 96% of the high school graduates who took the ACT received a Composite ACT score of 30 or below. Less than one percent of students achieve a 36 – the national average is a score of 21.
david.nikonvscanon / David Blaikie
How Many Colleges can Officially Receive the ACT score at one time?
The ACT will let you choose up to four colleges maximum where you can have your official ACT scores sent. Some colleges, like Yale University, require that they receive at least one official result from ACT in order to successfully file the Yale Common Application but you are still expected to report any other scores you receive.
While all four year colleges accept the ACT, should you choose to take it, each college weighs your score differently. They are going to look at your GPA, your class rank, your extracurricular activity, leadership roles, personal statement (or essay), and then some! The standardized test isn’t your ticket in – it’s just another tool to aid you in getting in! Want to read more on the ACT? Check out the My College Guide Admissions Guru past ACT questions.
