I've compiled a list of essential questions you should ask yourself as you begin to plan for college applications. But the tricky part is still to come: preparing for the test. Having read this post, you hopefully feel a bit more clear about what the ACT is. We're just getting started! Time to make a plan. Generally speaking, though, it's ideal to take the ACT for the first time in the fall or winter of your junior year, when you've covered most of the material in school but still have time to retake the test if needed.Ĭheck out our guide to see a list of upcoming ACT test dates and get tips on choosing one. When you take the ACT will depend on what kind of score you want to get, when your application deadlines are, and whether you live in one of the states that requires the ACT. For top-tier, highly selective schools, you'll likely need at least a 33-34, but for less selective public universities, you could very well get in with a score closer to the average. Instead, you should determine what a good score is for the colleges (and scholarships) you're planning to apply to. While it's easy to fixate on trying to get as high a score as possible, most students don't need to get a 36. The composite score is simply the average of your four ACT section scores (the Writing score is left out because it's optional).Ĭurrently, the average ACT score hovers around 21, though there's some variance from year to year. That is then converted into a scaled score between 1 and 36. Orderģ hrs 35 mins (2 hrs 55 mins w/out essay)ĪCT scores can feel arbitrary, so let's break down where that mysterious number between 1 and 36 actually comes from.įor each section of the test, you'll get a raw score, which is the number of questions you get right.
#Sat meaning full#
For more details on what's actually on the ACT, you can follow the links to full breakdowns of each section.
This chart quantifies the basic structure of the test. With the exception of the essay, the test is entirely multiple choice: the Math questions each have five answer choices, while the rest have four. The ACT consists of four sections-English, Math, Reading, and Science-plus an optional Writing section, or essay. MIT, one of the many colleges that requires an ACT score. Two-year colleges and trade schools generally don't require applicants to take the ACT but will sometimes accept it in lieu of a placement test. If you're an American student planning to apply to international schools, you will probably still need to take one of these standardized tests, but it will depend on the school you're applying to and which country it's in. If you're an international student looking to attend a US school, you'll need to take either the ACT or SAT. However, many schools these days, including George Washington University, Hampshire College, and the California State University system, either don't require ACT/SAT scores or have flexible policies on standardized tests. This is not the case: all four-year colleges and universities in the US accept ACT scores, and the schools don't distinguish between the two tests. There's a common misconception that some colleges only accept SAT scores and won't take ACT scores. A number of states use the ACT as a statewide assessment test, so every junior at a public school takes the ACT. There are also a lot of students who are required to take the ACT by their high school. A strong standardized test score is a key part of your application. Most four-year schools require applicants to submit either ACT or SAT scores (they don't distinguish between the two), which can then make up as much as 50% of the admission decision.
The exam essentially serves as a nationwide college admissions test (though it's far from the only factor schools consider when looking to admit students). The ACT is a standardized test designed to show colleges how prepared you are for higher education by measuring your reading comprehension, knowledge of writing conventions, and computational skills, and then comparing you to the rest of the high school students who take it.
This article will take you through everything you need to know about the ACT, including why students take it, what it tests you on, and when you should plan to take it yourself. If you're planning to apply to college in the US, you'll almost certainly have to take one of these tests (and you might still need to even if you're planning on going to school outside the US). The ACT, like the SAT, is a standardized test used for college admissions. Maybe you have some idea that it has something to do with college, but you're still pretty confused about what exactly it is. If you've found this article, you've probably vaguely heard of the ACT (and if you hadn't before, well, you have now!).
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