ACT

SchooHigh school students planning for college need to take either the ACT or the SAT standardized test as part of the admissions process. While the SAT is more of an general reasoning and problem-solving test targeted at determining your aptitude for college level courses, the ACT is curriculum-based, which means students are tested on what they have learned in high school. Scores on the ACT are widely accepted as a criteria for college admissions, but be sure to check with the colleges of your choice. The weight given depends on the college as well. Just as with the SAT, these scores are just one of the several admissions criteria. Be sure to check with the admissions offices of the schools you are interested in, about the weight placed on the ACT scores and the ACT essay. You can choose to take the ACT multiple times and have the choice of your score to submit.

Exam A-B-Cs

The ACT is a multiple choice,standardized test that covers four major areas: English, Math, Science and Reading. An optional 30 minute essay is also included on the test. Not all schools require the ACT essay, but some do. Be sure to check with the college of your choice. The total duration of the test is 2 hours and 55 minutes. If the writing section is also taken, the duration is 3 hours, 30 minutes.

English Section

• 75 multiple choice questions
• 45 minutes
• 5 prose passages

• Emphasis on strategy, organization, style, punctuation, grammar and usage, sentence structure

Math section

• 60 multiple choice questions
• 60 minutes
• Tests math concepts learned through the end of the 11th grade
• Knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills required
• Emphasis on using reasoning skills to solve practical math problems

• Three subscores on six content areas: Pre-algebra, Elementary algebra, Intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry

Reading Section

• 40 multiple choice questions
• 35 minutes
• Representative of the level and kind of reading required in the first year of college
• Tests reading comprehension with four passages selected from social studies, natural sciences, prose fiction and humanities

• Emphasis on testing student’s ability to understand what is directly stated, as well as those with implied meanings

Science Section

• 40 multiple choice questions
• 35 Minutes
• Tests interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving in the natural sciences

• Content includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and the Earth/space sciences such as Astronomy, Meteorology and Geology.

Essay/Writing Section

• 30 minutes
• One writing prompt that describes an issue and two viewpoints on the issue
• Response should be based on your position on the issue – choose one of the viewpoints presented or your own perspective
• Emphasis on high school English classes and entry level college composition level writing

• If this section is taken, the section will be scored

PLAN

PLAN is a test taken in the 10th grade. It’s excellent preparation for those planning to take the ACT as juniors or seniors. It is part of a three part testing system for the ACT – EXPLORE begins in the 8th or 9th grade, followed by PLAN in the 10th grade, and the ACT in the 11th or 12th grade. PLAN includes four multiple-choice tests, similar to the ACT, in English, Math, Reading and Science. With each test, the material gets more difficult.

Your scores on the PLAN are also a good indicator of how well suited you are for the ACT (depending on which you may choose to take the SAT or not).

Fees and Registration

Basic registration fee (per test option)

ACT (No Writing) $34.00
Includes reports for you, your high school (if you authorize reporting), and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register).

ACT Plus Writing $49.50
Includes reports for you, your high school (if you authorize reporting), and up to four college choices (if valid codes are provided when you register). The $15.50 Writing Test fee is refundable, on written request if you are absent on test day or switch to the ACT (No Writing) before testing begins.

Additional registration fees and services Add to the basic fee for your test option (except for the Test Center Change)

5th and 6th college choices add $10.00 each
Requested online before the test date; refundable on written request, if you do not test. Find out how much it costs to send your scores after you test.

Telephone re-registration add $13.00

Late registration fee (U.S. or Canada only) add $21.00
For registration or test date change submitted during the late period for a national test date.

Standby testing on test day add $42.00

International testing (required outside the U.S. or Canada) add $27.00
The ACT Plus Writing is not available at international test centers on the February test date.

Test date change add $21.00
For different date only if absent or unable to test on original date. If you request a test date change after the regular deadline for the new date, you must also add the late fee. You will be charged the full basic fee for your new test date plus $21.00 ($42.00 if you register during the late period). Your basic fee for the original test date will be promptly refunded.

Test center change $21.00
For the same test date.

Viewing scores and score report online FREE

Test Information Release (TIR) service add $18.00
On December, April, and June national test dates at a national test center; refundable if not available.

Scoring

Every question you answer correctly counts directly to your score. There is no deduction for incorrect answers, so feel free to make intelligent guesses during the test!

Your ACT score, also known as the composite score is the average of your scores on each of the four sections of the ACT. The composite score range is 1-36. In addition, you’ll earn one ACT score (1 to 36) on each of the four sections of your ACT test. The national average ACT score is about 21. If you do take the writing test, you will receive a subscore for it, and a combined English/Writing score.

If you are interested in knowing how well you did on each section, you do receive a test subscore for each of the four sections. Subscores are in the range 1 (low) to 18 (high). This score is more for your own analysis, as colleges do not use the subscores.

When do I receive my scores?

You can view your scores online within 2-3 weeks of your test. Reports are mailed within 3-8 weeks of the test. Writing scores, if you took the writing test are mailed 5-8 weeks after the test date.

Choosing to release your scores

You may choose to take the ACT a maximum of 12 times. You determine which set of scores are sent to colleges or scholarship programs. You can choose from the test date (month and year), and the test location (National, State, or School) you choose.

Canceling your score

You may choose to add, change or cancel your score report before noon CT of the Thursday immediately after the regularly scheduled Saturday test date.

The ACT with the writing section costs $49.50, while the test without the writing costs $34.00 . The writing test fee is refundable under certain circumstances. The fee includes the cost of the reports for yourself, your school, and up to four colleges of your choice.

You can register for the ACT online at ACT.org . Note that the deadline for registration is usually five weeks before each test date. Click here for more information on registration,