ACT Prep Guide
A Note from BestColleges on Coronavirus and ACT Testing
Amidst COVID-19 concerns, the ACT plans to begin offering a new option for students to take the ACT test online at home through remote proctoring. This is planned to take effect in late fall or early winter of 2020.
Be sure to check ACT COVID-19 updates for any changes regarding testing dates and formats.
We are also working to provide information and resources to students about the impact of coronavirus on college life. Read our latest Coronavirus Resources for Students.
What is the ACT?
The American College Testing (ACT) exam is a standardized test that college and university admissions officers use to measure the academic achievements of current applicants. First offered in 1959, the ACT was originally created as an alternative to College Board’s Scholastic Aptitude Test (now known as the SAT exam).
The ACT is offered six times per year in testing locations across the country. It is comprised of four required sections — English, mathematics, reading and science — and one optional writing section. Each required section of the test is scored out of a possible 36 points, and a test-taker’s final score represents a ‘composite score’ of the four sections.
The optional writing section is graded separately, and scored using a different method (see below). The exam is designed to measure ‘college readiness’ in high school graduates by testing their reading comprehension, scientific reasoning skills and ability to form logical arguments.
The Details
The ACT Going Online
The ACT is now available online. While not all school districts offer the online ACT — after all, it requires computers, special software, and proctor caching capabilities — most are actively working toward it. Students should expect this version to become the preferred format for standardized testing as it provides increased security, convenience, and accuracy. It also reduces costs associated with test administration and delivers scores immediately upon completion.
How Does the Online ACT Work?
The sections of the online ACT — English, reading, science, math, and (optional) essay — are the same as in the paper version. Also like the paper test, students are given pencils and scratch paper for notetaking, and regular breaks are provided. There are slight differences between the two versions: The online ACT includes a countdown clock, unanswered questions are marked with an orange dot, and students can virtually “cross-off” answers.
Within a controlled setting, schools provide equipment for the online ACT. Each student is given a school-supplied laptop, Chromebook, or computer, as personal laptops are not permitted. The school’s local server is also used to give the exams and collect responses, which are then electronically delivered to the main server of Pearson Assessment. At that point, exams are instantly removed from the school’s computers and local server, ensuring student data is encrypted and free from hacking.
The online and paper versions of the ACT cost the same. And as with the paper version, the optional writing section requires an additional fee. Other fees, like late registration, may apply.
Students can visit TestNav to review the online ACT and take a timed or untimed practice test. Test preparation materials, including study guides and best practices, are available on ACT’s website.
ACT Test Breakdown
The ACT test is comprised of four timed multiple-choice sections in English, math, reading and science. Students who elect to take the optional writing test will also be asked to answer a writing prompt. Each of the four required sections includes subdivisions designed to test a specific competencies in that particular subject. Our section-by-section ACT exam breakdown is found below.
ACT English Section
The English section of the ACT test is comprised of 75 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 45 minutes. The section covers usage and mechanics of the English language, as well as rhetorical skills.
Strategy and Sample Questions
Your first step with each question should be to eliminate all answers you know to be incorrect. The process of elimination will help you narrow down the list of possible answers, thereby increasing your chances of choosing the correct one if a guess is required.
Tips and Tricks
- Quietly read each sentence aloud. Sometimes grammatical errors are more easily heard than read on paper.
- Remember: you’re looking for grammatically correct answers. Avoid choices that sound colloquial, even if they are commonly used in casual conversation.
- Never blindly guess. At the very least, try to eliminate one answer.
- Don’t spend too much time on one question. If you don’t immediately know the answer, make a note of the question number and come back to it when you’ve finished the rest of the section.
ACT Math Section
The math section of the ACT features 60 questions that must be completed within 60 minutes. The section covers various mathematical and analytical functions found in arithmetic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Approved calculators are allowed for the entire section; an extensive list of calculators that are permitted and prohibited can be found here.
Strategy and Sample Questions
Get to know your calculator before the exam; knowing all of its specific functions and shortcuts will save a great deal of time during the testing period.
Tips and Tricks
- Identify your mathematical strengths and weaknesses early on in the studying process, and focus on areas where you struggle.
- Use the process of elimination to arrive at answers. Whenever possible, don’t decide on an answer until you’ve narrowed it down to a single option.
- For some questions, using a calculator will actually take more time than solving the problem by hand.
- Don’t spend too much time on one question. If you don’t immediately know the answer, make a note of the question number and come back to it when you’ve finished the rest of the section.
ACT Reading Section
The reading section includes 40 multiple-choice questions (based on four written passages) that must be completed within 35 minutes. The passages are typically comprised of non-fiction humanities, social science and natural science subjects, as well as one fictional passage. The material is comparable to college freshman-level curriculum, and is designed to assess reading comprehension and evaluation skills, rather than acute vocabulary or memorization techniques.
Strategy and Sample Questions
Read each passage as many times as necessary, and use the process of elimination to narrow down possible answer choices.
Tips and Tricks
- Read each passage carefully two times before answering any questions. Focus on the overall message on the first read, and then study specific details the second time.
- Remember: you’re looking for the best answer, not the only possible correct answer.
- Watch out for statements that seem extreme, controversial or irrelevant. They are almost always incorrect.
- Vocabulary questions can be tricky, so be sure to search the entire sentence (and even surrounding sentences) for clues.
ACT Science Reasoning Section
The science section includes 40 multiple-choice questions (based on multiple passages) that must be completed within 35 minutes. The section tests scientific reasoning skills related to Earth science, physical science and biology.
Strategy and Sample Questions
Although this section contains science-related material, reading comprehension is equally important for choosing your answers. Read the passage below before answering the questions provided:
The Surface of Europa
Unmanned spacecraft taking images of Jupiter’s moon Europa have found its surface to be very smooth with few meteorite craters. Europa’s surface ice shows evidence of being continually resmoothed and reshaped. Cracks, dark bands, and pressure ridges (created when water or slush is squeezed up between 2 slabs of ice) are commonly seen in images of the surface. Two scientists express their views as to whether the presence of a deep ocean beneath the surface is responsible for Europa’s surface features.
Scientist 1
A deep ocean of liquid water exists on Europa. Jupiter’s gravitational field produces tides within Europa that can cause heating of the subsurface to a point where liquid water can exist. The numerous cracks and dark bands in the surface ice closely resemble the appearance of thawing ice covering the polar oceans on Earth. Only a substantial amount of circulating liquid water can crack and rotate such large slabs of ice. The few meteorite craters that exist are shallow and have been smoothed by liquid water that oozed up into the crater from the subsurface and then quickly froze.
Jupiter’s magnetic field, sweeping past Europa, would interact with the salty, deep ocean and produce a second magnetic field around Europa. The spacecraft has found evidence of this second magnetic field.
Scientist 2
No deep, liquid water ocean exists on Europa. The heat generated by gravitational tides is quickly lost to space because of Europa’s small size, as shown by its very low surface temperature (-160 degrees Celcius). Many of the features on Europa’s surface resemble features created by flowing glaciers on Earth. Large amounts of liquid water are not required for the creation of these features. If a thin layer of ice below the surface is much warmer than the surface ice, it may be able to flow and cause cracking and movement of the surface ice. Few meteorite craters are observed because of Europa’s very thin atmosphere; surface ice continually sublimes (changes from solid to gas) into this atmosphere, quickly eroding and removing any craters that may have formed.
ACT Writing Section
The optional writing section of the ACT evaluates logical reasoning and persuasive writing by asking test-takers to compose a compelling writing prompt. You’ll be given 40 minutes to write a cohesive essay that clearly expresses your perspective on the given topic and compares your stance to three other perspectives included below the passage.
This section of the ACT is optional, although some colleges and universities require students to submit a writing score along with scores from the four required sections of the exam. The writing section will not affect the composite score of the exam, but the writing score will add an English Language Arts (ELA) score to your ACT records; an ELA score is a prerequisite for admission to some colleges.
Strategy For Section
Read the passage a couple of times, making notes beginning on the second read-through, and carefully examine all three perspectives to find the ones that are most relevant to your position.
Tips and Tricks
- Produce a rough draft on scrap paper to work out the kinks in each sentence and improve the clarity of your overall message.
- Citing evidence from the passage will bolster your arguments and potentially increase your score.
- Avoid extreme comments; a focused, rational argument will land you the best possible score.
- If possible, cite all three perspectives in order to create the most balanced possible argument.
Scores
The Act utilizes a composite scoring system, awarding composite (or average) scores out of a possible 36 points.
Each required section is graded on a scale of one to 36 points. The first step in determining the exam score is tallying the raw scores for all four of the required sections. Each section awards one point for each correct answer, and then the total number of correct answer points is scaled to a score between 1 and 36. The scores of each section are then added together and divided by four to calculate the composite, or average, final score.
For example, let’s say you scored the following: 28 for the math section; 26 for the reading section; 23 for the science section and 24 for the English section. Your composite score would be these four numbers divided by four, or 25.25. This figure is rounded down for a final composite score of 25.
The writing test, like the other sections, is scored on a scale of one to 36 points. Additionally, ACT readers will grade the essay on four domains, or subsections: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. Two readers will grade each domain on a scale of one to six points, for a possible score of two to 12 points in each domain. An image of the essay and the test/domain scores will be included in your ACT records if you choose to participate in this optional section — but the essay will not affect the composite score whatsoever.
ACT multiple-choice scores are released anywhere from 10 days to eight weeks after the exam date. If you opt for the writing test, then your composite score will not be released until the essay has been graded. Writing scores are generally available two weeks after multiple-choice scores have been announced. Reasons for delayed scores include errors on ACT documents or incomplete forms, as well as outstanding exam fees. Scores will be directly sent to schools.
Recent reports place the national average ACT test score at 21, with those in the midwest and upper east coast among the highest-scoring states. While the number of students with a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT has increased dramatically since 2013, this group is still representative of less than 1% of all students completing the test.
Average ACT Composite Score
In recent years, certain colleges and universities have adopted a ‘superscoring’ system for entrance exam scores. In this system, only your highest subsection scores out of every time you’ve sat for the ACT exam are considered. For example, if you took the test twice and did better on math the first time but better on reading the second, your superscore will include the highest subscores of the two sections from two different tests for a better overall score.
When you register for the ACT, you will be asked to list all of the schools and scholarship agencies where you would like your scores sent. Your ACT scores will not be sent to these recipients until you have viewed them; if you are dissatisfied with the results, simply log in to your account and delete all of your college recipients from the list. If you would like to include additional schools and agencies after you have sent your scores to the original recipients, then you may submit a request in writing, online or by phone or email.
Preparing for the ACT
Understanding the ACT format is crucial to earning a high composite score on the exam. For this reason, extensive pre-exam studying is encouraged. According to PrepScholar, there is no set-in-stone amount of study time that will guarantee success on the ACT. Instead, you should first use ACT prep materials become familiar with the exam format. Then, calculate a reasonable goal for your composite score and take multiple practice tests. Finally, calculate the difference between your scores on the practice tests and your goal score and study additionally as needed. A one point differential may call for an extra 10 hours of study, while six to nine points may require more than 150 hours of additional study.
In order to attain the highest possible composite score, it’s important to utilize a wide range of study resources. ACT prep guidebooks are often seen as the standard studying tool. Additionally, you can use alternative materials such as flashcards, study apps and tutoring services. The following list features our list of ACT test prep resources:
Additional Resources
- Peterson’s: This site offers test prep help for the ACT, SAT, and AP tests, all included in one monthly subsciption.
- Allen Cheng: Mr. Cheng, who scored a perfect 36 on the ACT, offers tips for improving your scores in all five sections of the exam.
- CollegeBoard College Search: This comprehensive school database allows you to browse learning institutions by different criteria, including prerequisite test scores.
- PrepScholar: Ultimate Study Guide for ACT English
- PrepScholar: Ultimate Study Guide for ACT Reading
- PrepScholar: Ultimate Study Guide for ACT Math
- PrepScholar: Ultimate Study Guide for ACT Science
- PrepScholar: ACT Writing Tips
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