The ACT is a curriculum-based college board.
The ACT is a college-entrance exam popular in the Midwest and South but available in all 50 states and internationally. The states with the most students taking the test are Illinois, Michigan, Florida, Ohio and Texas. ACT is a nonprofit company whose services include academic development and career planning for students interested in attending college.
History
The American College Testing Program began testing high-school students in 1959 as an alternative to the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT. In 1960, the test gained nationwide acceptance. American College Testing officially shortened its name to ACT in 1996. ACT greatly expanded its operation in 2005 by launching ACT International, B.V., as well as classroom, homeschooling and business instruction through its Office of Distance Learning Resources.
Features
The ACT is a four-hour test containing 75 English, 60 math, 40 reading and 40 science questions, with an optional 30-minute writing essay. Each section is scored from 1 to 36, with the four-section average equaling the total score. The test is designed to be curriculum based, reflecting what students learn in school. It is available six times a year, in September, October, December, February, April and June.
Function
The ACT assumes students have learned basic English skills, focusing largely on sentence structure and grammar for the English portion of the exam. Math concentrates most heavily on algebra and geometry, while the Reading section tests comprehension through entries on social studies, fiction and the humanities. The Science section questions students in the physical sciences and biology. The optional Writing test addresses skills necessary for taking entry-level college English classes.
Benefits
Most students take the test twice, though they are eligible to take it up to 12 times. More than 50 percent of students receive a higher score the second time they take the test, although 23 percent see their scores drop. ACT test results instruct students on what skills they need to improve before entering college, and score strengths may help college-bound seniors pick a major.
Significance
Although a growing number of colleges no longer require ACT scores for admission, they still accept them if submitted. The less selective a school is, the lower test scores can be. Students at highly competitive colleges in the Ivy League typically have scores in the low to mid 30s, while those attending selective public and private universities score in the mid 20s to low 30s. Open admission schools take all students regardless of ACT results.
Registration
Students may register to take the ACT online or through a form available in their guidance counselor's office. They also can request a written form from ACT's website. Online registration can last up to 90 minutes and requires payment at the time of sign-up. ACT recommends that students pick a test date that is at least two months prior to their earliest college-application deadline.
Considerations
A student must bring his admission ticket and valid identification to the testing center or he will be turned away. Only number 2 soft-lead pencils are allowed during the test. Although proctors announce when 5 minutes remain on each section of the test, students should bring a watch to monitor their own progress. Students are permitted to use approved calculators. Proctors will prevent the test from being scored if prohibited calculators are used.
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