What is the ACT?

The ACT (A-C-T) exam is a national college-admissions exam that assesses students in English, Reading , Math, and Science. The results of the ACT are accepted by all major U.S. universities and colleges, and the test is generally considered to be a more holistic and straightforward test than the SAT I. The test can be taken in New York in October, December, February, April, or June; it consists of 215 multiple-choice questions and takes about three hours to finish. All colleges in the United States will accept either the SAT or ACT, so students should choose to take the test they feel the most comfortable with.

The ACT Exam is comprised of four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, followed by an optional essay.

English	75 questions	45 minutes	Standard written English and rhetorical skills.
Math	60 questions	60 minutes	Mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of grade 12.
Reading	40 questions	35 minutes	Measures reading comprehension.
Science	40 questions	35 minutes	Measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.
Writing (optional)	1 essay prompt	30 minutes	Measures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses.

The ACT Assessment is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions on the ACT are directly related to what students have learned in their high school courses in English, mathematics, and science.

ACT English Test

Standard Written English

• punctuation
• grammar and usage
• sentence structure

Rhetorical Skills

• strategy
• organization
• style

ACT Math Test

The Mathematics Test covers six content areas:

Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra

• Pre-Algebra (23%)
• Elementary Algebra (17%)

Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry

• Intermediate Algebra (15%)
• Coordinate Geometry (15%)

Plane Geometry/Trigonometry

• Plane Geometry (23%)
• Trigonometry (7%)

ACT Reading Test

The Reading Test is based on four types of reading selections: one on social studies, on in the natural sciences, one of prose fiction, and one in the humanities.

• Each passage is worth 25% of the total score for this section.
• Similar to SAT Reading Comprehension: determining main ideas; understanding sequences of events; making comparisons; determining meanings of content-dependent words or phrases, etc.

ACT Science Test

The content of the Science Test includes biology, chemistry, physics, and the Earth/space sciences (for example, geology, astronomy, and meteorology).

• Advanced knowledge in these subjects is not required.
• # The test emphasizes scientific reasoning skills.

The scientific information is conveyed in one of three different formats:

• Data Representation (38%). This format presents graphic and tabular material similar to that found in science journals and texts.
• Research Summaries (45%). This format provides descriptions of one or more related experiments.
• Conflicting Viewpoints (17%). This format presents expressions of several hypotheses or views that, being based on differing premises or on incomplete data, are inconsistent with one another.

ACT Writing Test - Sample Prompt

"In some high schools, many teachers and parents have encouraged the school to adopt a dress code that sets guidelines for what students can wear in the school building. Some teachers and parents support a dress code because they think it will improve the learning environment in the school. Other teachers and parents do not support a dress code because they think it restricts the individual student's freedom of expression. In your opinion, should high schools adopt dress codes for students?"

In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about either one of the two points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.