The ACT College Entrance Exam

The ACT, or American College Testing, is a test that assesses high school students and their general ability to complete collegiate level work. Used as a barometer for universities to assess potential incoming students, the ACT is accepted by all colleges nationwide, and offers challenging questions in several areas of assessment.

About the ACT

The ACT is a 215 question multiple choice test covering four areas: mathematics, English, Reading Comprehension and Science. There is also an optional writing portion which measures your skill in planning and writing short essays. The test is taken in a classroom over 3 hours and 30 minutes which includes a short break. Find out more about the different sections of the ACT below:

Mathematics: There are 60 questions in the mathematics section, where problems revolve around pre-algebra, algebraic concepts, intermediate algebra, coordinate and plane geometry, and trigonometry.

English: There are 75 questions in the English portion of the exam that focus on usage and mechanics, as well as rhetorical skills.

Reading Comprehension: There are 40 questions that focus on social studies, natural science, arts and literature reading comprehension.

Science: There are 40 questions that revolve around a wide variety of science concepts.

Who Needs to Take the ACT?

The ACT is available to all high school students who are looking to attend college, and is available to everyone grades 6 and up. All colleges and universities in the United States accept the ACT, although some prefer one college entrance test over another. Please check with your desired universities to view their preferred exam.

How Much Does the ACT Cost?

The ACT registration fee is $32 for the Basic ACT, which sends out your results scores to four colleges of your choice. If you would like to take the ACT plus the writing section, the fee is $47 (includes sending your scores to four colleges of your choice as well).

Other fees

-Sending your score to additional universities: $9/school
-Changing your test date after registration: $20
-Viewing your scores online: free

How do I Assess My ACT score?

The ACT gives individual test scores for all four sections as well as an overall composite score which is an average of the scores of all four sections. Your composite score will be assessed in your entrance applications to the colleges of your choice. The ACT scores range from 1 (the lowest score) to 36 (the highest).

When and Where is the test offered?

The ACT exam is offered 6 times a year in September, October, December, February, April, and June. Your ACT test scores are typically available for viewing 8 weeks after taking the exam. There are ACT test centers conveniently located throughout all 50 states and United States territories. Please visit www.actstudent.org to find a testing center near you.

How Can I Prepare for the ACT Exam?

You can prepare for the ACT exam by practicing full-length exams, signing up for instructor led classes, online prep courses, private tutoring, and more. There is a variety of college test prep companies who offer many services aimed to help you achieve your ideal score on the ACT. Popular ACT test prep companies include Kaplan, Princeton Review, Sylvan, PrepMe, Peterson’s, and Numbertwo.com.