ACTs
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The ACT, a college admissions exam is not connected in any way to the SAT exam, or to the College Board.
Among the differences:
shorter
knowledge based as compared to the strategy and logic structure of the SAT
optional essay, new format (recommended).
Consists of four tests, math, English, reading, and Science.
The ACT Exam has not changed, the test is the same as it has been for several years. The Essay requirements have changed, to require a more structured written analysis.
How Do I get my ACT scores?
The ACT allows you to control which schools see your scores.
- If you leave the high school code box blank on the registration form,
and do not fill in the college and scholarship blanks,
when you sign up for the test, ACT will send
the scores ONLY to you.
- When you do decide where to have your scores sent,
ACT will send ONLY the scores you specify.
- Colleges ONLY see the scores you want them to
see no matter how many times you
take the test.
- The exception to this can be if you are
using your ACT scores to establish your
eligibility to play Division I or Division II sports
in college. In that case, you may be asked to send the
scores from any test sittings.
What's on the Test?
The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas:
English, mathematics, reading, and science,
and an optional essay. Elect to write the essay
you'll be viewed more positively.
The English portion of the test is 45 minutes long,
with 75 questions. The test measures written
English and rhetorical skills, as well as grammar
and punctuation.
The Mathematics test is 60 minutes long with
60 questions:
- Pre-Algebra
- Elementary Algebra
- Intermediate Algebra
- Coordinate Geometry
- Plane Geometry
- Trig
Reading Section - 35 minutes with 40 questions
- Humanities
- Nature and Science
- Prose fiction
- Social science
The Science Section: 35 minutes long, 40 questions
- Graphs and Charts
- Three experiments and six questions for each
- A passage containing a scientific debate/different
viewpoint between two scientists, with questions
- The Science test is, in the view of many, the hardest part of the test.It is a reading comprehension test, using science as the subject matter. Be sure to study this section.
As you prepare for the Science portion of the ACT, keep in mind that it is a reading comprehension exam. All the information you need for the science test is in the written material, although it is helpful if you have some science in your back ground to help you deal with the information./UL>
The Writing Test, which is optional, measures
skill in essay option. Optional means: do it.
In my opinion, the new ACT and SAT written essay requirements are an improvement over the previous essay requirements. The current essay requirement require practice and fundamental knowledge of planning, organizing, and and the ability to write more complex, analytical essays. The written essay is now optional for test takers for both the ACT Exam and the SAT.
Doing Well on the ACT Exam
THEbest way to do well on any standardized exam is to take practice tests, over and over.
And those practice exams should be the official exams written by the testing company. For the ACT, use, for instance, Peterson's book, which contains actual ACT Exams.
Over and over. Go over your errors, understand the correct answer and why you answer was wrong.
Scores on the Exam
The main scoring results of the ACT consists of
scores for each section of 0 - 36.
Each of these sections are averages to create a
composite score of between 0 - 36.
The composite score of 36 is equal to 1600 on the SAT I.
Free, and Purchased Practice ACT tests
Study for this Exam. The style and questions differ from the SATs.
You can study on your own, with a class, or using any of the several ACT Study Guides available.
1. Do a Google Search for free, online tests.
2. Purchase any (or all!) of the numerous study guides available. **** When you purchase a study guide for the new ACT, be SURE it says 2016 or later, on the cover.
Do a Google search for the guides available. Look on Amazon - watch the dates
3. Study Guides: Official ACT Study Guide, (look here first),from Peterson, also Princeton, Kaplan, Barrons.
4. In addition, there are guides for specific parts to the ACT, such as the math section.
Princeton, Free tests for ACT
ACT Test Prep - free exam, essay examples
About the ACT Exam
Free Downloadable ACT Exam, FROM ACT
The New ACT Essay
The New ACT Essay (Optional)
Learn More and sign up for the test
Write a winning five-paragraph, analytical essay in 50 minutes
Unless you have taken AP English Language - junior year - and even then, do not walk into the test to take the essay without looking over the ACT sample on their web site.
Learn about the ACT, the SATs, and compare the two exams
Gather Your Essential Test-Taking-Stuff the Night Before the Test
- Picture ID
- Ticket
- Calculator
- 3- #2 lead pencils
- Wrist Watch - when the proctor starts the test, check what yor watch says - be sure it registers the same time as that of the proctor's watch.
- Sweater or jacket
- Bottled water
- Snacks for breaks
- Tissues
Search College Testing
Study plan for the ACT test
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