ACT
ACT Basics
The ACT (American College Testing Assessment) is generally considered to rival or even outshine the SAT. Areas tested on the ACT are math, reading, English and scientific reasoning. Plan on spending approximately two hours and fifty-five minutes to take the test. It is divided into four sections, based on one of the subject areas, and the format is multiple choice. You will be asked five to fifteen questions per passage, the exception being math, which has sixty questions.
ACT vs. SAT
The lines used to be drawn in the sand, as the ACT was used predominantly by schools in the Midwest, and the SAT was the test of choice by schools located in the Northwest. That trend has changed in recent years, as both are used widely across the US. Since each test will focus on a test taker’s particular strengths, knowing your strengths and weaknesses going into each test is wise, so you can use each one to its greatest advantage. It is a very good idea to know the basic differences between the two tests.
ACT Scores
You will receive a total of twelve separate scores with the ACT, one composite, four subject scores, (English, reading, math and scientific reasoning), and seven sub-scores. Obviously, the average or composite score is the one to pay attention to; it can range from one to thirty-six. About 50% of all those ACT test takers score in the range of 17 to 23.