If you’re preparing for college, you’ve probably heard of the ACT and SAT exams. While both are standardized tests that universities and colleges use when making admission decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships, they have some key differences.
Though colleges don’t generally prefer one test over the other, students are increasingly starting to take the ACTs as an alternative to the SAT. Here’s why:
- First, the SAT is more complicated as it focuses on logic and reasoning. To take the SAT, students need to learn SAT-specific strategies to raise their scores. On the other hand, the ACT is a straightforward content test, which may be easier for students who are familiar with the content tested.
- You might get it right by guessing. While on the SAT there’s a slight penalty is imposed on guessing, on the ACT, you can guess instead of leaving a question blank.
- The SAT exam uses strong vocabulary and most of its questions require several read-throughs to understand. The ACT, on the other hand, includes a science section designed to test reading and reasoning skills. It also tests higher-level math than the SAT, and this might improve your ACT score.
- If you have trouble focusing for extended periods of time, you might consider the ACT as the tests are shorter—they only last for two hours and 55 minutes. The SATs take three hours and 45 minutes to complete.
ACT Basics
Let’s back up. The ACT is a standardized test administered primarily to high school students in the U.S., typically in their junior or senior year. The main reason for taking this exam is to help in college admissions, but some students take them as part of a nationwide mandatory assessment.
The first ACT exam was held in 1959, and since then, it has undergone multiple revisions to conform with the fast-changing world of higher education.
Currently, the ACT consists of five sections:
- English– The ACT English Test is a 45-minute assessment where students answer 75 multiple-choice questions. All of the questions are based on reading passages with approximately the same number of questions per passage.
- Mathematics– This is a 60-minute long test that includes 60 questions. Its exercises are generally self-contained but there are some questions based on an individual chart or graph.
- Reading– This assessment takes 35 minutes and it consists of 40 questions. There are four sections, each based on a reading passage or pair of passages.
- Science– This section is composed of 40 questions. Students are given 35 minutes to complete the assessment. It revolves around six reading passages, each with six to seven questions.
- Writing– The ACT Writing Test includes a prompt for one essay that test-takers are given 40 minutes to write. This section is optional and students don’t necessarily have to complete it to receive scores for the other four sections. The test section evaluates writing skills taught in high school English courses.
ACT Test Registration
ACT exams are administered in September, October, December, February, June, and July. Click here to see the exact ACT test dates and registration deadlines.
Generally, students take the ACT for the first time in the spring of their junior year. It takes two to eight weeks to receive the scores. If you’re not satisfied with your performance, you can retake the test during the fall of your senior year.
If you miss the late registration deadline, you can sign up for standby testing. This begins immediately after the late registration deadlines and continues for eight days before the test dates.
Tips Before the Tips
Nearly everyone agrees that thorough ACT preparation produces the best test score results. A high score can help you get into your top college choices or even qualify for college scholarships.
Students have several options for ACT study and preparation, from on-site or online courses and tutoring programs to official guides and prep books. You can also use free resources such as ACT flashcard apps and eBooks. Practice guides and tests can also help to gauge your learning progress.
ACT Tips and Tricks to Reach Your Target Score
- Start with Your Strengths by Skipping the Hard Questions– Always start the test with the most accessible questions and work your way up to the hardest. This strategy allows you to attempt all questions while avoiding spending too much time on the most difficult ones.
- Never Leave Blank Spaces– There’s no penalty for choosing the wrong answer. When you guess answers on the questions you have no idea how to attempt, you might end up picking the correct answer.
- Forget the Correct Answer; Find the Wrong Ones– Multiple-choice tests offer significant advantages because they give you the correct answer right there on the page. Questions on the ACTs hide correct answers behind the wrong ones. So, when you identify one or two incorrect answers, it’s easy to choose the right answer through the process of elimination.
- Don’t Panic– To avoid getting exam anxiety, keep it cool even if you skip a few questions. You might find questions that initially seemed impossible are much easier when you come back to them.
Can’t make up your mind about taking the ACT? Don’t throw in the towel just yet. Taking the ACT has several benefits, so it’s worth the try. Unlike the SAT, the ACT includes a science section. So, if you excel in the subject, you’ll possibly get a high score in the test. You can also retake the exam to improve your score if you don’t do well on your first attempt.
