ACT acronym for American College Testing is another test which we at Study Abroad Mentors specialize in. ACT is given by students who wish to pursue undergraduate studies abroad especially in the US and in some of the top colleges in countries like Singapore, Italy, Germany etc. Unlike SAT, ACT tests the students across 4 compulsory sections and 1 optional section. ACT is a paper-based test, wherein the student has to darken the appropriate bubble in the provided answer sheet. It is generally taken by 13+ year-old high school students who plan to study abroad for their undergraduate studies. Overall, the higher you score on the ACT and/or SAT, the more options for attending and paying for college will be available to you.
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| Subject | Questions | Passages | Question in each passage | Time (in minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 75 | 5 | 15 | 45 |
| Math | 60 | - | - | 60 |
| Break 10 minutes | ||||
| Reading | 40 | 4 | 10 | 35 |
| Science | 40 | 6 | 5-7 | 35 |
The ACT English section comprises five passages, each containing 15 questions (15 x 5 = 75 total). These questions primarily assess your proficiency in English language usage and your rhetorical skills.
| ACT English – Usage & Mechanics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Punctuation | Grammer + Usage | Sentence Structure |
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| ACT English – Rhetorical Skills | ||
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| Strategy | Organization | Style |
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In the ACT Math section, you have the freedom to utilize a calculator throughout the entire section, unlike the SAT, where you can only use a calculator in one of the two math sections.
| ACT Math | |
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| Elementary Algebra | Plane Geometry |
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The ACT Reading section is composed of 4 passages, namely Prose Fiction (Literary Narrative), Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science, each accompanied by ten questions. Here’s an overview of the aspects assessed in the reading section.
| ACT Reading | ||
|---|---|---|
| Key Ideas & Details | Craft & Structure | Integration of Knowledge & Ideas |
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The ACT Science section includes questions related to Life Science, Physics Science, and Earth Science. It evaluates your fundamental analytical abilities and doesn’t require an extensive understanding of scientific subjects.
These questions, related to these topics, are presented in the form of passages. The ACT Science section encompasses three types of passages:
Data Representation: These passages include scientific articles with charts and tables, which in turn involve questions about data interpretation.
Research Summary: These passages describe experimental procedures and assess your comprehension of the scientific method and experimental design.
Conflicting Viewpoints: These passages present two or more competing explanations for a scientific phenomenon and require you to evaluate models, inferences, and experimental results.
| ACT – Science Topics | ||
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| Life Science | Physical Science | Earth Science |
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While the writing section of the ACT is optional, it holds significant importance. A considerable number of Indian students choose to skip the essay portion because it’s not mandatory, but it’s strongly recommended to take the ACT Writing test. Many international universities and colleges actually prioritize the essay score over the ACT score.
The ACT Writing test involves crafting an argumentative essay, where candidates must analyze a central issue by evaluating three provided perspectives. Your score is based on four key elements: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use.
The essay is assessed on a scale of 12 points. Generally, a score of 8 or higher is considered quite good. It’s important to note, though, that the ACT essay score is separate from your overall ACT composite score.
| Type: | Computer-Based Test |
| Developer: | ACT |
| Skills tested: | English, Math, Reading Comprehension, Science based passage, Essay (Optional) |
| Purpose: | Admission to UG programs of universities/college |
| Duration: | 3 to 4 hours |
| Score range: | Composite score of 1 – 36 |
| Offered: | 7 times a year (US and Canada) and 5 times a year (other countries) |
| Countries accepted: | Worldwide |
| Language: | English |
| Fee: | US $46 to US $62.5 (For students in the US and Canada) US $ 47.50 (In addition to the above for International Students) |
| Scores used by: | Most universities/college in US for UG programs |
| Website: | www.act.org |