ACT Exam
What is ACT?
The full form of ACT is American College Testing.
The ACT is a standardized test that is administered by the non-profit ACT to ascertain the college readiness of a high school student.
It was introduced as a competitor to the SAT in 1959, and the two tests closely mirror each other in their objective (serving as a reliable indicator of college preparedness for high school students) and the framework adopted to achieve that objective. Since the last 5 years, both ACT and SAT are accepted by almost all major universities for undergraduate admissions in the USA
Why ACT Important.
The ACT is so important to universities because admissions officers use it to judge your academic preparedness for college. However, your ACT score is also important to universities because if you're admitted, your ACT score will be incorporated into their annual ACT statistics
ACT Eligibility
Though ACT does not specifically list any prerequisites for the exam, it is generally taken by 13+-year-old high school students. There are no age or grade restrictions to appear for the exam. However, you will need an International credit/debit card to register for the exam and a valid International passport to serve as a valid identification proof.
ACT Exam Pattern
ACT assigns higher importance to curriculum-based learning inside school instead of just raw aptitude, as compared to the SAT. It tests you on areas related to English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. The endurance of the individual is tested along with the knowledge, as the test stretches for around 3 hours in total. You can add 40 minutes to the total time if you have opted for a writing essay too. The test comprises of 215 multiple choice questions. No negative marking is there, so intelligent guessing is recommended.
Here is a general overview of the ACT pattern:
| Section | Number of Questions & Time Limit | Content / Skills Covered | Question Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 75 questions in 45 min. | Grammar & usage, punctuation, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style | Four-choice, multiple-choice usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills questions |
| Math | 60 questions in 60 min. | Pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry | Five-choice, multiple-choice questions |
| Reading | 40 questions in 35 min. | Reading comprehension of what is directly stated or implied | Four-choice, multiple-choice referring and reasoning questions |
| Science | 40 questions in 35 min. | Interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving | Four-choice, multiple-choice data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints questions |
| Writing (optional) | 1 essay in 40 min. | Writing skills | Essay prompt |
ACT Fees
ACT with no writing component costs $46, whereas ACT with a writing component costs $62.50. However, there is an additional international testing fee of $57.50. As most Indian students opt for the writing component as well, the total fees is $120, which is ~ INR 7700, based on the current exchange rate. There are also the usual fees for sending score reports to additional schools.
ACT Test Centers in India
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Bangalore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Bhubneshwar, Chennai, Dehra Dun, Hyderabad, Indore, Rajasthan, Kodaikanal, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mohali, Mumbai, Mussoorie, New Delhi, Pune, Vadodara.