Taking the ACTs

By Carley Carpenter, Senior

September 14, 2016

As many may know, every student in the high school will take the ACT test at least once as a junior. This is a nationally administered standardized test that allows colleges to evaluate students before acceptance. Most, if not all, colleges will ask for your ACT score on the initial college application, and the same goes for scholarship applications. Needless to say, this test is a big deal, but don’t worry, we have some tips to help!

The ACT is divided into five major sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science and Writing. According to the Kaplan Test Prep website, each of the five sections is scored on a scale from 1-36, and when the test is complete, you will receive a composite score from these five sections that also ranges from 1-36. The test takes about four hours to complete, with each section being timed.

In the English section, you will have 45 minutes to answer 75 questions, leaving about 30 seconds per question. This portion is divided into 5 passages each with about 15 questions that test your understanding of the conventions of English.

In the Math section, you will have 60 minutes to answer 60 questions, leaving about one minute per question. In this section, you can expect questions ranging from pre-algebra to geometry to trigonometry.

In the Reading portion of the test, you will have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions, leaving about 50 seconds per question. You will read 4 college level passages and answer 10 questions on each. The passages will cover topics of Social Studies, Natural Sciences, Literary Narrative/Prose Fiction, and Humanities.

In the Science section, you will have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions, leaving about 50 seconds per question. You can expect passages that contain various kinds of scientific information including biology, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, and meteorology. Usually, there are six passages filled with scientific data, and one passage where two scientists are giving opposing views on the same topic. Each passage is followed by 5-7 questions ranging from different difficulty levels.

The Writing portion is 40 minutes long, contains one essay, and is always the last section of the ACT. You will be given a topic or issue that you are expected to take a position on, and support your point of view with examples and evidence. You will not be graded on the position you choose, but rather your ability to firmly and coherently provide evidence as to why you chose that particular position.

With all this being said, it can be very stressful to take a test this large, and how do you know what a good score is anyway? According to the PrepScholar website, in 2014, the national average score was 20. About half the students in the country score above this, and half score below. The top 25% of test takers score a 24 or more, so keep this in mind when you receive your final score. No matter what professionals say about ACT scores, a good score is subjective to the test taker. There is no pass or fail with this test; one test score that is average for one may be exceptional for another, but keep in mind many colleges have a minimum ACT score for acceptance.

So how does one go about studying for a test that is this important? Well, everyone has different methods to study, and it is very important to find the one that works best for you. Kayla Irish, who scored a 34 on the ACT in the spring of 2016 said that she studied for about 8 hours per week for nearly 4 weeks before the test, and took the test about 8 times prior to the final ACT in April. “I wanted to make the test as familiar to me as possible,” says Irish, “I would take the test multiple times and try to ‘ruthlessly correct’ any of the mistakes that I made.” This approach was very different than the approach of Jonathan Chen, who also received a very high score on the test. Chen said “I used an ACT test-prep booklet and answered those questions about three different times over a few days before the test.” His goal was to be comfortable and just get a feel for the questions. Chen did not take much time to study and never really got into a “studying rhythm” as Irish described she did. The main tip that both Chen and Irish emphasized was to not spend too long on any one question. Because each section has a time limit, you should skip any questions that you do not know, and come back at the end if you have time. These two students received an exceptionally high score on the test, but it takes work. Both Chen and Irish were ranked in the top 99th percentile of students because of their scores. This means that these students scored higher than 99 percent of the students who took the test, and were in the top 1 percent of test takers. Displaying IMG_9917.JPG

As you can see, no two people study exactly the same way, so it is important for you to find and use the studying method that you find successful. And don’t worry, when it comes to the ACT, you are not alone! There are plenty of websites that offer practice tests and useful tips; your own teachers may have links on their personal websites that offer ACT practice. Closer to the test date, teachers and students that have taken the test may offer practice sessions for anyone and everyone to attend. There are even practice test booklets that you can easily obtain from our own councilors! There are tons of resources to help you study and prepare for this test, and it is important to remember that many staff members would be willing to give you some help.

Don’t forget that you can take the test as many times as you would like to improve your score, so you need not worry if your score is not in the range you were hoping for on your first try. Montana now pays for every junior in the state to take the test in the spring, so it will be no cost to you, but if you take the test more than once, you will have to pay the testing fee. Make sure to read each question carefully so that you fully understand what each question is asking you to do. The ACT prep website Prepscholar offers many helpful hints when actually taking the test. The writers recommend that you always choose the most concise answer that is straightforward and logical. Pay attention to any graphs, diagrams, or other images that are displayed for you; they are probably important! Due to the time limits on this test, it is recommended that you skim large articles rather than read word for word. This includes reading the introduction and conclusion paragraphs, as well as the first and last sentence of every body paragraph. You should try not to spend too long on any one question, and if you do not know the answer, skip it and come back if you have time. When finding the answer for a question, use the process of elimination. Even if one little thing is out of place, get rid of that answer. And remember, although this is a very important test, it is best to remain relaxed and calm when taking the test. Good luck, and do your best!