ACT Test Overview for Students and Parents

The ACT is a nationally recognized college entrance exam designed to measure a student’s academic readiness for success in postsecondary education. Colleges and universities across the United States use ACT scores as part of their admissions process, scholarship decisions, and course placement. Many colleges are now test optional, so please check each college's admission requirements to see if you will need to take the ACT. 

What the ACT Measures

The ACT includes four required subject tests and one optional writing test:

• English – Assesses grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical skills & your ability to  revise and edit short texts and essays across  different genres.
  
  

• Mathematics – Covers algebra, geometry, and trigonometry concepts typically taught through 11th grade.
  
  

• Reading – Measures reading comprehension through passages from prose fiction, humanities, social science, and natural science and the ability to use evidence.
  
  

• Science – Tests interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry,  Earth/space sciences, & physics).
  
  

• Optional Writing Test – A 40-minute essay that evaluates a student’s ability to develop and communicate ideas in writing. This add-on is oftentimes not needed and the  main ACT test will suffice. Check your colleges' admission requirements to determine if this section is required.  

Scoring

Each of the four required sections is scored on a scale of 1–36. These scores are averaged to create a student’s Composite Score, also between 1 and 36. The optional Writing Test is scored separately and does not affect the Composite Score.

Some colleges use a “superscore,” which takes the highest score from each of the four required sections across multiple ACT attempts and averages them to create your strongest possible score.