ACT

The ACT test was established in 1959 as an alternative entrance achievement test to the SAT. ACT Tests are administered at high schools and test centers nationwide. Complete details on ACT test dates, along with ACT test registration deadlines and sign up information, are available at ACT.

There are 5 or 6 ACT exam dates each school year, depending on the state you live in. You have to register by contacting the test center by the deadline before the test and by completing and bringing an ACT testing Registration Form to the test center on the day of the test.

Whatever day you choose, be sure to take the ACT Test at least two months before any of your application or scholarship deadlines -- it usually takes eight weeks to receive your ACT test results. Retake There is a 60 day waiting period before you can retake the institutional ACT test. ACT testing time is approximately four hours.

ACT Prep

Hopefully you can avoid the mistakes that others have made when preparing for the exam and will find this information to be helpful and informative on dealing with the ACT test. There are free act practice tests, although ACT practice tests that charge a fee are decidedly more accurate. However feel free to take a free ACT practice test just to get an idea. An ACT practice test is not the only way to prep, as there are also many ACT practice programs available as well.

Scoring

A composite score, which is the average of all four scaled test scores rounded to the nearest whole number, is then given. Sub-scores, ranging from 1-18 are also given for the English, mathematics, and reading sections. The writing and the English scores are then combined to give a combined English/writing score.

Your "raw" scores on each test section are turned into "scaled" scores ranging from 1 to 36. A machine scores your test and can't distinguish between a correct answer and a careless doodle. You may view them online before that, by paying a small fee, but your college wont get your scores any sooner.

ACT scores range from 1-36, and can have a huge impact on whether or not you are admitted to the college of your choice. Its a timed test, and there are 215 questions on the ACT Test, usually getting more difficult as you progress through each section. Because ACT test scores are so important, and can have such a huge impact on your future, its important to do as well as possible on the test.