The ACT stands for American College Testing and it is a standardized exam that is used by colleges from all over the United States during their admissions.. Now, it is administered by ACT, which is a non-profit organization.

The ACT test is pretty popular in the United States, and as the statistics of 2016 show, 64% of high school graduates chose to take this exam. It is taken in writing and is based on a multiple-choice format.

Exam Details

The ACT exam is based on the multiple-choice format, and there are around 215 questions that the candidates need to answer. The duration of the test is 2 hours and 55 minutes. There are two formats of the exam: one is solely based on multiple-choice questions, and the other requires the candidate to write an essay, but it is optional. If a candidate chooses to write an essay, then he will be given an extra 40 minutes. The test was first introduced as a competitor for the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) in the year 1959

There are four main subjects that are part of the ACT and they are Science, Reading, Mathematics, and English.


  1. English

The English test consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, and each candidate is given 45 minutes to answer all of them. The questions that appear in the English section belong to six areas, which are style, organization, grammar and usage, punctuation, strategy, and sentence structure. Strategy, organization, and style come under the Rhetorical Skills subscore while sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar come under Mechanics.

  1. Mathematics

According to the latest Prepaway ACT exam pattern, the Math section of the test requires the candidate to answer 60 questions in exactly 60 minutes. This section of the exam is designed to assess the students’ mathematical knowledge that they acquired in school. Since there are just 60 minutes for 60 questions, this gives you roughly 1 minute for each question, so you have to answer each question quickly. It is best if you revise all of the basics before the test.

However, the candidates do not need to remember complex formulas and perform difficult calculations. They are just expected to have the basic computational skills that allow them to answer each question quickly. It is permissible to use a calculator in the Mathematics section however there are some types of calculators that are prohibited, and it is the duty of the student to know the calculator policy.


  1. Reading

After the Math, the Reading section follows. Each candidate is given 35 minutes to solve this section,which consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. The questions are designed to evaluate the person’s reading skills by solving comprehension questions.

  1. Science

The next section in the ACT test is the Science section and it is designed to evaluate the person’s problem solving, evaluation, analysis, interpretation, and reasoning skills. The section consists of 40 questions. All of them need to be answered in exactly 35 minutes. One thing that all candidates need to keep in mind about this section, is that calculators are strictly prohibited.

  1. Writing (Optional)

If the candidate wishes, then he can add another Writing section to the test and write the extra essay. Each student is given 40 minutes to write a compelling text.

Preparation Process

You need to pass the ACT in order to get the admission to a decent college, and this is why it is important that you prepare for it properly. The ACT exams are not as easy as most people think, and if you are not prepared, then they can really push your limits.

The first step is that you should realize that each section of the ACT requires the candidate to have a particular set of skills and knowledge. Therefore, it is important that you familiarize yourself by using ExamSnap ACT Practice Test Sample Exam Questions with the style of questions that are going to be a part of the exam.

The next step is identifying your weaknesses. This is going to be rather difficult,but everything seems difficult at first.By identifying your weaknesses, you can ensure that you give each section the right time that it deserves. If you are already good at a particular subject, then there is no need to spend additional time on it. Plus, identifying the weaknesses makes scheduling easier. This is because you can create a schedule that takes your weak areasinto account. Strictly follow the schedule and you will be able to complete everything in time.

It is important that you set a target score. This will help you set the amount of the effort you need to put into your preparation. To set the target score you just need to see the required score for the colleges you like, and then start your preparation.

When it comes to the preparation for any kind of test, there is one thing that you should not forget, and this is a practice test. It is very important that you keep practice tests by your side because they can really help make things easier. There are many practice tests that you can find online. You should solve these tests to familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and learn to manage your time. Time management is the key during the ACT exam, so you should not spend a lot of time on one questions. If you make this mistake, then it means that you are surely going to miss a few questions.

One thing that you need to remember about practice tests, is that none of the questions you see in the practice test are going to find their way to the actual ACTexam. So, don’t try to learn these questions as there is no way they will be repeated.

Conclusion

These were somethings that you need to know about the ACT test. It is one of the most popular exams in the United States and it is mostly taken by high school graduates. If you wish to continue your education and go to the next level,then the ACT test is what you need.