All About the ACT

10 ACT Facts

1. 4 sections: English, Math, Reading, Science + essay
2. The ACT Math Section includes advanced topics like trigonometry, probability, statistics, unit circle, functions,and basic matrices.
3. The Reading Section includes 4 passages (Literature, Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Science), one of which is a double passage with two viewpoints on a single topic.
4. The Science Test challenges students to reason through data, charts, graphs, and viewpoints to anser 35 multiple choice questions. The hardest task is the “two scientist passage” in which students must read views from two scientists on a controversial science topics. Science topics are from the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics.
5. No Fill in. All questions on all sections (except the essay) are multiple choice. There is no penalty for guessing. Students should choose an answer for all questions.
6. Most colleges and universities do not superscore. Contact us for a list of colleges and universities that do superscore the ACT.
7. The ACT Math Test allows a calculator throughout. Students cannot use a calculator for the Science Section
8. The ACT essay is changing in 2016. The new essay will no longer be about high school related topics and will now require students to analyze different viewpoints.
9. The ACT English Test is similar to the SAT Writing and Language Test. Both require students to have a strong command of English Grammar.
10. Extra Time on the ACT: Extra time (1.5 or double time) is different on the ACT than the SAT. Contact Us for more information about extra time on the ACT.