Act how does it work

This will take a lot of stress away come test day, since you'll know exactly what you're in for. Be aware that ACT does not license out old tests for publication. Some test prep books do a good job of writing sample tests that look very similar to actual ACT tests, but the only way to get an actual old ACT is to order one directly from ACT [source: Martz, et al.

It's probably a good idea to do this, in addition to whatever other preparations you undertake. The ACT is actually pretty easy to study for. It tests specific knowledge areas, so it doesn't include word puzzles or intentionally confusing questions. Once you know exactly what kinds of questions will be asked, you can identify the areas where you're weakest and study those.

You can also focus your study time on areas with the most impact. Are you totally clueless about elementary trig? That's only four questions on the entire test, so save that for last. Brushing up on your algebra will be time better spent.

Finally, if you have a pretty solid idea of what you want to major in when you go to college, it's a good idea to focus on that subject area. When you tell a college admissions officer you want to go to their for their excellent physics program, a sub-par science score on your ACT will not look good. Of course, you might not have any idea what you want to major in until you've been in a college for a semester or two, in which case this strategy won't really help you. ACT sends your scores to you, your high school, and to up to six colleges selected by you additional colleges cost an extra fee.

If you don't like your scores, you can retake the ACT, and they'll only send your best score to the colleges you select. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe.

Personal Finance. Planning for College. How the ACT Works. The ACT is one of two major standardized college entrance exams given in the U. See more college pictures. Here's the breakdown: English -- 45 Minutes Advertisement. Prose fiction Social science Humanities Natural science.

How is the Essay Section Scored? What Should I Aim For? See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine. The test is well known nationally and its results are recognized by the most competitive colleges and universities in the country.

For this reason, it comes as a bit of a surprise that ACT scores are not as commonly understood as one might expect. In fact, there are many misconceptions about ACT scores and their meaning, including the idea of an ACT scoring curve. In this post, we will outline how ACTs are scored and what the implications of this scoring are on testing decisions and score comparisons.

Read on to learn more about how the ACT scoring curve works. Your ACT is scored through a series of careful calculations. First, the number of questions you got right on each separate section is tallied. This results in what is known as a raw score. The raw score is simply the number of correct answers you submitted, and this number is not readily apparent on your score report. Instead, you see a score that is scaled. Your raw score is converted to a scaled score ranging from Your scaled scores for each separate section are then averaged to calculate your composite score.

Fractions more than or equal to one half are rounded up to the nearest whole number, while fractions under one half are rounded down to the nearest whole number. Your composite score is the first number that appears on your score report and is widely accepted as the most important indicator of your success on the test.

The four passages come from the same four subjects every year, and they always appear in the following order:. Tip: Answers on the reading section are deliberately trying to trick you. There may be multiple answers that look correct. Before you read the possible answers, try to answer the question for yourself when possible.

The majority of this test involves interpreting data and working with experiment results. Like the reading and English sections of the ACT, science questions are based on a passage.

Conflicting viewpoints questions ask you to analyze and compare two hypotheses or views that are based on different premises or incomplete data. It is optional, after all. A big shiny ACT score can certainly make your college applications stand out, but people can only learn so much about you from a number. Scores range from 1 to 36 on each section—with the exception of the writing section, where scores range from 2 to But less than. The average ACT score is And for schools that want to build on their reputation for excellence, a mediocre score may not be good enough unless you have an exceptional portfolio or something else to show off.

If the other pieces of your application are strong, you can probably get by with a lower score. So a good score really depends on what school you want to go to.

That means a good score is 24 or higher. Of course, good is a relative term. And yes, four points can make that big of a difference. While a score around 24 should get you into most schools, scoring 28 or higher will have some schools throwing money at you, begging you to be one of their students.

No matter how much you study, there are lots of factors that can add up to a bad test day. Lack of sleep, poor diet, not exercising regularly, health issues, stress, and distractions make it harder to perform your best under pressure. We can help. We have ACT prep solutions for every student and every budget. Connect with our featured colleges to find schools that both match your interests and are looking for students like you.

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