With the increasing importance of the ACT in North Carolina, here are some facts that you may not have known:
1. Is the ACT as accepted by college admissions officers as the SAT?
Yes, the ACT is accepted by all four year colleges and universities.
2. What components comprise the ACT Plus Writing?
The ACT has five associated sections, or tests. In order, they are the English Test, the Math Test, the Reading Test, the Science Test, and the Writing Test (Essay).
3. How is the test scored?
The main four tests are scored individually on a scale of 1-36, and a composite score is provided which is a whole number average of the four scores. In the US, an average composite score on the ACT is between a 20-21.
The essay, like the SAT essay, is graded on a scale of 1-6 by two scorers, yielding a score of the total submitted by both graders. Essentially, essays can receive a score of 0-12.
4. What does each subject component contain?
English: grammar and usage, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical skills.
Math: algebra, geometry, data analysis, trigonometry
Reading: four passages including prose, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences; content-related questions
Science: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, problem solving skills
5. Are calculators permitted?
Yes for math, no for science.
6. How long is the test?
The ACT Plus Writing is a total of 220 minutes. The English Test takes 60 minutes, the Math Test takes 60 minutes, the Reading Test takes 35 minutes, the Science Test takes 35 minutes, and the Essay takes 30 minutes.
7. The ACT is notoriously difficult to finish. If a student runs out of time, what should they do?
The ACT uses positive-only scoring, meaning that there is no penalty for wrong answers. Finishing the test is always ideal, but if a student is time-challenged, a guessing strategy is something that should be in the student’s toolbox.
For more information about the ACT, or to schedule a free practice test for your student, please stop by Chyten or call us at (828) 505-2495.
