The ACT is a standardized examination designed to measure students’ abilities in five areas: English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing. Many American colleges and universities, including the most prestigious, consider ACT scores an important factor in judging the quality of applicants.

Why do American schools care about the ACT? They care because it provides a level playing field for applicants to demonstrate their abilities. Since grading standards undoubtedly vary from one school to another, there is no way to know whether one student with a 4.0 GPA is truly as talented as another student with the same GPA. Thus, many schools rely on the ACT as a fair metric by which to judge a student’s abilities against another's. And this is no minor detail. As a result of the intensely competitive nature of the application process for the best schools, an impressive ACT score is all the more desirable, because a superior test score could potentially provide an applicant with that extra edge needed to get into the school of his or her dreams.

Any student seriously considering any of the most prestigious universities in the United States must recognize the ACT as an important element of the application process. True, a less-than-outstanding ACT score will not necessarily nullify an applicant’s chances of acceptance, since other factors including GPA, extracurricular activities, and application essays are also considered. However, an outstanding score certainly helps.

For each of the five areas (English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing) tested by the ACT, a score (ranging from 1 to 36) is determined, giving a maximum possible total score of 36. The median total score on the ACT is 21.1.

The current ACT, introduced in 2005, takes three hours and twenty-five minutes and costs USD $38 or $54.50 (with the writing section). The ACT incorporates the objectives for instruction for middle and high schools throughout the United States, and is most popular in the Midwest and Southern United States.

The good news is that the changes made to the ACT in 2005 have made significant improvement a more achievable goal. Armed with serious diligence and commitment, you have a greater chance than ever before to do well on the ACT. And we at Ivy Global are prepared to equip you with the skills and strategies needed to maximize your results.

The ACT is 3 hours and 25 minutes long. It is composed of 5 sections:

• One 45-minute multiple-choice English section (75 questions)
  • Measures standard written English and rhetorical skills.
• One 45-minute multiple-choice English section (75 questions)
  • Measures standard written English and rhetorical skills.
• One 60-minute multiple-choice Math section (60 questions)
  • Measures mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to the beginning of the 12th grade.
• One 35-minute multiple-choice Reading section (40 questions)
  • Measures reading comprehension.
• One 35-minute multiple-choice Reading section (40 questions)
  • Measures reading comprehension.
• One 35-minute multiple-choice Science section (40 questions)
  • Measures the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences.
• One 30-minute essay-writing section, with 1 prompt (optional)
  • Measures writing skills emphasized in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses.

These 5 sections, along with a short break after the first 2 tests, compose the whole of the ACT.

The highest possible ACT score is 36.

You can register for the ACT at the ACT website .

The ACTs is administered 6 times a year—September, October, December, February, April and June. See ACT Dates .

The ACT costs USD $38 or $54.50 (with the writing section).