Chapter 1
Introduction to the ACT
So you’re taking the ACT. What will you need to do first? This chapter presents an overview of the ACT as a whole and discusses registration requirements, when to take the test, how to have your scores reported to colleges (or how not to), and the ways in which colleges use your scores.
THE ACT
Welcome to Cracking the ACT, 2019 Edition. The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions. But you probably already knew that. In this book, we’ll tell you all the things you didn’t know about the ACT, all to show you how to crack the test and get your best score.
The ACT is traditionally a pencil-and-paper exam but is now given online as well. While the test is usually taken on Saturday mornings, some states offer a special state-administration during the school day. Non-Saturday testing is available but only for students who live in remote areas or who can’t test on Saturdays for religious reasons.
Where Does the ACT Come From?
The ACT is written by a nonprofit organization that used to call itself American College Testing but now just calls itself ACT. The company has been producing the ACT since it introduced the test in 1959 as an alternative to the College Board’s SAT. ACT also writes ACT Aspire and PreACT, which are tests you may have taken earlier in your academic career. The organization also provides a broad range of services to educational agencies and business institutions.
What Does the ACT Test?
The nice people who write the ACT—we’ll refer to them as “ACT” from now on—describe it as an assessment of college readiness, “a curriculum- and standards-based educational and career planning tool that assesses students’ academic readiness for college.”
We at The Princeton Review have always been skeptical when any standardized test makes broad claims of what it can measure. In our opinion, a standardized test is just a measure of how well you take that test. Granted, ACT has spent an extraordinary amount of time analyzing data and providing the results of their research to various educational institutions and agencies. In fact, ACT has contributed to the development of the Common Core Standards Initiative, an educational reform that aligns diverse state curricula into national uniform standards.
With all due respect to ACT and the various state and federal agencies working on the Common Core, we still think the ACT is just a measure of how well you take the ACT. Many factors other than mastery of the “curriculum-based” content determine your performance on a standardized test. That’s why we’ll teach you both the content you need as well as crucial test-taking strategies.
What’s On the ACT?
The ACT consists of four multiple-choice, timed tests: English, Math, Reading, and Science, always given in that order. The ACT Plus Writing also includes an essay, with the Writing test given after the Science test. (ACT calls them tests, but we may also use the term “sections” in this book to avoid confusion.) In Parts II–VI, we’ll thoroughly review the content and strategies you need for each test.
1. English Test (45 minutes—75 questions)
You will have 5 essays total with some words or phrases underlined. The essays will be situated on the left side of the page, while on the right side of the page you will be asked whether the underlined portion is correct as written or whether one of the three alternatives listed would be better. This is a test of grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. Throughout each essay, commonly known as a passage, there will also be questions about overall organization and style or perhaps about how the writing could be revised or strengthened.
2. Math Test (60 minutes—60 questions)
These are the regular, multiple-choice math questions you’ve been doing all your life. The easier questions, which test basic math proficiency, tend to come first, but the folks at ACT can mix in easy, medium, and difficult problems throughout the Math test. A good third of the test covers pre-algebra and elementary algebra. Slightly less than a third covers intermediate algebra and coordinate geometry (graphing). Regular geometry accounts for less than a quarter of the questions, and there are typically four questions that cover trigonometry.
3. Reading Test (35 minutes—40 questions)
In this test, there will be four reading passages of about 800 words each—the average length of a People magazine article but maybe a little less hot goss. There is always one prose fiction passage, one social science passage, one humanities passage, and one natural science passage, and they are always in that order. One of these passages will consist of a dual passage in which the total length of the two passages will still be about 800 words. Each passage will be followed by 10 questions.
4. Science Test (35 minutes—40 questions)
No specific scientific knowledge is necessary to do well on the Science test. You won’t need to know the chemical makeup of hydrochloric acid or any formulas. Instead, you will be asked to understand scientific information presented in graphs, charts, tables, and research summaries, and you will have to make sense of one disagreement between two or three scientists. (Occasionally, there are more than three scientists.)
5. Optional Writing Test (40 minutes)
The ACT Plus Writing contains an “optional” writing test featuring a single essay. We recommend you take the “ACT Plus Writing,” version of the test because many—if not most—schools require it. On test day you may think that you don’t need it, but you might later decide to apply to a school that requires a writing score. The last thing you want is to be forced into taking the whole ACT all over again…this time with the Writing test. The essay requires that you consider a socially relevant prompt and three perspectives on that prompt. The essay is scored by two graders who will each assign a score of 1–6 for a total score of 2–12. This score will NOT factor into your Composite score.
How Is the ACT Scored?
Scores for each of the four multiple-choice tests are reported on a scale of 1 to 36 (36 being the highest score possible). The four scores are averaged to yield your composite score, which is the score colleges and universities use to help determine admission. Next to each score is a percentile ranking. Percentile ranking refers to how you performed on the test relative to other people who took it at the same time. For instance, a percentile ranking of 87 indicates that you scored higher than 87 percent of the people who took the test, and the other 13 percent scored equal to or higher than you.
Some of the scores have subcategories. English is broken down into Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills. In these subcategories, scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 18 (18 being the highest score possible). They are also reported as percentiles.
ACT will also give two cross-test scores called “STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and “ELA” (English, Language Arts). Your STEM score is taken from your Math and Science scores. Your ELA score is taken from your English, Reading, and Writing scores (if you choose to take the Writing test). Neither score has any influence on your composite, nor, frankly, as far as we can tell, on your college admission.
On your score report, ACT also indicates if you met their “College Readiness Benchmark Scores:” 18 in English, 22 in Math, 21 in Reading, and 24 in Science. ACT maintains that these benchmarks can predict college “success,” defined as a “50 percent or higher probability of earning a B or higher in the corresponding college course or courses.” These scores and their meaning have been determined by ACT’s own research and data, not by any studies done by colleges and universities themselves.
When Should You Take the ACT?
If you haven’t already, go to ACTStudent.org and create your free ACT Web Account. You can register for tests, view your scores, and request score reports for colleges through this account. You can also view the specific test dates and centers for the upcoming academic year.
In the United States, U.S. Territories, and Canada, the ACT is given seven times a year: September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. Internationally, the September test date is not offered, and the February and July administrations are not available in New York.
Many states also offer an additional ACT as part of their state testing. Check with your high school to see if and when your state offers a special ACT. Your school will register you automatically for a state ACT. You must register yourself for all other administrations.
Traditionally, most students wait until the spring of their junior year to take the ACT. Many high schools still recommend spring of junior year because the content of the Math test includes topics some curricula do not cover before then. However, these topics appear in only a handful of questions, and many juniors take their first ACT in the fall or winter.
We recommend that you consider your own schedule when picking your test dates. Do you play a fall sport and carry a heavier load of extracurricular activities in the fall? Is winter a quiet time in between semesters? Do you act in the spring musical and plan to take several AP exams? Have you been dreaming of attending Big State University since you were a toddler and already plan to apply early decision? Let the answers to these questions determine your test dates. But we recommend taking your first test as early as your schedule allows.
How Many Times Should You Take the ACT?
For security reasons, ACT will not let you take the exam more than twelve times. But we certainly hope no one is dismayed by this restriction. There are certainly better things to do with your time on a Saturday morning, and we don’t believe any college will accept “taking the ACT” as an extracurricular activity!
The Princeton Review recommends that you plan to take the ACT two to three times. If you achieve your goal score in your first administration, great. Take the money and run. On the other hand, if after three tests you have reason and motivation to take the ACT again, do it. On your first day of college, you will neither remember nor care how many times you had to take the ACT.
Does ACT “Super Score”?
The term “super score” or “super composite” is used by students, maybe even colleges, but not by ACT. ACT usually sends a separate score report for each test date and will send reports only for the dates you request. ACT generally does not combine scores from different test dates.
However, many schools (and the common application) will ask you to list the score and test date of your English, Math, Reading, and Science and then calculate a “super composite” based on these scores. Therefore, if you worry that some scores will rise as others fall when you take the ACT again, the “super composite” will reflect your best results.
The Princeton Review strongly recommends that you consult each school you’re applying to. While ACT will generally send only the test dates you request, you should decide which and how many dates to send based on your scores and the school’s guidelines about super scoring. Moreover, some schools require that you submit all test scores from every administration, and you should abide by any such requirements.
How Do You Register for the ACT?
The fastest way to register is online, through your ACT Web Account. You can also obtain a registration packet at your high school guidance office, online at ACTStudent.org/forms/stud_req , or by writing or calling ACT at the address and phone number below.
ACT Student Services
2727 Scott Blvd
PO Box 414
Iowa City, IA 52243-0414
319.337.1270
Bookmark ACTStudent.org. You will start at this portal to view test dates, fees, and registration deadlines. You can also research the requirements and processes to apply for extended time or other accommodations. You will also start at ACTStudent.org to access your account to register, view your scores, and order score reports.
Check the site for the latest information about fees. The ACT Plus Writing costs more than the ACT (No Writing), but ACT also offers a fee waiver service. While you can choose four schools to send a score report to at no charge, there are fees for score reports sent to additional schools. Beginning in September 2018, students with ACT waivers will be able to have up to 20 scores sent to schools.
Test Security Changes
As part of the registration process, you have to upload or mail a photograph that will be printed on your admissions ticket. On test day, you have to bring the ticket and acceptable photo identification with you.
Standby testing is available, but you have to register in advance, usually before the prior Monday. Check ACTStudent.org for more information.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE ACT
The Princeton Review materials and test-taking techniques contained in this book should give you all the information you need to improve your score on the ACT. For more practice materials, The Princeton Review also publishes 1,511 Practice Questions for the ACT, which includes six tests’ worth of material.
Other popular coaching books contain several complete practice ACT exams. We strongly advise you not to waste your time taking these tests. In some cases, the questions in these books are not modeled on real ACT questions. Some of them cover material that is not even on the real ACT. Others give the impression that the ACT is much easier or more difficult than it really is. Taking the practice tests offered in these books could actually hurt your score.
Cynics might suggest that no one else can license ACT exams because ACT sells its own review book called The Official ACT Prep Guide. We think The Official ACT Prep Guide is well worth the price for the three real tests it contains (make sure you buy the fourth edition). We recommend that you either buy the book or ask your high school to send away to ACT for actual ACT tests. You should get a copy of Preparing for the ACT Test from your counselor. It’s free, and it contains a complete, real ACT. The same test can be downloaded for free from ACT’s website.
While we advise you to obtain these practice tests to further your preparation for the ACT, it is important that you use them properly. Many students like to think that they can prepare by simply taking test after test until they get the scores they want. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work all that well. Why? Well, in many instances, repetitive test-taking only reinforces some of the bad test-taking habits that we address in this book. You should use practice tests for the following three key purposes:
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to build up familiarity with the exam
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to learn how to avoid the types of mistakes you are currently making
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to master our techniques and strategies so you can save time and earn more points
Do I Need to Prepare if I Have Good Grades?
Let’s take the hypothetical case of Sid. Sid is valedictorian of his class, editor of the school paper, and the only teenager ever to win the Nobel Prize. To support his widowed mother, he sold more seeds from the back of comic books than any other person in recorded history. He speaks eight languages in addition to being able to communicate with dolphins and wolves. He has recommendations from Colin Powell and Bill Gates. So if Sid had a bad day when he took the ACT (the plane bringing him back from his Medal of Freedom award presentation was late), we are pretty sure that he is going to be just fine anyway. But Sid wants to ensure that when his colleges look at his ACT score, they see the same high-caliber student they see when they look at the rest of his application, so he carefully reviews the types of questions asked and learns some useful test-taking strategies.
I Have Lousy Grades in School. Is There Any Hope?
Let’s take the case of Tom. Tom didn’t do particularly well in high school. In fact, he has been on academic probation since kindergarten. He has caused four of his teachers to give up teaching as a profession, and he prides himself on his perfect homework record: He’s never done any, not ever. But if Tom aces his ACT, a college might decide that he is actually a misunderstood genius and give him a full scholarship. Tom decides to learn as much as he can about the ACT.
Most of us, of course, fall between these two extremes. So is it important to prepare for the ACT?
If you were to look in the information bulletin of any of the colleges in which you are interested, we can pretty much guarantee that somewhere you would find the following paragraph:
Many factors go into a college’s acceptance of a student. Test scores are only one of these factors. Grades in high school, extracurricular activities, essays, and recommendations are also important and may in some cases outweigh test scores.
(2015 University of Anywhere Bulletin)
Truer words were never written. In our opinion, just about every other element in your application “package” is more important than your test scores. The Princeton Review (among other organizations) has been telling colleges for years that scores on the ACT or the SAT are pretty incomplete measures of a student’s overall academic abilities. Some colleges have stopped looking at test scores entirely, and others are downplaying their importance.
So Why Should You Spend Any Time Preparing for the ACT?
Out of all the elements in your application “package,” your ACT score is the easiest to change. The grades you’ve received up to now are written in stone. You aren’t going to become captain of the football team or editor of the school paper overnight. Your essays will be only as good as you can write them, and recommendations are only as good as your teachers’ memories of you.
On the contrary, in a few weeks you can substantially change your score on the ACT (and the way colleges look at your applications). The test does not pretend to measure analytic ability or intelligence. It measures your knowledge of specific skills such as grammar, algebra, and reading comprehension. Mostly, it measures how good you are at taking this test.
The ACT VS. THE SAT
You may have to take the ACT anyway, but most of the schools in which you’re interested also accept the SAT. In order to determine which test may be better for you to take, invest the time to take a full-length, timed practice test for each to (1) see how you score on each test and (2) how you feel during each test. The time spent on this exercise will be incredibly beneficial for your test preparation planning. Once you’ve decided which test is the better fit for you, you can then use that initial score as a baseline for planning your preparation to hit the target score for your dream college.
What Exactly Are the Differences?
Both the SAT and ACT can be pressure-packed tests, so knowing the structures of each can help you decide which test may be better for you. Let’s take the Reading Test for the SAT and the ACT as an example. The SAT’s Reading Test is 65 minutes long and has 52 questions covering 5 passages; the ACT’s Reading Test is 35 minutes long and has 40 questions covering 4 passages. In short, you have an average of 70 seconds to answer each SAT Reading question, whereas you have an average of about 53 seconds to answer each ACT Reading question. Some students really thrive under the pressure of the clock, while others prefer the extra time to ponder a question. The content and style of each are too similar to be determining factors. Which would you prefer? Each student has different test-taking preferences, so test differences such as this can help paint the picture a little more clearly for you.
In terms of subject matter though, both tests will generally test the same types of content. The biggest differences are that the SAT will have two math sections, one of which is a no-calculator section, and the ACT will have a Science Test that is basically a reading comprehension section.
Both tests include an optional Essay at the end of the test. For each test, the Essay score has no bearing on the Composite (ACT) or Total (SAT) score. Check with your prospective colleges and universities to determine whether they need you to take the essay for either the ACT or SAT. This is especially important to know before you take the ACT or SAT because you can’t register for a future test date to take just the essay—you’d have to take the whole test again!
To find out if the schools in which you are interested require the ACT essay, contact the schools directly.
While the tests may sound similar to you, you should know that some students end up scoring substantially higher on the SAT than they do on the ACT and vice versa. It may be to your advantage to take a practice test for each one to see which is more likely to get you a better score.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
In addition to the material in this book, we offer a number of other resources to aid you during your ACT preparation.
Register your book at PrincetonReview.com to gain access to your Premium Portal, the companion website to this book. There you will find 4 full-length ACT practice tests, assorted videos that demonstrate strategic, step-by-step approaches to ACT question types, and tons of useful articles, essays, and information.
Also online—and accessible to everyone—is a resource page we’ve created to track the upcoming changes to the ACT as this information is released by ACT, Inc. Visit PrincetonReview.com/ACTChanges to find out how these changes will (or won’t) affect your test-taking experience and what additional preparation you may need. We’ve got you covered!
WHAT IS THE PRINCETON REVIEW?
The Princeton Review is the world’s leading test-preparation and educational services company. We run courses at hundreds of locations worldwide and offer Web-based instruction at PrincetonReview.com. Our test-taking techniques and review strategies are unique and powerful. We developed them after studying all the real ACTs we could get our hands on and analyzed them with the most sophisticated software available. For more information about our programs and services, feel free to call us at 800-2Review.
A FINAL THOUGHT BEFORE YOU BEGIN
The ACT does not measure intelligence, nor does it predict your ultimate success or failure as a human being. No matter how high or how low you score on this test initially, and no matter how much you may increase your score through preparation, you should never consider the score you receive on this or any other test a final judgment of your abilities.