Chapter 26

Ten Wrong Rumors about the ACT

In This Chapter

arrow Recognizing that not everything you hear is true

arrow Finding out what’s true and what isn’t

They’re whispered in the bathrooms and written in notes passed in the classroom. What are they? They’re the vile and vicious rumors about the ACT — rumors that seem to grow with each telling. One of our jobs as test-preparation instructors is to reassure students and their parents that the latest rumors they’ve heard about the ACT are likely false. Here, we address ten of the rumors you may have heard. Quick hint: They’re all wrong!

You Can’t Study for the ACT

If you really believed this rumor, you wouldn’t have bought this book (and we’re really glad you did!). Of course you can study for the ACT!

The ACT tests grammar; you can certainly refresh your memory of the grammar rules. The ACT tests algebra, geometry, and arithmetic; you can definitely study formulas and rules in those areas. In addition, a little preparation can make you very comfortable with the format and timing of the test, which reduces your test-taking anxiety and ultimately improves your score. This book, in particular, discusses tricks and traps that the test takers build into the exam; by knowing what they are ahead of time, you can avoid falling into them on test day.

Different States Have Different ACTs

This rumor is based on the fact that the score sheet compares your performance to that of other students who have taken the ACT in your state. When you receive your ACT score, you find out your percentile rank nationally and within your state. However, all students in all states take the exact same ACT on any one test date. (Of course, the ACT changes from one date to the next; otherwise, you could keep retaking the same test. You’d be surprised how many students don’t realize this little nuance and merrily say to us, “Oh, I remember the questions from last time, so I’ll do great next time.”)

The ACT Has a Passing Score

The ACT has no such thing as a passing or failing score. By looking at the college websites of the schools you’re interested in attending, you can get a pretty good idea of the score you need to get based on your GPA. If you have a high GPA, your ACT score can be lower than if you have a low GPA. In fact, you may be pleasantly surprised how low your ACT score can be. Scoring on the ACT isn’t like scoring on high school exams, for which a 65th percentile is failing. If your score is in the 65th percentile on the ACT, you’ve actually done above average, better than 65 percent of the others who’ve taken the test.

The ACT Tests IQ

The ACT is a college entrance exam. It tests your potential for doing well in college. If you’re the type who normally studies hard for an exam, you’ll probably study hard for the ACT and do well on it and then study hard for college exams and do well on them, too. The key is in the preparation. You have the same opportunity to do well on the ACT regardless of whether you’re a SuperBrain or as cerebrally challenged as the rest of us. With this book, you find out how to improve your ACT scores with all sorts of tricks, tips, and techniques — something that’s much harder to do on IQ exams.

You Can’t Use a Calculator on the ACT

Back when your parents took the ACT, you couldn’t bring a calculator. Nowadays, though, using a calculator is perfectly acceptable, and recommended, for the Mathematics Test. You can’t use it on any other section, however. Just make sure your calculator meets the specifications listed on the official ACT website (www.actstudent.org). The ACT’s requirements for calculators are a little more stringent than the SAT’s.

You Should Never Guess on the ACT

Wrong, wrong, wrong. You should always guess on the ACT. This exam has no penalty for guessing. Never leave an answer blank. Fill in something, anything, on the chance that you may get lucky and get the question correct.

remember Random guessing on the ACT can only help you.

The ACT Is Easier Than the SAT

Maybe. Maybe not. The exams test similar subjects. Both have grammar, reading, and math questions. The ACT reading passages — both in the Reading Test and in the Science Test — tend to be slightly longer than some of the reading passages on the SAT, but their length doesn’t necessarily mean they’re more difficult. The math questions on the ACT are all straightforward multiple-choice with none of the tricky grid-in questions featured on the SAT. However, the ACT does feature a few trigonometry questions (only about four; don’t sweat ‘em) that aren’t on the SAT.

tip The SAT and ACT present questions in slightly different ways, so we suggest that you practice taking both tests to see which one fits you better.

Selective Colleges Prefer the SAT to the ACT

All colleges accept both the ACT and SAT. It’s true that years ago the SAT was more popular on the two coasts and the ACT flourished in the middle of the country, but the ACT has grown in popularity to the point that often more students take the ACT than the SAT. In fact, some selective colleges (think Yale) don’t require SAT Subject Test scores from students who provide ACT scores.

You Have to Write an Essay

Wrong. You don’t have to write an essay during the ACT. It’s optional. However, a growing number of colleges want to see an essay score from either the ACT or SAT, and some require that you complete the ACT essay. Taking this portion of the test is a good idea even though you really don’t want to.

You Shouldn’t Take Both the SAT and the ACT

Many students take both exams. Usually, the ACT is offered a week or two after the SAT. You may get burned out taking two exams this close together or have trouble studying for both of them, but you certainly may take both tests. Colleges accept either your SAT or ACT score. When we counsel students, we suggest that they take full-length practice exams for both tests. You may do better on one than you do on the other, and you won’t know which one you’re better at until you try them both.