What is ACT?
The ACT, which stands for “American College Testing,” is organized by ACTINC. It is one of the entrance requirements for undergraduate studies in American universities and is also an important basis for scholarship awards. It is the only college entrance exam in the United States that includes a science section.
What does ACT?
The ACT exam consists of four mandatory sections and an optional section: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science Reasoning, and Writing (optional). Each ACT question undergoes a 12-step development and proposition process to ensure accuracy and reliability. It is not just a language test, but a comprehensive assessment of students’ abilities, emphasizing their mastery of foundational courses and general academic skills, with difficulty levels aligned with high school students.
The content and timing of the ACT exam are as follows:
Assessment and key points
Mathematics Test:
To measure students’ quantitative reasoning abilities, the test covers the following essential areas:
1. Pre-Algebra: Assessing common high school math knowledge, including fractions, decimals, integers, square roots, ratios, percentages, multiples, factors, absolute value, linear equations, and probability.
2. Elementary Algebra: Evaluating variable expressions, solving simple quadratic equations, linear inequalities, and applying properties of exponents and square roots.
3. Intermediate Algebra: Testing understanding and application of the quadratic formula, radical and rational expressions.
Reading:
The reading section primarily measures comprehension, analysis, evaluative reasoning, and problem-solving abilities. The test content encompasses natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and literature and arts.
The order of appearance for the four passages in the test is as follows: Prose Fiction, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science. The topics are drawn from anthropology, archaeology, biography, economics, education, geography, history, politics, psychology, architecture, art, dance, film, literary criticism, biography, music, essays, philosophy, television, astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, medicine, and physics.
Scoring standards:
【27-31】: Highly Selective institutions (typically top-tier universities) and likely to receive full scholarships
【22-27】: Selective institutions (typically within the top 100 rankings)
【20-23】: Traditional institutions (mid-ranked U.S. universities)
【18-21】: Liberal institutions (general universities)
【18 and above】: Eligible for scholarship applications
【17 and above】: Eligible for university admission
Pre-test Preparation
Account Registration: Register an account on the official ACT website, provide personal information, choose the exam type (ACT Standard or ACT Plus Writing, the latter includes the writing section), and select the exam date.
Photo Upload: Upload a clear and compliant personal photo during registration, which will be displayed on the admission ticket.
Payment: After completing the registration, pay the exam fee using a credit card or debit card.
Print Admission Ticket: Carefully review and print the admission ticket, confirming the test center and exam time, and familiarize yourself with the test center regulations in advance.
Recommendations
1. Vocabulary: Establish a strong foundation in vocabulary, including core ACT vocabulary and specialized vocabulary for the science reasoning section.
2. Mastery of subjects: For grammar and mathematics, focus on the various tested concepts. For science reasoning, enhance knowledge in physics, chemistry, biology, and other scientific disciplines. For reading, improve both breadth and depth of reading by exploring newspapers like “The New York Times,” “Discover,” and “Scientific American.”
3. Writing: Although the writing section is optional, most top 80 ranked universities in the U.S. require a writing score. Therefore, preparation should focus on training abilities in ideas and analysis, development and support, organization, and language use and conventions.
4. Reference materials: Utilize official ACT study guides and past exam papers as study resources.
Exam Day
Entry: It is usually recommended to arrive at the test center half an hour before the exam, find the exam room and seat number, and become familiar with the exam environment. Test-takers must enter the computer room with valid identification, verify their identity, and receive scratch paper, a pen, and a personal information sheet.
Exam Schedule:
09:00-09:45: English exam (45 minutes, 75 questions and 5 passages).
09:45-10:45: Math exam (60 minutes, 60 questions).
10:45-11:00: Mid-break time, during which test-takers can use the restroom or replenish their energy.
11:00-11:35: Reading exam (35 minutes, 40 questions, 4 passages).
11:35-12:10: Science exam (35 minutes, 40 questions, 6-7 passages).
*For those taking the ACT Plus Writing, the writing exam usually takes place after the science exam and lasts for 30 minutes.
Departure: After all exams are completed, the invigilators collect the answer booklets and answer sheets. Test-takers must stop writing and wait for the invigilator to collect the papers before leaving the exam room.
Notes
Items to Bring:
1. Admission Ticket: Printed admission ticket (it is recommended to print 2 copies as a backup).
2. Identification Document:
– For domestic test centers, prepare a valid ID card.
– For overseas test centers in places like Macau, prepare a valid passport or travel document.
3. Acceptable Calculator: Ensure that the calculator is fully charged. It is only allowed to be used in the Math section. It is recommended to use a Ti-84 or a calculator without CAS (Computer Algebra System) functionality. The use of CAS calculators such as TI89, TI92, TI-Nspire CAS, etc., is strictly prohibited by the official regulations. The use of a TI-89 is one of the most common reasons for test-takers being dismissed.
Items Permitted to Bring:
1. Watch: Mechanical or quartz watch.
2. Food and Water: It is recommended to bring chocolate or biscuits.
Prohibited Items:
1. Scratch Paper
2. Any electronic devices capable of making sound.
***Score Cancellation: If you need to cancel your scores, you must inform the staff before leaving the test center. If you have already left, you will need to contact ACT through their official website. For details, visit: [ACT Contact Us]
***Score Release: Scores can be checked 2-3 business days after the exam. For the writing section, scores may take 2-3 weeks to be released.
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