Up-to-Date information on the ACT Test
Certification: Test Prep ACT - American College Testing
If you are in high school or not, the ACT is something that will eventually have meaning in your life. This is one of the main exams that is used to determine school admittance into the various universities in Unites States and Canada. The test is administrated by the ACT and started in the year 1959, when it was referred to as the American College Testing. Its main purpose was mainly to act as an assessment of the students' skills and ability that they have developed since they started their education. It was introduced as a competitor for the Scholastic Aptitude Test, known as the SAT. The ACT assesses content under Mathematics, English, Reading and Sciences. It assesses students who are in high school, mostly in the 11th and 12th grades. The format of the paper is quite simple. Is divided into mainly four parts. The Science Reasoning, Reading, English and the Mathematics section. All this sections are multiple choices. Since the introduction of the ACT, it has undergone various changes. Many universities and colleges use this exam as part of their admission process to scrutinise students and compare them. The overall time for the ACT is 2 hours and 55 minutes without the optional Writing test. With the Writing test, it is awarded a total of 3 hours and 25 minutes.
Latest format of the ACT test
Since the introduction of the ACT in 1959 it has had several changes. The following is the up-to-date information and format of the ACT:
1. ACT Math Section Test structure
The Math section is comprised of 60 questions, which should be answered within a time duration of 60 minutes. All the questions in this section are multi-choice, each with five choices. The question are derived from 6 areas in mathematics that are supposed to be covered by the 11th grade. The following is the detailed analysis of the topic tested in the Math section:
- Pre-Algebra - topics tested include data interpretation, whole numbers, one variable linear, linear equations, mean, mode and median, plus many more related sub topics. A total of 14 questions is tested from the subject Pre-Algebra.
- Intermediate Algebra- this includes quadratic formula, complex numbers, expression inequalities, matrices and so much more. A total of 9 questions is tested form this subject.
- Elementary Algebra – here a total of 10 questions is tested form the subject Elementary Algebra.
- Coordinate Geometry - a total of 9 questions is tested.
- Plane Geometry - a total of 14 questions is tested form this topic.
- Trigonometry- here total of 4 question is tested.
2. Reading Section
The Reading section consists of 40 questions, and one is awarded a total of 35 minutes in this section. This section comprises of four sections. Each section contains one long prose passages. The passages focus on the following topics natural sciences, prose fictions, humanities and social studies. There are two types of Reading questions, mainly reasoning questions and referring questions. Some of the questions ask for various including details questions, sequence of events questions, comparative relationships questions and many more.
3. English Section
This section comprises of 75 minutes and is awarded 45 minutes. Here there are two English questions:
- Rhetorical Skills question
- Usage/Mechanics question
The questions are subdivided into several sections depending on the contents that they test. This included punctuation, sentence structure, grammar and usage, style, organization and also strategy.
4. Science Section
The science sections is made up of 40 questions, and the applicant is required to answer them within 35 minutes. The section consists of several science passages. Different topics are tested in this section, including physics, chemistry, biology and earth/space science. The question are represented in the following formats, conflicting viewpoint, research summaries or data representation.
5. Writing Test
Since February 2005, the ACT added the optional Writing test. This mainly consists of an optional essay writing test. Students who decide to attempt the essay are given 30 minutes to plan, write and go through their essay. You may find that several colleges require the student to take the writing optionally writing test.
These are the main part of the ACT section including their detailed analysis. With such information one can get well oriented with the exam so as to perform their level best.
Current ACT fees
For one to sit for the exam, they require to pay a certain fee. The following are some of the fees that one must pay for the ACT:
- For students who do want to do the ACT writing section will pay $38.00.
- For students who want to do the ACT writing section they will pay $54.50.
- If one registers through telephone, they will be charged an extra fee of $14.50.
- For late registration, the student will be required to pay an extra fee of $24.00
- The fee for the standby testing is an extra $47.50
- For international students (outside the US and Canada) will be required to pay and extra fee of $37.00
- One will be required to add $22.00 for test date change
- Test centre change will require and additional fee of $23.00
- For test information release service, the applicant will be required to pay an extra $20.00
- To view scores and score report online is free.
The above information is the current information on the ACT exam. The structure and the fees of the exam and services that the applicant might be expected to pay. Keeping up with the changes of the ACT is imperative so that as an applicant you do not have problems when you want to apply and attempt the exam. By understanding what is required of you as a student, you will be able to perform to your level best and get into any of the best universities.