Exam overview
The ACT test is a standard college application exam that measures the readiness of a student to study at college. The scores from ACT are used by universities and colleges in the admissions as one of the criteria for evaluating the eligibility of an individual.The exam is offered seven times a year during the months of February, April, June, July, September, October and December. The exam dates that fall in February and July are not available for those students in international locations and those in New York. In addition, the dates in July are not available for the Californiacandidates. Most colleges require that the individuals take the ACT test or alternative SAT. Therefore, you should pass the exam required by your college.
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Exam details
The ACT test contains fives sections, which are English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing (an optional segment). The English section tests you on language knowledge. The Math part deals with pre-algebra, elementary algebra, algebra/coordinate geometry, plane geometry andtrigonometry. The Reading section contains social sciences, arts and literature topics. The Science segmentcomes with Physical Sciences, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each section has a time frame for completing its’ questions. The English test has 75 questions, which should be answered within 45 minutes. It takes 60 minutes to complete the Math exam, which has 60 questions. The Reading test has 40 questions that you need to answer within 35 minutes. It also takes 35 minutes to complete the Science exam, which also has 40 questions. The Writing test, which is an essay, has 1 question that you should complete within 40 minutes.
The highest score that a candidate can possibly attain in the ACT test is 36. With the exception of the Writing section, ACT scores each examfrom a scale from 1 to 36. The averages of the scores from each part form your overall result. Some parts have less than 36 questions while others have more than 36 questions and this is the reason why the scores are scaled from 1 to 36. The scaled score you get is not the same as your raw one, which is the number of questions you got right. For you to get admission to the college you want, you need a good result. Scoring above the average, which is 21 or more, is a sufficient score for most students. However, if you are applying to join elite colleges, a score of 30 or 33 and above are great.The score for your ACT will be released two weeks after the exam. On rare occasions, you may have to wait up to eight weeks to get your results.
Study resources
It is important that you find the right study resources to prepare for your ACT exam. The study guides available for the test have their advantages and disadvantages andyou should compare them to find the one that is suitable for you. There are some recommended study materials for the exam:
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The Official ACT Prep Guide, 2018
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The ACT Prep Black Book
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The Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd Edition
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McGraw-Hill Education: 10 ACT Practice Tests, 5th Edition
Preparation process
Exam preparation is a crucial step that you need to undertake before your ACT test. Sitting for the exam unprepared will seriously impede your success. While there are so many ways to prepare for it, you need the best strategies for you to succeed.There are some useful tips to be ready for ACT. They include:
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Develop a study plan
To develop a comprehensive study plan, you need to ensure that you register for the exam at least 3 months before you take it. This will enable you to create a reasonable plan that you can follow. Ensure that you set a realistic blueprint that can fit into your schedule. It is better to study 30 minutes a day than for 5 hours once a week. Try to prepare at least 4 days a week.
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Use reputable study books
As it was mentioned above, choosing the right study materials is important for your exam preparation. It is advisable that you begin with the official ACT study guide and that you check out the ACT website for additional study materials. When you check out other books on the market, always pick the one with a lot of practice tests. This is bound to help you prepare better for the exam.
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Master the concepts that are regularly tested
There are some concepts in the exam that are frequently checked, especially in the Math and English sections. You need to identify the concepts that keep popping up in your practice tests and master them. This will enable you to have some of the exam questions on your fingertips. The best thing about ACT is that most of the questions are predictable, which makes it easy for you to anticipate what you will be asked. This gives you a better chance of polishing your answers.
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Exhaust the time provided for each section
Even though you may be quick at taking tests, ensure that you use up all the time provided for each section. In case you complete a particular part before the allocated time runs out, go back and review the questions. You should review them slowly and check for any simple errors that you might have made. When rushing, even the brightest students tend to fail the easy questions. Therefore, take your time so that you can answer the questions correctly.
Conclusion
Therefore, the ACT exam is the bridge between you and the college of your dreams and you need to take it seriously. Prepare for the test in the best way possible using the above-mentioned tips. Stay focused and give it your very best. Good luck!
