Learn About the ACT

The ACT was first offered in the United States in 1959 as an alternative exam to the SAT in college admissions.  In the time since, the ACT (pronounced “A-C-T” not “act”) has grown in popularity; today the ACT and SAT are held in virtually equal esteem by competitive colleges and universities.  The ACT is administered by ACT, Inc.  (The letters used to stand for American College Test, but now no longer officially stand for anything.)  The big difference between the ACT and the SAT is that the ACT is more closely aligned with high school curriculum, and for this reason it has grown in popularity in the United States (and now, most recently, in the UK).


The ACT includes five sections:  English, Math, Reading, Science and Writing.  The Writing section is optional, but many competitive colleges now require it, so Kaplan recommends that students take the Writing section.  The ACT is administered five times a year in the UK; the Writing section is only administered in October, December and April.
Who should take the ACT?

Most American high school students take the ACT for the first time in the spring the year before they graduate from high school. This would correspond to spring of the AS-level year in the UK system. In fact, students educated in the UK system might consider taking the ACT after finishing their GCSEs, as the math and science content would be similar to what is covered at GCSE-level.  Thus autumn or winter of the lower sixth year might be an ideal time to prepare for and take the ACT.


How can I register for the ACT?

To take the ACT outside the U.S. or Canada, you must register online through www.actstudent.org.


Understanding your Score

One of the most common questions we get from students and parents is "what does my score mean?"

ACT scores are much simpler to analyze and understand than SAT scores, as you need consider only the overall, composite score (which includes English, Math, Reading and Science).

Each of the four multiple-choice ACT test sections (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science) is scored on a scale of 1-36. You will also receive a composite score, which is the average of your four test scores (1-36).

At the most competitive American universities – Ivy League schools like Harvard, and similar schools like Duke – you would likely need a composite ACT score of 32 or higher to be competitive for admissions.  To get into American universities that are slightly less competitive, you would want to have a composite ACT score of 28 or higher.


If you take the Writing Test, you will receive a Writing Test subscore (ranging from 0 to 12) and a combined English/Writing score (ranging from 1 to 36), along with comments about your essay. Keep in mind that you must take both the English and Writing Tests to receive Writing scores. The Combined English/Writing score is created by using a formula that weights the English Test score two-thirds and the Writing Test score one-third to form a combined score. This combined score is then reported on a 1-36 scale. Please note that taking the Writing Test does not affect your subject area scores or your Composite score.


How is the ACT structured and timed?

The ACT lasts 2 hours and 55 minutes (excluding the Writing Test) or 3 hours and 25 minutes (including the Writing Test). The order of test sections and the total number of questions covered in each test section never changes:

SectionLengthQuestion Types# of Questions
English Test45 minutes
  • Usage/Mechanics
  • Rhetorical Skills
  • 40
  • 35
Mathematics Test60 minutes
  • Arithmetic
  • Elementary Algebra
  • Intermediate Algebra
  • Coordinate Geometry
  • Plane Geometry
  • Trigonometry
  • 14
  • 10
  • 9
  • 9
  • 14
  • 4
Reading Test35 minutes
  • Social Studies
  • Natural Sciences
  • Prose Fiction
  • Humanities
  • 10
  • 10
  • 10
  • 10
Science Test35 minutes
  • Data Representation
  • Research Summary
  • Conflicting Viewpoint
  • 15
  • 18
  • 7
Writing Test (Optional Essay)30 minutesYou are asked to respond to a question about your position on the issue described in the writing prompt.
  • 1
What About SAT Subject Tests?

Some colleges and universities will waive the required SAT Subject Tests if you take the ACT.  They do this because the ACT covers math and science content in a way that is similar to SAT Subject Tests. Currently schools that waive the SAT Subject Test requirements if you take the ACT include Yale, Brown, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Amherst, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, Wellesley, and the University of Pennsylvania.


You should check college and university websites for the most current information, but it’s possible that you might be able to avoid taking the SAT Subject Tests if you take the ACT.  Of course, if you want to apply to schools that don’t waive the requirement, then you might have to take SAT Subject Tests in addition to the ACT.

Testing Again

If you got your dream score, congratulations! You can now get to work on your SAT Subject Tests, AP exams and applications.

If you are not happy with your score, don't despair. Keep in mind that most students take the ACT more than once, and some even take it three times! Use the information in your score report to help you understand your strengths and weaknesses and to hone your preparation for your next ACT.


For more information about the ACT go to www.actstudent.org.