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ACT FAQ - Frequently asked Questions

Sandweiss Test Prep realizes students and/or their parents may have many questions before deciding upon which test to take and how test results fit into one's academic plan. We've compiled the following frequently asked questions to address your concerns. Please call us if you need further information.

What is the ACT?

How is the ACT structured?

What's a good score on the ACT?

When should I take the ACT?

How do I register for the ACT?

What's the difference between the ACT and SAT?

What is the ACT?

The ACT is a standardized, multiple-choice exam required for admission to most undergraduate universities in the United States. The ACT tests English, Math, Reading, and Science reasoning skills and includes an optional essay section.

The ACT does not test how smart you are, how good a college student you will be, or how good a high school student you were. The ACT tests some basic knowledge and reasoning, but most of all it tests how good a test taker you are. An efficient, strategic test-taker will score much better than an otherwise bright, studious person who finds it difficult to enter the unique mindset of the ACT. That's unfair, but so is college. So whatever your strengths, it makes sense to maximize your ability to take the test.

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How is the ACT structured?

The ACT consists of four multiple choice sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) and an optional essay section. The sections are graded on a scale of 1-36 and the final score is an average of the four scores. All the multiple choice questions are weighted equally within each section, though they range from very easy to very difficult.

English: 75 questions - 45 minutes

Math: 60 questions - 60 minutes

Reading: 50 questions - 35 minutes

Science: 40 questions - 35 minutes

What's a good score on the ACT?

The score goals for each student will be different. Most state colleges weight your GPA to your ACT score on a scale of around 3:1. So students with higher GPAs can afford to have lower ACT scores for admission to the same school as students with an average GPA.

The mean score for the ACT is around 21, Many schools will publish not the average ACT score of an incoming class but the 25th and 75th percentiles. This indicates that 50% of the students accepted scored between those percentiles. For instance, the University of Washington reported 25th and 75th percentile scores of:

English: 22 to 29
Math: 24 to 30
Composite: 23 to 29

Another way to look at this data is that students scoring above the 75th percentile have an extremely good chance of being accepted, while students scoring below the 25th percentile will likely need additional factors (recruited athlete, alumni parents, etc.) to gain admission.

Whatever your goals, a strong ACT score can help not only boost your chances for admission but make you eligible for scholarships. So contact us today and begin the process of learning how to maximize your ACT potential.

When should I take the ACT?

The ACT is offered six times each year: February, April, June, September, October, and December. We recommend you take the ACT in the spring of your junior year, with the option of retaking the test again in the fall. Some students, because of athletic schedules or other issues may prefer to take the test in the fall of their junior year. However, no student should take the test before they are ready. It is better to take the test once feeling fully prepared than to take it multiple times hoping your score will somehow improve.

Sandweiss Test Prep offers courses year-round in both Seattle and Bellevue for every test date. See our ACT course page for more info.

How do I register for the ACT?

The easiest way to register for the ACT is online at www,actstudent.org. The current cost of the test is $32 without the essay and $47 with the essay. You can also register by mail, either by going to the ACT, Inc. website or with registration materials found in the offices of most high school counselors. For a fee you can change your test date if necessary.

What's the difference between the ACT and SAT?

The ACT and SAT are both accepted by nearly every university and college in the United States. Colleges give no preference to one test over the other. The tests assess similar skills but one test may suit your test-taking style better than the other.

Some principal differences:

The ACT includes a Science section while the SAT does not.
Wrong answers in the SAT are penalized while there is no penalty on the ACT, making strategic guessing a more rewarding tactic.
The two tests are approximately the same duration but the test sections are longer on the ACT. The longest SAT section is 25 minutes while the longest ACT section is 75 minutes.
The ACT tests a wider range of knowledge but is generally considered less tricky.
The ACT prohibits certain calculators such as the TI-89 that the SAT allows. (The ACT does permit other graphic calculators such as the TI-84).

Which test is right for you? Come into Sandweiss Test Prep for a test drive! We'll give you a diagnostic test for each and we can see how you score.