Marsh details the ACT
For all HC juniors, the ACT will be taken on March 21st. The ACT is the leading college admissions test in the U.S and is made up of four multiple-choice sections (English, mathematics, reading, and science) which help determine your academic readiness for college.
Due to the national administration of the test, colleges will be provided a common standard with which to compare all students. However, your composite score will not be the only factor that is considered in admittance. High school GPA, academic transcripts, essays, letters of recommendation, as well as extracurricular activities are also considered.
After taking the three hour long exam, it will be sent off for scoring. You will earn a score for each section of the test along with a composite score. The composite score is the average of the four sections, with the maximum score being 36. On the ACT all of the questions are weighted the same, but not all standardized tests are like this.
The exam is based on problem solving, not IQ, and has a total of 215 questions. It is important to do well on the exam because many schools choose placement in freshman level courses based on ACT subject scores. If you do not score high enough, you will be required to take certain remedial classes that will not count as college credit.
It doesn’t matter if you are shooting for the average score or something much higher, practicing and taking prep classes are a good idea.
The first test is English. This section is 45 minutes long and consists of 75 questions. It tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and rhetorical skills. It is a test that is predictable in nature and easy to eliminate the wrong answer choices. The key is to figure out what the problem is within the underlined section of the passage and then eliminate all answers that do not address the issue. It may help to identify the issue before you look at the answer choices.
The math section is second and is 60 minutes long, consisting of 60 questions. It tests Algebra I and II, Geometry, and Trigonometry. It is very important to check that your calculator will be permitted on the exam. There are three types of math problems; reading and drawing diagrams, word problems, and then concepts. Time management is key on all sections, but especially the math section. With 60 problems and 60 minutes, you have a minute to complete each problem. It may be helpful to mark questions that you don’t know in order to conserve time.
The reading section is 35 minutes and consists of 40 questions. There are four passages (prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural sciences), and each passage has 10 questions. Specific detail, inference, and “big picture” are the three types of questions. The passages all have specific themes, facts, and structure. The purpose of this test is to see whether you can read a college level textbook and be successful.
The science section is the final test. It is also 35 minutes long and consists of 40 questions. The questions are on science-based passages that include graphs, charts, and tables. The three types of passages are data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints. This exam tests your skills in interpreting data, not in previous knowledge.
The writing section, which is optional, takes 40 minutes and consists of 1 writing prompt. It will not affect the composite score. Some colleges require students to take the ACT Writing test, so make sure to do your research based on your college choice. The school administered ACT does not include writing.
With one month to go, it is important to remember that your score on the ACT is only part of your college admittance.
