A national college admission examination, the ACT consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science plus an optional writing exam.
Originally, “ACT” stood for American College Testing. However, in 1996 the official name of the organization was shortened to simply “ACT” to better reflect the broad array of programs and services offered beyond college entrance testing.
There are three good reasons to take the ACT:
1. The ACT tests are universally accepted for college admission.
2. The ACT is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions on the ACT are directly related to high school courses in English, mathematics, and science.
3. In addition to the tests, the ACT also provides test takers with a unique interest inventory that provides valuable information for career and educational planning and a student profile section that provides a comprehensive profile of high school work and future plans.
In the U.S., the ACT is administered on five national test dates in October, December, February, April, and June. In selected states, the ACT is also offered in late September.
The...