Your ACT FAQ

The ACT is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. It assesses skills in English, Math, Reading, and Science. 

• Anyone can take the ACT, regardless of age or academic background. It's typically taken by high school juniors and seniors.

• The ACT is offered seven times per year: December, February, April, June, July, September, and October. You can find upcoming dates and deadlines right here.

• There's no single "good" score as it depends on your college goals. Aim for scores above the middle 50% range of your target schools. The average national score hovers between 19-21; so-called "top-tier" schools want to see numbers a little higher (27 and up, roughly).

Register online at act.org. Create an account, choose a test date, and pay the registration fee.

• The standard registration fee is around $60 (with an additional fee for the "optional" essay--see below). Additional fees may apply for late registration or score reporting options.

Bring your photo ID, registration ticket, pencils, erasers, a watch, and an approved calculator (check ACT website for details).

• Arrive on time, no electronic devices allowed, follow instructions from test proctors, and maintain a quiet testing environment.

You can reschedule your test date for a fee, but deadlines apply. Check the ACT website for details.

Both tests assess similar skills, but the ACT tends to emphasize reasoning and science more than the SAT. Choose the test that feels more comfortable for you. SAT is now offered only digitally, and its two math sections compose 50% of your score. If you're a walking calculator, SAT might be better for you (and we are ready and able to help!). If not, some students prefer the ACT, where math is only 25% of the score.

Take practice tests, identify your strengths and weaknesses, focus on areas needing improvement, practice time management, learn strategies for beating the test! We can help with all of that!

You'll analyze a prompt and write an essay in 40 minutes, assessing not only the prompt but also three perspectives on the issue. You'll want to develop a clear argument and support it with evidence, all without neglecting how your ideas interact with the perspectives given. Sound like a lot? Don't worry! We'll walk you through the whole thing.

Scores are typically available online 2-8 weeks after your test date (but usually closer to 2).

You can choose colleges to receive your scores during registration or through your MyACT account after receiving your scores.

You can retake the ACT as many times as you want. No school cares about anything except your highest score, and some schools "superscore"; i.e. take your best scores from different administrations and put them all together as if it were one score. We usually recommend students take the test about three times--but not much more than that.