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Still confused? An ACT vs. SAT diagnostic test can help you.
ACT, or the American College Testing, is a standardized test whose score is accepted by colleges or universities- including all of the Ivy League Schools- offering undergraduate programs conducted for college admission mostly in the US and Canada.
It is generally taken by 13+-year-old high school students who plan to study abroad for their undergraduate studies.
Fee: The ACT Online Registration fee with writing is $166.50 whereas if you plan to opt out of the ACT writing section, the fee is $150.
The ACT comprises of four sections- namely English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each of these sections is scaled to obtain a composite score out of 36. There is also an optional ACT writing(essay) section which is scored out of 12.Just FYI, an average ACT score for Indian students is 27/36.
Talking about the length of the test, the ACT is exactly 2 hours and 55 minutes (175 minutes) without essay or 3 hours and 35 minutes (215 minutes) if you take the optional essay.
Each section of the ACT is timed. Here is the breakup of the time allotted for the four sections:ACT comprises of four sections namely English, Math, Reading, Science and an optional Writing or the essay section. Let‘s understand each section in detail.
ACT English Section75 questions in 45 minutes.
The ACT English Section consists of 5 passages with 15 questions each(15x5=75). The questions test you mainly on the usage of the English language and rhetorical skills.
A more detailed syllabus of the ACT English is shown below:
*These are approximate figures and have been curated observing the past trends.
ACT MATH SECTION60 minutes 60 questions
The ACT Math allows you to use the calculator throughout the section unlike in the SAT, where you get to use a calculator only in 1 of the two math sections.
Topic-Wise Weightage Of ACT Math
*These are approximate figures and have been curated observing the past trends.
ACT READING35 minutes 40 questions
The ACT Reading section consists of 4 passages- Prose Fiction (Literary Narrative), Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science- with 10 questions each. Following are the types of questions that are usually tested on the ACT Reading:
*These are approximate figures and have been curated observing the past trends.
ACT SCIENCE35 minutes 40 questions
The ACT Science section comprises of questions dealing with the following fields of science:
The ACT Science tests your basic analytical skills. You don‘t really need an in-depth knowledge of the science topics.
The questions covering these topics are asked in the form of passages. Following is the passage type of ACT science:Data Representation: Scientific Articles containing Charts and Tables asking Data Interpretation questions
Research Summary: Description of Experimental procedures testing understanding of scientific method and experimental design
Conflicting Viewpoints: Two or more competing explanations of a scientific phenomenon asking Evaluation of Models, Inferences and Experimental Result questions
*These are approximate figures and have been curated observing the past trends..
ACT WRITING SECTION (Essay)The writing section, though optional, is an important element of the ACT. Many Indian students opt out of the essay owing to its optional nature; however, it is extremely advisable to take up the ACT Writing test as many universities and colleges abroad prefer the essay score with the ACT test score.
The ACT writing is an argumentative essay which requires the candidate to analyze a core issue by evaluating three given perspectives. The candidate is scored on the basis of the following four elements: Ideas and Analysis, Development and support, Organization, Language Use.
The essay is scored out of 12. A score of 8 and above is generally considered as a good score. However, the ACT essay score is not counted in your ACT composite score.
Overwhelming? Do not worry. It is not as horrendous as it appears. Once you get acquainted with the pattern of the test, it might be a cake walk!
The ACT is conducted five times in a year- usually in the months of June, September, October, December and February.
Following are the months when you should be targeting the first and second attempts of your ACT(ideal for Indian students).
Need an idea about the official ACT Test and registration dates? Visit http://www.act.org/
The first key to ace the ACT, or any exam for that matter, is early- preparation. Although it is never too late to start, try to be as early a runner in the race as possible.
Ideally, the ACT requires a minimum of 3-4 months or 10 hours per week of extensive preparation.
A student should target taking the first ACT attempt after preparing for at least 3- 4 months.
Within these 4 months, a student should strive to cover all the topics according to the ACT syllabus and then take as many ACT mock tests as possible. (10 mock tests should be the minimum target).
Aspirants can opt for self- study or join a classroom coaching for the ACT. Having said that, preparing for the ACT requires immense practice, self- discipline, clear understanding of the various concepts and appropriate study resources.
ACT Prep Plan: Self StudyWhen you decide to study for any competitive test without any external help, it requires a little more effort. This is because, self-preparation needs to be backed by a strong sense of responsibility in terms of planning, gathering study materials, discipline, motivation and most importantly- a sense of competitiveness.
No need to get stressed, it is just an exam after all!
Here are a few study tips to help you kickstart your ACT prep:
Self-study is absolutely necessary, but a good coaching institute has its own advantages. A classroom coaching can enable a student to be trained under experienced mentors who have an in-depth knowledge of the subjects, can provide the best of resources and even can help you with the doubts. Moreover, a classroom program will help develop a sense of healthy competition which can, in turn, help you improve your performance. A classroom coaching has proved to be beneficial in 8 out of 10 cases.
The ACT classroom program at Tutela offers comprehensive coaching for the Act aspirants. Our students have scored as high as a 36 and as low as a 30 in the ACT.
OUR ACT COURSE STRUCTUREHaving said all this, there are certain factors which are common, rather an absolute necessity, for any student aspiring to ace the ACT: determination, hard work, persistence, self-discipline and dedication. Once these factors are taken care of, there is nothing that can probably go wrong.
This a common perspective which bears no solid ground. For college admissions, SAT and ACT hold the same value. Both the SAT and the ACT are standardised tests and are internationally administered; hence, both are of equal importance.
Taking both the SAT and ACT will widen my admission optionsWell! This is not entirely a flawed perspective. Students do take both the tests to increase the scope of getting into a good college. However, it is not recommended to take both these tests. One should check the admission criteria of the target universities/colleges to make sure that no such preference is established.
Furthermore, most colleges accept either ACT or SAT scores and have no preference in terms of the two tests. The ACT and SAT pattern are not entirely the same. Both require a different preparation strategy and skill set. Preparing for both can be intimidating and a difficult step. So why should you take both of these tests?
A smarter option would be to take up one of the two tests- deciding on the basis of the subject strengths, a skill set that better matches your strengths, and the testing pattern you are more comfortable with. Choosing one test out of the two can immensely ease the study burden and boost the chances of a high score.
SAT is more popular than the ACTBoth these tests are standardized and hence are equally significant. The ACT is comparatively new but is definitely a test everybody is taking!!
The Science Section on the ACT is tough and requires an in-depth knowledge of the subjectWash this thought right away from your vulnerable mind. The ACT Science section is pretty basic and requires more of analytical skills than scientific knowledge. Once you understand the pattern, the ACT science can be one of the easiest sections of the test.
I can take the ACT as many times as I wantThe ACT is conducted five times in a year. Colleges do not chastise or enforce any limitations on the number of ACT attempts you take. Having said that, it is recommended that you take a maximum of two to three attempts at getting the desired score.
If I get a good ACT score, my admission is confirmed.A good ACT or SAT score is important for securing admission; however, a score cannot GUARANTEE your admission. There are various factors, other than the test score, like the profile, essays, academic credentials etc. which are equally important. Hence, the score is just one element of your application.
Still confused about SAT vs. ACT? Know about the difference:
The ACT used to be a pen and paper-based test until September 2018.The ACT is going online. Know more about it visit https://tutelaprep.com/actonlinelook/
To know the ACT -SAT score range of your desired college and university. Visit https://tutelaprep.com/universityscores/