The ACT Test - A Gateway to Higher Education

1. The ACT
A GATEWAY TO HIGHER
EDUCATION

2. Graduation
 Required for graduation
 Current 9th – 11th graders
 No benchmark score (so far)
 April 28, 2015 (Paid by state in 11th
grade)
 Five sections:
◦ English
◦ Math
◦ Reading
◦ Science
◦ Writing

3. Beyond High School
Accepted by all colleges
and universities:
Admissions
Course Placement
Scholarships

4. Test Readiness
High academic
expectations
Study habits
Motivation
Format knowledge
Practice to increase:
Confidence
Speed
Accuracy

5. SECTA Support
ZAPPS
Test Skills
Types of test questions
Types of assignments

6. Family Support
Define expectations
Reinforce why this is the
right goal
Understand how it is
measured
Develop a communication
plan

7. ACT
 Achievement test -- what have you
learned (SAT = Aptitude)
 Composite score of 1-36 (4-MC
Portions)
 Writing 0-12
 No penalties for incorrect answers

8. Test Format
Test Content
English
75 question
s
45
Minutes
Measures standard written English
and rhetorical skills.
Mathematics
60 question
s
60
Minutes
Measures mathematical skills
students have typically acquired in
courses taken up to trigonometry.
Reading
40 question
s
35
Minutes
Measures reading comprehension
across various subjects.
Science
40 question
s
35
Minutes
Measures the interpretation,
analysis, evaluation, reasoning,
and problem-solving skills required
in the natural sciences.
Optional
Writing Test
1 prompt
30
Minutes
Measures writing skills
emphasized in high school English
classes and in entry-level college
composition courses.

9. Student Test Prep Resources
Books
 Preparing for the ACT Booklet
 Career Center
www.actstudent.org
 ACT Question of the Day (free)
 ACT Online Test Prep ($24.95 per
year)
iTunes Store
 ACT iPhone App (also works on iPad)

10. The APP

11. Sample Question

12. Rationale

13. UNLV
No cut-off score for
admissions
English and math
placement
Scholarship Consideration
Low-GPA (below 3.0 –
Need a 22)

14. UNR
No cut-off score for
admissions
English and math
placement
Scholarship Consideration
Low-GPA

15. UCLA
Average composite score of
students admitted in 2014:
28-34
Scholarship Consideration

16. Ivy League Schools
Average composite ACT
scores of admitted students:
Harvard 31-35
Princeton 31-35
Yale 31-35
Brown 29-34

17. Fees
Test fee per test option
ACT (No Writing)
$38.00
Includes reports for you, your high school, and up
to four college choices
ACT Plus Writing
$54.50
Includes reports for you, your high school, and up
to four college choices (if valid codes are provided
when you register). The $16.50 Writing Test fee is
refundable, on written request, if you are absent on
test day or switch to the ACT (No Writing) before
testing begins.

18. 2014-2015
Test Date
Registration
Deadline
(Late Fee Required)
September 13, 2014 August 8, 2014 August 9–22, 2014
October 25, 2014 September 19, 2014
September 20–
October 3, 2014
December 13, 2014 November 7, 2014 November 8–21, 2014
February 7, 2015* January 9, 2015 January 10–16, 2015
April 18, 2015 March 13, 2015 March 14–27, 2015
June 13, 2015 May 8, 2015 May 9–22, 2015