The ACT Test 
A GATEWAY TO HIGHER 
EDUCATION
The ACT 
 National college admissions exam 
 5 Subject Areas 
 English ▪ Science 
 Mathematics ▪ Writing 
 Reading 
 215 multiple-choice questions 
 Takes approximately 4 hours
Graduation 
 ACT is now required for graduation for 
current 9th – 11th graders 
 No benchmark score (so far) 
 Test cost is paid by state 
 The ACT will be taken in 11th grade on 
April 28, 2015
Beyond High School 
The ACT is accepted by all colleges and 
universities: 
Admissions 
Course Placement 
Scholarships
ACT Test Readiness 
 High academic expectations 
 Study habits 
 Motivation 
 Format knowledge 
 Practice to increase: 
Confidence 
Speed 
Accuracy
SECTA Support 
 Practice in the classrooms on: 
 Test taking skills 
 Types of test questions 
 Types of assignments 
 ZAPPS - ACT seminars 
http://www.doorwaytocollege.com/act-test-prep
Family Support 
 Define expectations 
 Reinforce why this is the right goal 
 Understand how it is measured 
 Develop a communication plan
ACT 
 Achievement test - what have you 
learned (SAT = Aptitude) 
 Composite score of 1-36 
 4 multiple choice portions 
 Writing 0-12 
 No penalties for incorrect answers
Test Format 
Test Content 
English 
75 
questions 
45 
Minutes 
Measures standard written English and 
rhetorical skills. 
Mathematics 
60 
questions 
60 
Minutes 
Measures mathematical skills students 
have typically acquired in courses 
taken up to trigonometry. 
Reading 
40 
questions 
35 
Minutes 
Measures reading comprehension 
across various subjects. 
Science 
40 
questions 
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.
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)
The APP
Sample Question
Rationale
UNLV 
How does UNLV use ACT information? 
 No ACT cut-off score for admissions 
 Scores used for English and Math 
placement 
 Scores used for scholarship 
consideration 
 If you have a low GPA (below 3.0) you 
need a 22 on ACT
UNR 
How does UNR use ACT information? 
 No ACT cut-off score for admissions 
 Scores used for English and Math 
placement 
 Scores used for scholarship 
consideration 
 Scores used if you have a low GPA
UCLA 
 Average ACT composite score of 
students admitted in 2014 was 28-34 
 Scholarship Consideration
Ivy League Schools 
Average composite ACT scores of 
admitted students: 
 Harvard 31-35 
 Princeton 31-35 
 Yale 31-35 
 Brown 29-34
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.
2014-2015 
Test Date 
Registration 
Deadline 
Late Registration 
(Late Fee Required) 
September 13, 20 
14 
August 8, 2014 August 9–22, 2014 
October 25, 2014 
September 19, 
2014 
September 20–October 3, 
2014 
December 13, 20 
14 
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 
* No test centers are scheduled in New York for the February Date

The ACT Test

  • 1.
    The ACT Test A GATEWAY TO HIGHER EDUCATION
  • 2.
    The ACT National college admissions exam  5 Subject Areas  English ▪ Science  Mathematics ▪ Writing  Reading  215 multiple-choice questions  Takes approximately 4 hours
  • 3.
    Graduation  ACTis now required for graduation for current 9th – 11th graders  No benchmark score (so far)  Test cost is paid by state  The ACT will be taken in 11th grade on April 28, 2015
  • 4.
    Beyond High School The ACT is accepted by all colleges and universities: Admissions Course Placement Scholarships
  • 5.
    ACT Test Readiness  High academic expectations  Study habits  Motivation  Format knowledge  Practice to increase: Confidence Speed Accuracy
  • 6.
    SECTA Support Practice in the classrooms on:  Test taking skills  Types of test questions  Types of assignments  ZAPPS - ACT seminars http://www.doorwaytocollege.com/act-test-prep
  • 7.
    Family Support Define expectations  Reinforce why this is the right goal  Understand how it is measured  Develop a communication plan
  • 8.
    ACT  Achievementtest - what have you learned (SAT = Aptitude)  Composite score of 1-36  4 multiple choice portions  Writing 0-12  No penalties for incorrect answers
  • 9.
    Test Format TestContent English 75 questions 45 Minutes Measures standard written English and rhetorical skills. Mathematics 60 questions 60 Minutes Measures mathematical skills students have typically acquired in courses taken up to trigonometry. Reading 40 questions 35 Minutes Measures reading comprehension across various subjects. Science 40 questions 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.
  • 10.
    Student Test PrepResources 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)
  • 11.
  • 12.
  • 13.
  • 14.
    UNLV How doesUNLV use ACT information?  No ACT cut-off score for admissions  Scores used for English and Math placement  Scores used for scholarship consideration  If you have a low GPA (below 3.0) you need a 22 on ACT
  • 15.
    UNR How doesUNR use ACT information?  No ACT cut-off score for admissions  Scores used for English and Math placement  Scores used for scholarship consideration  Scores used if you have a low GPA
  • 16.
    UCLA  AverageACT composite score of students admitted in 2014 was 28-34  Scholarship Consideration
  • 17.
    Ivy League Schools Average composite ACT scores of admitted students:  Harvard 31-35  Princeton 31-35  Yale 31-35  Brown 29-34
  • 18.
    Fees Test feeper 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.
  • 19.
    2014-2015 Test Date Registration Deadline Late Registration (Late Fee Required) September 13, 20 14 August 8, 2014 August 9–22, 2014 October 25, 2014 September 19, 2014 September 20–October 3, 2014 December 13, 20 14 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 * No test centers are scheduled in New York for the February Date