What is the ACT?
If you are aiming for top universities in the US, you must have heard of the SAT. Along with the SAT, many students in the US take the ACT to demonstrate their academic ability. Even though many schools have become test-optional in recent years, 30-40% of students at top universities still submit their ACT scores. A good ACT score will still boost your application above the competition and help get you into your dream school. It might even help you gain some scholarship opportunities. How do you know if you should take the ACT? If you are confused, our Mini Tests are the answer!
Take Our Mini ACT Practice Tests
You can get a feel for what the questions are like, understand where your strengths lie, and where you may need to improve!
Value of Crimson Tutoring
Developed by Ivy League grads, PhDs, and top global tutors, Crimson has helped 3,800+ students achieve their goals. Our expert one-on-one tutoring maximizes results while saving study time—many tutors have scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. We also offer:
01
Feedback
Complete practice tests with instant tutor feedback
02
Homework
Extensive homework exercises tailored to what is on the test
03
Online Tests
Online testing platforms integrated with the Crimson App
04
Study Plans
A personalized script making the study more efficient and effective
05
Progress Tracker
A progress tracking system, which provides instant notes and detailed data on which areas the student can improve
Frequently Asked Questions
The ACT is 3 hours long (technically 2 hours and 55 minutes). Including breaks, the exam takes 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete. If you sign up for the optional essay (the ACT Plus Writing), the test clocks in at 3 hours and 40 minutes or just over 4 hours with breaks.
The ACT consists of four main sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, with an optional Writing section. The English section measures a student's understanding of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. The Math section tests a student's knowledge of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The Reading section measures a student's comprehension of written passages, and the Science section tests a student's ability to interpret and analyze scientific information. The optional Writing section measures a student's ability to write a persuasive essay.
The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest possible score.
You should familiarize yourself with the test format and for that you should do some practice tests. In case you feel you need it, you should enroll for some tutoring as well.
The ACT is offered seven times per year: once each in February, April, June, July, September, October and December.
The SAT and ACT generally cover the same topics. Both ACT and SAT scores are used for college admissions decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships. Most colleges do not prefer one test over the other.
If you are taking the ACT/SAT for the first time, the best time to take either of the tests is in June before your junior year. This gives you plenty of time during the summer to prepare for the test that you plan to take.