Ace the ACT Test with Proven Preparation Methods

Ace the ACT Test with Proven Preparation Methods

This article is the second part of the Standardized Tests for US College Admissions series concentrating on the test preparation methods and crucial information about the tests for students to perform better. In the third and final part of the series, we will learn about TOEFL and IELTS tests.

In this article, we will discuss about one of the important standardized tests that is accepted by almost all US Universities and colleges for higher education admission purposes – The ACT.

What is ACT?

The ACT or American College Testing is a standardized test to identify the readiness of a student for admissions in the US Universities and colleges.  The ACT test consists of English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science tests.

ACT +Writing Test

ACT also has an optional Writing test. This optional test is conducted for 30 minutes at the end of the main test. The candidates Profile for ACTare asked to write an essay based on a social issue through which they are tested for taking a stance on an issue, maintaining focus throughout the essay, expressing ideas using logical reasoning, organizing ideas logically, and using language effectively and clearly.

Preparation for the test

Below are simple yet proven strategies to prepare for the test:

• The candidate must prepare well in advance for the test. Crash courses before a week or a month of the test may not come in handy on the test day


• Candidates must take a lot of test practices using the available online sources, model question papers, and question banks


• A study on the structure and content of the ACT question paper can be made much prior to the exam. This would help in understanding the format of the questions coming ahead in the test, unless and otherwise a new format is announced for the upcoming test


• Certain subject areas may be found a little difficult in the model question papers. These can be concentrated more and got enough practice on


• After covering major portions of the ACT preparation materials, the candidates must try to refresh and revise the subjects

On the Test Day

Before taking the test, one must read the instructions carefully. For English, Reading, and Writing tests the answers would have to be chosen from the multiple choices. One should consider and analyze all the options before choosing the ‘best’ answer.

For Mathematics test, the candidate would need to work out the problem separately and compare it with the answer options, rather than directly looking at the options.

Structure of the Test

Let us see briefly, the structure of ACT test subjects on the test:

• English – 75 multiple choice questions (MCQ’s) – 45 minutes. The questions will test your grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills.


• Mathematics – 60 MCQ’s – 60 minutes. The questions will be asked from Algebra I and II, Geometry, and Trigonometry.


• Reading test – 40 MCQ’s – 35 minutes. In this test, four passages about prose fiction, social studies, humanities, and natural sciences will be given. For each passage, there will be 10 questions asked.


• Science subject – 40 MCQ’s – 35 minutes. Questions will be based on science-based passages with graphs, charts, tables, and research summaries.

Educational Institutions that Accept ACT

As mentioned earlier in the article, almost all the US Universities and four-year colleges accept the ACT scores.

Only specific US colleges or Universities require ACT + Writing Test for admission.  However, students are advised to take the Writing test also to improve the chances of admission into a college. Following are some of the higher educational institutions that come under this category:

• Concordia University, Portland (with or without Writing test)


• Graceland University (with or without Writing test)


• Stephen F Austin State University


• University of Southern California, and many more.

The ACT, since recently, is being compared to the SAT tests and the acceptance level of ACT in the US Universities and colleges has become very encouraging for students to take up these tests. Make sure that you do not lag behind. Keep up with the preparation work and reap the rewards.

Later, we will also discuss about important stages during higher education admission process in the US. Watch out this space for more and keep studying!