ACT

The ACT is one of two standardized tests used for admission to American colleges and universities. Any student applying to college in the United States should give serious consideration to the ACT.

The college entrance tests are definitely back. Interest in the ACT and SAT declined during the pandemic, but now many of the most competitive colleges require students to submit ACT or SAT scores, and many schools that are officially test-optional have actually given admissions preference to students who submit ACT or SAT scores.

Why should students work on their ACT Scores?

Better scores help: higher scores on the ACT bring more competitive colleges and universities within reach, raise students’ chances of admission, and increase their likelihood of receiving merit-based scholarships and/or tuition assistance.

Test preparation works: because the ACT is a standardized test, students benefit tremendously from familiarity, focused practice, and reflective review. Who better to guide a student through their test-preparation than an experienced professional who knows the test inside and out, with access to the most up-to-date information and curricular materials and the support of a seasoned administrative team?

Why Bespoke Education for the ACT?

Bespoke Education has been helping students excel on the ACT for more than 20 years. Our comprehensive 1-on-1 test preparation approach incorporates individualized tutoring sessions, weekly homework from our proprietary ACT textbook, and frequent practice testing. Our tutoring programs are both thorough and tailored to the student’s specific needs.

When it comes to preparing for a test like the ACT, experience matters. Bespoke’s ACT tutors know the test so well they can look beyond the content and beyond the “tips and tricks” to help each student develop a personalized set of techniques and strategies that they can rely on to help them succeed on test day.

Students will be guided through the content, habits and strategies that will improve their scores and build their confidence on each section of the test. ACT preparation with a Bespoke tutor is not only informative – it’s also fun and inspiring. Students finish working with our ACT tutors both being better at the test and feeling better about themselves.

How should students get started on the ACT?

• Learn more about the ACT below.
• If you haven’t decided between the ACT and the SAT, learn more below.
• Contact us to set up a call. We’ve been helping families make sense of the ACT for more than 20 years. Our client services team is looking forward to discussing in depth with everyone, from students who are ready to begin tutoring immediately to families who are just starting to ask questions about the ACT or the standardized test preparation timeline.
• When students are ready for tutoring, we help create a test prep plan and pair them with the perfect tutor match for their availability, personality, and learning style.

What is the ACT?

The ACT is a standardized test produced by ACT, Inc. It is used by American colleges to assess students’ readiness for college and is an important part of admissions decisions. It is offered in two formats: paper-and-pencil and online.

Who takes the ACT?

The ACT is taken by juniors in the spring (typically in February, April and June) and by seniors in the fall (up through December if necessary), in order to have scores that accompany their college applications (due late senior fall).

When is the ACT offered?

The ACT is administered at testing sites in the US in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. The July ACT is not offered in New York State. School districts in some states administer school-day ACTs, typically in the spring of junior year. Click here for specific test date details and registrations. Testing sites in popular locations tend to fill up quickly, so register early. Test site availability tends to depend on available test format: i.e. some sites only offer paper-and-pencil tests, some sites only offer online tests. Read on for more information and advice about which format your student should take.

What’s on the ACT?

The ACT consists of three required multiple-choice sections—English, Math, and Reading—followed by optional Science and Writing sections. The English section tests grammar, sentence construction, and passage composition. The Math section tests a wide range of math topics, from foundational concepts across the board up to advanced topics in algebra and trigonometry (no calculus). The Reading section tests core Reading comprehension skills: they read long passages and then answer questions about words-in-context, content, inference, and intent. The Science section is less about scientific knowledge and more about scientific reasoning: Can they understand the variables, logic, and setup of an experiment? Do they know their way around graphs and charts? etc. While Science is optional, we recommend it: we are awaiting clear indications from college admissions offices as to whether they will want to see Science section scores. The Writing section is an argumentative essay in which students respond to a prompt. Writing is truly optional: students should only do it if they are good at it and like working on it. Ultimately, each college decides its own requirements, so once students know where they want to apply, they should check those schools’ requirements.

What’s going on with the “Enhanced” ACT?

The ACT has recently undergone the largest format redesign in its history. It reduced the number of questions on most sections, it gave students more time per question on every single section, and it made the Science section optional. These changes have helped students with the time challenge of the test, and they have affected the content balance in small but noticeable ways, especially on the English and Math sections. There is now also an online version of the test. We currently recommend that students take the ACT on paper and pencil, not online: elements of the online test format increase the cognitive and logistical complexity of taking the test. All of these “Enhanced” changes are very new, so we are watching carefully and keeping our tutors and our curriculum up to date with all the latest developments.

Section	Time	Questions	Score Range
English	35 mins	50	1-36
Math	50 mins	45	1-36
Reading	40 mins	36	1-36
Total (English, Math, Reading)	2 hours 5 minutes (plus break)
Science (optional)	40 mins	40	1-36
Total (including Science)	2 hours 45 minutes (plus breaks)
Writing (optional)	40 mins	1 essay prompt	2-12

When will students receive their ACT scores?

Scores from the multiple-choice sections of the ACT are usually available about two weeks after the test, but can sometimes take up to eight weeks. Writing section scores are normally available about two weeks after the multiple-choice scores.

How is the ACT scored?

Students receive a scaled score of 1–36 on each multiple-choice section. The English, Math, and Reading scores are then averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number to produce a student’s composite score, also on a scale of 1-36. If students take the Science section, their Math and Science scores will be averaged to produce a “STEM” score. If students take the Writing section (graded on a scale of 2–12) their English, Reading, and Writing scores will be combined to produce an “ELA” score.

What do my ACT scores mean? 

Each score scale (1-36) is determined on test day, when a student’s individual performance is compared to the performance of their peers. To determine how “good” an ACT score is, first look at the associated percentile (a measure of where that score falls within the overall population). For example, a composite score of 18 is roughly the 50th percentile: 50% of students score higher than 18, 50% of students score lower. A composite score of 28 is roughly the 90th percentile: 10% of students score higher, 90% of students score lower. Next, consider that score in the context of target colleges. Admissions offices usually publish the average test scores of their admitted students, along with an “interquartile range” showing what scores the middle 50% of their applicants submitted. Aim for the upper end of that range: even the highest ACT scores will not guarantee students admission anywhere, but low scores can take them out of consideration. Students and families should talk with their college advisors for more personalized advice about what scores are recommended for any given school.

I’m hearing a lot about “superscoring.” What does that mean?

Many admissions offices employ a process called “superscoring,” which can be very beneficial for students. When superscoring, colleges look at student scores from multiple test days, take the student’s highest score for each multiple-choice section, and then re-average those scores into a new composite score. This composite score is the student’s “superscore.” For example, in February, a student scored 34 in English, 24 in Math, 28 in Reading, and 22 in Science (27 composite). Then in April, they scored 31 in English, 29 in Math, 31 in Reading, and 28 in Science (30 composite). The student’s superscore would be 34 English (from February), 29 Math (from April), 31 Reading (April), and 28 Science (April) for a new composite of 31: higher than either of the student’s individual composite scores. Check with individual colleges to see if they use superscoring. Admissions offices calculate student superscores on their own, from all of the scores submitted. Because of superscoring, we highly recommend that students plan on taking the ACT two or more times.

If students take the ACT multiple times, do they have to send colleges all of their scores?

The ACT allows students to select which scores to send to colleges. Some colleges however require applicants to submit scores from all tests they have taken. Check with individual schools to confirm their policies. It is worth noting that if students elect to send their ACT scores from a given test date, they must send all of the section scores from that date; they cannot e.g. send their Math score but not their Reading score. 

Where can I get more information on the ACT?

For more information on the ACT and to register for a real test, please visit the ACT website.

ACT vs. SAT

One of the most common questions families have when beginning college entrance test prep is “Which test should my child take?” Bespoke Education has been helping students answer this for years!

• As far as college admissions offices are concerned, the ACT and the SAT are truly interchangeable. To our knowledge, every single school that accepts standardized tests accepts both tests.
• But the tests are different enough that students should prepare for one test OR the other, not both. Students can start their test prep undecided, but they should move relatively quickly toward focusing on only one test.
• Choosing between the tests is not just about performance; it’s also about feel. Students spend a lot of time and effort on test prep, so it’s important to choose to work on a test they like taking. The best way to differentiate between the ACT and the SAT is to take a full-length practice test of each. Bespoke Education’s mock testing program makes it easy to take realistic practice exams in our offices or from the comfort of the student’s home, and includes detailed score reporting that helps students decide and focus their subsequent test preparation efforts.
• After the results are in, call us! Our experienced client services team uses a student’s scores, their experiences taking the tests, and their learning profile to help families make an informed decision.
• If students have limited test prep time, we also offer an ACT/SAT Diagnostic Test that provides a representative portion of both tests. But since the full length (and required stamina and focus) of each test is a part of the challenge, we highly recommend two full-length practice tests before deciding.