So You Want to Know about the ACT

Most students intending to progress from school into college are aware of the SAT tests and how they can affect their chances of getting into the college of their dreams, but increasingly there's a knowledge that SAT isn't going to be enough, that adding an ACT score can give them an even better advantage of acceptance. Whereas a SAT score is based only on the 3 basic components of Verbal, Mathematics and Writing (required), the ACT covers 5 components including English, Mathematics, Science and Reading plus a writing test which is optional.

ACT results take about 8 weeks to come back so you need to keep this in mind if you hope to use this to support your college application. Make sure you take the test in plenty of time -- you can even take it up to a year beforehand if you choose to do so. If you're looking for scholarships, then having a good result quite far in advance of the application process will mean you have more scholarship opportunities still open to apply for. If you have left it late for taking the test this year, then take advantage of the early viewing period which is about 2 weeks after you take the test. This means you can find out what your score is before the actual results are mailed out to you by checking them out online, and you can use this in your application process.

It's going to cost you about $8 to do this, but if it helps you secure both your first choice college place, and a scholarship, then it's well worth the investment.
If you find that your scores are lower than you'd hoped, or need for your college, then it is possible to redo the ACT again. This is another reason that it's a good idea to do the test early on in the school year as you'll have plenty of time to revise and then retake the ACT without being under time pressure -- remember however that taking them again is a gamble, it is possible to get a lower score instead of the higher one you desire!

The best possible ACT score is 36, so you're aiming to get as close to this as possible to give yourself the best advantage possible with regards to your college application. Make sure that you know what ACT score requirement is needed for the college your applying to and that's the minimum of what you're aiming for!

There's a handy chart at the ACT organization's website that will let you see how your score ranks up against others who have taken ACT during the same year as yourself. This allows you to see how you measure up not only for the college of your choice, but also against your peers on a national level.