ACT -- THE TEST (Draft)

The ACT consists of five sections or tests. Four of the tests are multiple choice: English, Mathematics,
Reading and Science. The fifth section is the Writing Test, which is a 30 minute essay. The ACT usually
begins at 8:00 a.m. and finishes around 1:00 p.m. There is a short break after the second section (math)
and another break before the last section (writing). The five tests (sections) are organized as shown
below.
Section/Test

Total Questions

Time

Average Time per Question

English

75

45 minutes

36 seconds

Mathematics

60

60 minutes

1 minute

Reading

40

35 minutes

53 seconds

Science

40

35 minutes

53 seconds

30 Minutes

NA

Writing

1Writing Prompt
1 Essay

The English Test. The English Test (which is the first section of the ACT) assesses the students English
usage and mechanics (punctuation, grammar and usage and sentence structure 40 questions) and
rhetorical skills (writing strategy, organization and style -- 35 questions) by measuring the students
ability to edit and revise an example of writing. Specifically, the student is tested on his ability to
determine if an error exists and, if there is an error in the writing, select the best fix from the multiple
choice answers. There are no questions such as, Should a comma be used before a phrase beginning with
the word so? The English test is really an editing test. The question being asked for usage and
mechanics is, Is the underlined portion of the passage correct, and if it is incorrect, whats the best way
to fix it? The question being asked for rhetorical skills is, Is the underlined portion of the passage the
best way to express the thought, and if it is not, what is the best way to improve it?
The Usage and Mechanics Section of the English Test breaks out this way:
Content

Number of Questions

Punctuation

10

Grammar & Usage

12

Sentence Structure

18

The Rhetorical Skills Section of the English Test breaks out this way:
Content

Number of Questions

Strategy

12

Organization

11

Style

12

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

1

An example of an English Test question is:

Passage

Answer Choices

The Movie Dracula, featuring its batlike title

31. A. NO CHANGE
B. with its
C. based on its
D. whos

31

character who feeds on human blood, is just

one of many sources 1

The Mathematics Test. The Mathematics Test (which is the second section of the ACT) is the only
section of the ACT that lists questions in order of difficulty. Generally, the lower the number of the
question, the easier it is and the higher the number, the harder it is. Question #1 is very easy, and question
#60 is very hard. Notice in the break out below that pre-algebra and basic algebra account for 24 of the
60 questions or 40% of the Math test. Calculators may be used on the math section.
The Mathematics Test breaks out this way:
Content

Number of Questions

Pre-Algebra

14

Elementary Algebra

10

Intermediate Algebra

Coordinate Geometry

Plane Geometry
Trigonometry

14
4

An example of a Math Test question is:

21. The expression 7(x + 3) - 3(2x - 2) is equivalent to1
A. x + 1
B. x + 15
C. x + 19
D. x + 23
E. x + 27
The Reading Test. The reading test (which is the third section of the ACT) consists of ten questions for
each of four passages (40 questions total). Each of the four passages represents different styles of writing
-- Prose Fiction, Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences. The passages are always presented in
the order shown in the prior sentence. The reading section tests the students ability to understand what
he reads in the passage in order to find the best answers to multiple choice questions. No prior
knowledge of the subject area of the passage is presumed.
An example of a Reading Test question is:
Note: The reading passage that goes with this question is not shown.
1. The passage establishes that Vida and Ted have all of the following traits in common EXCEPT.1
A. a willingness to accommodate the requests each makes of the other.
B. a response to elements of nature.
C. a perception of others that surfaces in humor.
D. an awareness of what delights the other.
2

The Science Test. The science test (which is the fourth section of the ACT) has seven passages, which
may include diagrams, graphs or charts, each with several multiple choice questions about the passage.
The science test is not a test of knowledge or content but rather a test of scientific thinking skills. Some
basic arithmetic skills are necessary; however, the use of calculators is not premiited on the science
section. The passages cover the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Spaces Sciences and Physics.
Each content area is represented in at least one passage, and no content area is represented in more than
two passages. Only a basic knowledge of Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Spaces Sciences and Physics is
required to answer some of the questions. Again, the test is more about skills than content.
The Science Test breaks out this way in terms of general skills (40 questions total):

*
**
***

Content

Number of Passages

Number of Questions

Data Representation*

15

Research Summaries**

18

Conflicting Viewpoints***

Understand and evaluate data presented in tables or graphs.

Follow the plan, procedures and results of an experiment and analyze them.
Evaluate conflicting viewpoints (theories, hypotheses, etc.).
An example of a Science Test question is:
Note: The Engine Speed and Octane Table that goes with this question is not shown.
17. Based on experiment 3, as engine speed increases, the minimum octane number of fuel required
for an engine to operate without becoming damaged: 1
A. increases only.
B. decreases only.
C. increase, then decreases.
D. decreases, then increases.

The Writing Test. The writing test (which is always the last part of the ACT) gives the student a prompt
with which to plan and write a short essay. The student has 30 minutes to complete the essay. While the
ACT folks dont mention length, it appears that scores of 8 or higher (out of 12) are generally associated
with essays that are more than two pages long. There are four lined pages available for the student to
write the essay.
The essay is graded separately from the four other sections of the ACT. The writing grade is scored from
2 to 12 based on the combined scores of two readers. The student will receive two scores for writing.
One will be the essay grade (2 to 12) and the other a combined English Test and Writing Test grade (1 to
36). Neither the writing score(essay) nor the English-Writing grade will affect the ACT composite score
or the English Test score.
The essay will be evaluated based on:
developing a position using sound reasoning and support for ideas.
staying on topic throughout the entire essay.
showing logical organization.
using language effectively according to conventional standard written English.

How the ACT is scored. The four multiple choice tests (English, Mathematics, Reading and Science) are
graded to a scale score that ranges from a low of 1 to a high of 36. The Composite ACT score is the
average of the four multiple choice tests. Examples of the relationship of raw score to scale score for the
four tests are shown below.2
Test

Scale Score

Questions Correct/Out of # of Questions

% Questions Correct

English

36
22
14

75/75
54-56/75
33-34/75

100%
72%
44%

Math

36
22
14

60/60
35-36/60
12-13/60

100%
58%
20%

Reading

36
22
14

39-40/40
23-24/40
14/60

98%
58%
23%

Science

36
22
14

40/40
26/40
12-13/40

100%
65%
30%

The English Test score (1-36) and the Writing score (2-12) are combined into the ACT Combined
English/Writing score on a scale 1-36. This combined score is not part of the ACT Composite Score.
Comparison of ACT Scores to SAT Scores. Since the SAT and ACT writing scores are computed
differently it is best to compare the ACT Composite Score (1-36) with the combined SAT Critical
Reading and Mathematics scores (400 1600) and the ACT Combined English/Writing score (1-36)
with the SAT Writing score 200 - 800. Shown below are examples of comparison scores. 3
Composite ACT Score
36
29
26
22*
19
14
ACT Combined Eng/Writing
36
29
26
22*
19
14

Corresponding SAT CR + M
1600
1300
1190
1030*
910
690
Corresponding SAT Writing
800
650
590
510*
450
360

* The average ACT Composite score was 21.1 and the average SAT (CR + M) was 1011 for the high
school class of 2011. The average ACT Combined English/Writing score was 20.8 and the SAT Writing
score was 489 for the high school class of 2011.4

If a student made an ACT composite score of 22 and an ACT Combined English/Writing score of 22, the
scores would correspond to a total SAT score of 1540 out of 2400.
General Strategies for the ACT.
Arrive Prepared. Bring your admission ticket, photo identification, calculator (Go to
www.actstudent.org to see if your calculator is authorized for use on the test.) and some sharpened #2
pencils with good erasers.5
Know the Test Directions. Memorize the directions for each test prior to taking the ACT. You wont
have time to read them while taking the test. Every second you use reading the directions is a second
youre not answering questions.
Eliminate the Wrong Answers to Find the Right One. In the English, Mathematics, Reading and
Science sections the questions are multiple choice ones. The test makers have given you the right answer
(its one of the four or five choices); your job is to find it. Unless the right answer jumps out at you, its
usually easier to find and eliminate the wrong answers than search for the correct one. The idea behind
eliminating the clearly wrong answers first, is that you will have fewer choices to actually work with
when deciding which one is correct. You should line out the wrong answers with your pencil, so you can
focus on the remaining ones.
Guess! There is not penalty for guessing on the ACT, so you should answer every question you
attempt and then fill in every oval on the answer sheet for the questions you dont get to. When the five
minute warning is given, fill in any blank answer ovals that remain. (Be sure to use just one
designated column for filling in the ovals A & F, B & G, C & H, D & J or E & K. Scattering your
answers around among different columns lessens of your probability of getting a correct answer.) Then
go back and work on as many questions as you can until time runs out. Remember, there is no guessing
penalty on the ACT. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave a blank oval on your answer sheet.
Write, Draw, Lineout in the Test Booklet. It is perfectly permissible to write in the ACT test
booklet. (In the rare case you are not allowed to write in the test booklet, you will be notified.) You
should line out wrong answers, circle the answer you chose, put question marks by answers you want to
revisit, write equations and draw figures on your test booklet. Use the test booklet as scratch paper. Its
faster than using a piece of paper, and the work is right there with the possible answers. No one looks at
the test booklet -- only the answer sheet.
Check Frequently to Stay Aligned. Make sure you are filling in the oval that has the same number
as the question. If you fill in an oval for number 3 on the answer sheet, but the question you are
answering is number 2 in the test booklet, every answer after 3 will probably be wrong. This is nothing to
worry about; just be aware of what youre doing.
Dont Go So Fast on the Easy Questions that You Make a Stupid Mistake: Each correct answer
is worth one raw point. The hardest question on the test gives you no more points that the easiest one.
Make sure you get the easy points.
________________________________________________________
1. The example questions are from The Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd Edition.
2. This information is from The Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd Edition, page 878.
3. This information was taken from the SAT-ACT Concordance Tables at the College Board website and
the ACT-SAT Concordance Tables at the ACT website.
4. The mean scores for the ACT and SAT for the graduating class of 2011 are from the official ACT and
SAT websites.
5. This information is from The Real ACT Prep Guide, 3rd Edition, page 5.
5

This presentation is for the students and staff of Granville County Schools for educational purposes only
and no guarantee of ACT results is offered. Factual information is derived from sources that
are considered reliable but have not been verified. Increased ACT scores by students who have
participated in this preparation and review program in the past are no guarantee of an increased score by
any individual student who may participate in this program in the future.