Curious about the ACT and its role in college admissions? This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the ACT test, from its history and format to its structure and significance in the admissions process. Learn how the ACT demonstrates your readiness for college, how to prepare and boost your score, and why it’s a crucial component of your application. Plus, get expert tips from Crimson Education Strategists on who should take the ACT, the best times to take it, when to submit scores to test-optional schools, and what international students need to know.
Hello, future college students! If you're navigating the path to college admissions, you've likely heard about the ACT. But what exactly is it, and why is it so important?
The ACT , short for American College Testing, is a standardized test used by colleges and universities across the United States to evaluate a high school student's readiness for college.
An important feature of the ACT is that it assesses a broad range of core academic competencies, with test sections devoted to English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, and an optional Writing section.
Why is the ACT so significant? For many reasons…
Today’s version of the ACT offers two test formats : the conventional pencil and paper format and a newer online format, but the content, structure, and scoring of the paper and digital formats are identical. You can opt for either format when testing in the US; international students are limited to the online version.
Both the ACT and SAT are widely accepted and equally respected by colleges and universities throughout the United States, so whether you're aiming for a state school or an Ivy League institution, applying to a test-required school or test-optional one , your ACT performance further informs the holistic evaluation of your admissions profile. Achieving scores in the highest percentiles can also be highly valuable for admission to the most prestigious US colleges and universities.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about the ACT — from its format and content to test-taking strategies and how to use your scores effectively in your college applications.
As a bonus, you'll gain insights from experienced Crimson Strategists and Former Admissions Officers, so you can make the best decisions for your own next steps.
So, let's get started — it's time to master the ACT and chart your personalized ACT strategy on the road to achieving your college dreams!
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The ACT, a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States, has a rich history that dates back to the late 1950s. It was introduced as an alternative to the SAT , aiming to provide a different measure of students' academic readiness for college. Today, the ACT’s science test and the fact that all questions are multiple choice are features that distinguish it from the SAT.
| YEAR | EVENT |
|---|---|
| 1959 | The ACT was first introduced in November by University of Iowa professor Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the SAT. The original test consisted of four sections: English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Natural Sciences. |
| 1989 | The Social Studies test was changed into a Reading section, which included a social sciences subsection. The Natural Sciences test was renamed the Science Reasoning test, with a greater emphasis on problem-solving skills rather than memorizing scientific facts. |
| 2005 | An optional Writing Test was added to the ACT in February, allowing students to showcase their writing skills. |
| 2017–2018 | Computer-based ACT tests were available for school-day testing in limited school districts in the US, with greater availability in the fall of 2018. |
In 2012 the ACT surpassed the SAT for the first time in total test takers, but today the ACT is slightly less popular than the rival SAT.
The ACT has also evolved to better assess students' readiness for college and to adapt to changes in educational standards and technology. One prominent new feature is the online testing option. The digital format, introduced widely in 2018, is designed to offer a test experience more appealing to young test takers, at ease in today's connected classrooms.
This means you can choose between alternative testing formats: the paper and pencil ACT or the online digital ACT . We recommend you weigh each option and register for the format you're most comfortable with.
The ACT test consists of four subject area sections — English, mathematics, reading, and science—with an optional writing section. All questions in each section are multiple choice.
Some colleges and universities require or accept ACT writing scores, so you may consider registering to take the optional ACT Writing Test as well, administered the same day as the regular sections if you opt to take it.
The ACT test takes 2 hours and 55 minutes, not including breaks and excluding the optional Writing test.
| Test Subject | Number of Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| English | 75 | 45 |
| Mathematics | 60 | 60 |
| Reading | 40 | 35 |
| Science | 40 | 35 |
| Writing (optional) | 1 essay | 40 |
The English section consists of essays and reading passages, but then puts you in the position of making decisions about how to revise, edit, and proofread a passage or selected portion of the passage, in order to assess a variety of mechanical English skills.
For each passage you’ll need to answer a set of multiple-choice questions testing your English skills. You decide which answer choice is most appropriate in the context of the passage, and “NO CHANGE” to the passage is often included as one of the choices.
Composition skills (weight 29–32%)
Language (weight 15–17%)
Mechanics (weight 52–55%)
The material covered emphasizes content areas that are prerequisites for success in entry-level college math courses, covering concepts learned up to the beginning of twelfth grade.
According to the ACT, knowledge of basic formulas and computational skills are assumed as background for the problems, but recall of complex formulas and extensive computation are not required.
You're allowed to use an approved calculator on the mathematics section of the ACT. You can review the ACT Calculator Policy here .
Number and Quantity (weight 7–10%)
Algebra (weight 12–15%)
Functions (weight 12–15%)
Geometry (weight 12–15%)
Statistics & Probability (weight 8–12%)
Integrating Essential Skills (40–43%)
The reading section measures your ability to read closely, reason logically about texts using evidence, and integrate information from multiple sources. Some parts consist of one long prose passage and others consist of shorter prose passages. The passages represent the levels and kinds of text commonly encountered in first-year courses in college.
Key Ideas and Details (weight 52–60%)
Craft and Structure (weight 25–30%)
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (weight 13–23%)
The science section measures analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences. Authentic scientific scenarios are followed by a number of multiple choice questions. The section tests knowledge of concepts across biology, chemistry, and Earth/space sciences (geology, meteorology, astronomy).
If you register for the ACT with writing, you’ll take the writing test after the four multiple-choice sections. Your score in the writing section will not affect your scores on the multiple-choice, nor your Composite score.
The writing section is a 40-minute essay test that measures writing skills typically taught in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses.
Students are required to write in response to a prescribed prompt. The prompt describes a complex issue and three different perspectives on the issue. You’re asked to write an essay in which you develop your own perspective on the issue. According to the ACT,
You may adopt one of the perspectives given in the prompt as your own, or you may introduce one that is completely different from those given. Your score is not affected by the perspective you take on the issue.
Success on the ACT Writing Test will also require you to manage your time effectively, plan and outline an essay, and polish and proofread an essay.
If you earned the following SCALED SCORES:
Your Composite Score would be 21, the average of the above scaled scores (84 divided by 4).
Writing Test Scores: The optional Writing test is scored independently on a 4-category rubric and 6-point scale. Final test points for the optional Writing section range from a low of 2 points to a high of 12.
According to ACT , each reporting category includes the total number of questions in that category, the total number of questions in that category you answered correctly, and the percentage of questions correct. ACT reporting categories are aligned with ACT College and Career Readiness Standards and other standards that target college and career readiness.
While ACT cautions that score reporting can take up to eight weeks, scores are typically released sooner, usually 10 to 14 days after the testing date, and two additional weeks later for scores on the optional writing section.
When scores for your test date are released, you’ll receive your ACT Score Report. Your score will also be sent to your high school and to the colleges or universities you requested as score recipients, either when registering for your test or in subsequent requests.
Your score report contains your name, high school, and the date you took the ACT. Your ACT Score Report will also indicate your Composite Score (overall test score), not counting the optional writing test, if you took it. You can also view a sample ACT Student Score Report online.
Your Score Report will also provide a score breakdown for each subject area, and for each skill category within each subject area. The breakdown shows you how many questions you answered correctly for each subject area, by skill category.
The STEM and ELA scores you see provide additional layers of performance assessment. The STEM score is a composite of your math and science scores.
The ELA score represents how you performed across the English, reading, and writing tests, but only appears if you opted to take the optional writing test.
Your ACT Score Report also contains up to 16 different percentile rankings: 8 national percentile rankings and 8 statewide percentile rankings, based on the state where you live.
For both the US ranking and State ranking, you’ll see a percentile ranking corresponding to your composite score and separate ranks that correspond to each of the four subject area tests, plus a ranking for your STEM score.
If you took the optional writing test, you’ll also see a US and State ranking for the writing test and for ELA.
Percentile Rankings take the form of a percentage, showing how you performed relative to other test takers. If your composite score earns you a percentile rank of 59% nationally, that means you scored better than 59% of all test takers who took the ACT on the same day you took it.
Since 59% puts your score above the top scores of more than half of the other test takers, you could say you scored above average compared to the national average. If your composite percentage is 85%, then you performed well above average, because only 14% of test takers nationally scored higher than you, putting you in the top 15% in terms of performance. So, the higher the percentile you’re in, the better you performed — relative to other test takers testing the same day you did.
Yes, ACT allows you to superscore if you make two or more attempts at the ACT, and many US colleges and universities allow students to submit a superscore with their admissions application.
Superscoring allows you to calculate a composite score based on your best sub-score for each subject area across multiple attempts.
Let’s say you want to retake the ACT to improve your science score, but you don’t know if that’s a good idea because you scored very well on other sections the first time around. If you’re applying to schools that accept a superscore, there’s virtually no downside to making a second attempt at the ACT: with superscoring your ACT composite score (overall score) will be based only on your best scores for each subject area, regardless of different test dates.
Your percentile ranking will help you interpret your ACT score and determine if it’s a good score or not.
For example, a composite scaled score of 32 would typically put you above the 90th percentile nationally, meaning you scored in the top 5 to 10% of test takers nationally (your US rank). Because your score ranked in the top 5 to 10%, this demonstrates your score is a very good score.
That said, it's may be more useful to interpret your ACT score in the context of college admissions at specific schools.
For example, most students who get into a top US college or university will earn an ACT score between 28 and 36. If you were applying to Harvard, you’d need to earn a 35 or 36 if you wanted to be in the top 25% of applicants based on your ACT score. In other words, to rank in the 75th percentile for Harvard, you’d need to rank above the 97th percentile nationally!
Typically, for college admissions, a good score is a score that will rank in the 75th percentile or higher among other first-year applicants to the same school.
Trying to figure out where your academics can take you, or what scores to aim for? Check out the Crimson Education online US College Admissions Calculator for additional feedback.
To learn more about ACT scores, percentiles, determining what’s a good ACT score, and what score is needed to be competitive at top US colleges and universities, check out What Is a Good ACT Score?
You’ll also find that the ACT provides additional ranking information and a link to its most recent overall US Score & Rank Table here . The ACT score National Ranks Table allows you to find the corresponding national percentile rank for any composite score from 1 to 36, and for any subject area score from 1 to 36.
ACT scores play a pivotal role in the college admissions process. Admissions officers use these scores to assess your academic readiness and compare you with other applicants. But how exactly do they weigh ACT scores against other components of your application?
How do admissions officers weigh ACT scores against other components of an application?
Admissions officers consider ACT scores as one part of a holistic review process. While your GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essays, and letters of recommendation are all crucial, your ACT score contributes to the core academic component of your college applications, along with GPA and course rigor. Even in a holistic evaluation process, the academic component of your application will play a significant role in admissions decisions.
Colleges also use ACT scores as a common metric that helps them evaluate student merit and readiness across applicants coming from diverse educational backgrounds and growing up with diverse educational opportunities.
For a deeper dive into the nuances of standardized testing and college admissions, check out: Decoding Shifting Norms in SAT/ACT Testing
In what scenarios could a high ACT score significantly impact an applicant’s chances?
From an application standpoint and for opening doors to new opportunities, there are plenty of reasons why you might take the ACT .
In summary, while the ACT is just one piece of the puzzle, taking the ACT offers many potential benefits , including enhancing your college application and opening doors to wider opportunities.
Most students want to have enough time to take the ACT more than once, in order to improve their score. And, in terms of planning ahead, you definitely want to have all your testing completed at least four weeks before you need to submit your first applications. That means when you take the test — how soon you register for the first test — may depend on your application timelines.
Expert Tip: Take your first ACT test in December of your junior year.
Many Crimson advisors encourage students to schedule their first ACT attempt for the ACT December test session, during their junior year in high school. This provides a good runway for preparing for the ACT while also giving you time to register for subsequent test dates in the late spring or early summer, if you don’t get the score you hoped for on your first attempt.
The ACT is offered seven times a year , but it’s always a good idea to plan ahead in terms of calendaring potential testing dates, picking the best dates, and tracking when registration opens. Register early as testing sessions can fill up quickly.
Don’t forget your early application deadlines… If you plan to apply to any schools early action or early decision , make sure your accelerated application timeline is part of your calculations when scheduling your ACT testing!
While personalized planning and advising is always the best way to go, here are some general guidelines from the admissions strategists and counselors in the Crimson Education network:
When we need to perform — be it in dance, track, acting, debate, or in academics — most of us are likely to perform much better after lots of practice.
Taking the ACT is no different — preparing in advance is strongly recommended, especially if you’re aiming for admissions to highly selective institutions.
Follow these tips when planning how you’ll prepare for your own ACT test:
Support for students from lower-income families may also be available, in some cases in the form of universal ACT testing or similar programs at their high school.
For ACT-sponsored equity programming, check out the ACT Center for Equity in Learning and find information about fee waivers, free access to ACT online test prep resources, and other forms of support.
What are the most effective ACT preparation strategies?
Test prep courses can be very effective, but the results can vary widely from student to student. If you don’t have much experience taking timed, multiple-choice tests, however, you may benefit more than other students from exposure to proven test-taking strategies and guided test-taking practice provided in test prep courses.
Test prep books designed specifically for the ACT are widely available and a popular and inexpensive test prep resource. Books combine a good outline of topics covered along with lots of practice questions.
What common mistakes do students make while preparing for the ACT and how can they avoid them?
One common mistake is not leaving enough time for consistent study and review, or making a great plan well ahead of time but not sticking to it. Trying to cram lots of academic review and test prep into a short period of time may work for a few students, but for most of us it’s hardly effective!
Another mistake is reviewing the academic content, but not familiarizing yourself with the testing format. In addition to the academic review, it’s important to schedule time to do real practice tests, with real time limits, so you’re simulating the entire testing experience.
It’s finally the big day… So what should you expect? And, what do you need to remember…?
The first thing to remember about your ACT Test Day, is that you’ll want to get a good night’s sleep if possible.
Remember, ACT test sessions begin at 8:00 a.m., and ACT says you will NOT be admitted to the test if you’re late, so it’s a good idea to be sure you know how to the test center, and know how long it takes to get there.
At the end of the last multiple-choice test, you’ll most likely be given a shorter subject-specific multiple-choice test, which is only used for test development and has no impact on your ACT score.
Total testing minutes, not counting the optional 40-minute writing test, are 175 minutes, or 2 hours, 55 minutes, not including breaks or other time needed for test administration.
You’ll have a 15-minute break after the math test — an opportunity to eat a snack outside of the testing room, after the English and math test (after the first 1 hour and 45 minutes of test taking). Using cell phones or any electronic devices during the break is prohibited.
Test sessions will typically finish around 12:35 p.m. (or around 1:35 p.m. if you also take the optional writing test).
| Do. | Don't. |
|---|---|
| Bring your test session admission ticket | Don't bring textbooks, language dictionaries, scratch paper, notes, or study aids |
| Remember your approved hard plastic proof of ID OR ACT Student ID Form | No highlighter pens, colored pens, or colored pencils |
| Bring sharpened No. 2 pencils | No correction fluid/tape |
| Remember having a watch, timer, or stopwatch may be helpful | Other than permitted calculator and acceptable watch or timing device, NO electronic device, NO timing devices with any kind of alarm are permitted |
| Bring a permitted calculator for the math test | Don't bring any reading material |
| Bring a snack for the break | No tobacco permitted, in any form |
| Wear comfortable clothes, with layers | Do NOT access any cellphone or similar electronic device or let any alarms activate in the test room or during break times |
| DO keep cellphones or similar devices turned OFF | No cheating (of course!) |
Source: ACT Test Day — Everything You Need to Know (ACT.org)
If you took the ACT on different test dates, you can request scores from a specific test date be sent to a specific college or university. You can also request a superscore — see “Scoring the ACT” above, or check out our post on What Is a Good ACT Score .
For more details on ACT Score Reporting, go here .
It’s always important to remember that different colleges and universities may have distinct policies regarding admissions and standardized testing. While both the ACT and SAT are equally respected and widely used across higher education, requirements vary from institution to institution.
Test-Required Schools: A number of schools require either an ACT or SAT score be included with your application for admission. Except in special circumstances, your application will be rejected as incomplete if you fail to submit an ACT or SAT score with your application materials on or before the application deadline. Go here to learn which top schools are currently requiring test scores.
Test-Optional Schools: Today, the majority of higher education institutions in the US do not require standardized test scores for admissions. Among these, many are test-optional; others are test-blind schools. Test-optional schools don’t require test scores, but often recommend students submit them. Go here to see some of the top test-optional schools.
You should check the specific policies of each school you’re applying to in order to be sure you understand how submitting or not submitting your ACT score may affect your application for admission.
Test-Blind Schools: Test-blind schools explicitly make no consideration of standardized test scores for admission. At test-blind schools submitting a score is not required and typically not recommended.
You should always check with schools for the most up-to-date information on test score requirements and other admissions policies, as testing policies are in flux at many institutions.
Should I still take the ACT if applying to test-optional schools?
If you’re applying to moderately selective or highly selective test-optional schools, it's still important to take the ACT and aim for a very high score.
Are there circumstances where I should not submit my ACT score to a test-optional school?
Assuming you do take the ACT, yes, there may be circumstances where it’s still better to simply not submit your score. A good strategy is to research online what ACT score puts you in the 75th percentile or above at any test-optional school you’re applying to.
If your score falls anywhere well below the 75th percentile, especially if it’s below the 50th percentile, then we recommend you seek guidance from your high school guidance counselor or learn about Crimson Education’s personalized advising services before deciding whether to submit or withhold your score.
To register for your initial free feedback session with a Crimson Education specialist, go here .
How do admissions officers view applicants who submit scores to test-optional schools?
By taking the ACT and submitting your score, even when it’s not required, you’re not only providing admissions officers with a fuller picture of your academic profile, but you’re showing extra initiative and motivation, given that the test score is not actually required.
Finally, if you have a score high enough to rank in the 75th percentile or higher among the applicant pool at the specific school, then you almost certainly do want to submit your score. Your strong ACT performance will significantly enhance the academic readiness pillar of your application.
To find out more about what score you need to rank in the 75th percentile or above at any Ivy League school or other top-ranked US colleges and universities, check out our blog post What Is a Good SAT Score?
What is driving some schools to revert to test-required policies?
Many schools moved away from testing requirements before the pandemic due to conflicting perspectives about the efficacy of test scores for holistic admissions. The pandemic also compelled many institutions to temporarily suspend testing requirements, providing institutions an opportunity to experiment with test-blind or test-optional admissions policies.
In 2024, a number of Ivy League schools, first Dartmouth and Yale, and soon after Brown, Harvard, and Cornell, reverted to test-required strategies, but in some cases with a new lens on testing, as a way to get insights into the academic readiness of all applicants, including those from under-resourced high schools.
See for example, our expert blog posts on Yale’s shifting testing policy and another on Harvard’s reversals , and how these schools are approaching test policies for admissions.
This means that admissions officers may not simply be using test scores to rank students’ academic merit, but as a way of informing a more nuanced and holistic approach to evaluating the merits of students from diverse backgrounds, with an eye toward greater inclusion.
To learn more about this evolution in testing, check out our blog post Decoding Shifting Norms in SAT/ACT Testing.
Your ACT composite score reflects how well-rounded your academic skills are, skills that will be widely applied across a range of college courses, including ones that fall outside your major.
This means that your overall score is always important in a competitive admissions setting.
However, for a competitive major, admissions officers may place additional emphasis on how you scored on one or two specific sections of your ACT test.
For example, applying to a very competitive bioengineering major may make the STEM score you earn more consequential than your overall score.
Likewise, if you’re applying to a competitive poli sci or pre-law program, you may need or benefit from reading and English scores in the very top percentiles, and there may be less of a downside if you earned a lackluster score in the math and science sections.
If you’re applying to a competitive physics program, where advanced math reasoning skills are critical, having a strong score on the math section of your ACT may be a crucial component of a competitive application.
For scenarios like these, Crimson’s admissions strategists remind students that ACT score requirements may indeed vary by major, in addition to the role an overall ACT score may play within a larger, holistic admissions policy.
ACT score reporting may involve some unique dynamics for international students too.
Let’s imagine you’re an international student with excellent achievements in math and science applying to a competitive engineering program. You feel confident you can score very high on the math and science portions of the ACT, and because the ACT has a section dedicated to science, it’s probably a better option than the SAT.
That said, the ACT tests a broad range of academic skills that include comprehensive assessments of English and evidence-based reading skills.
For this reason, Crimson strategists often recommend that international students implement a robust strategy for advancing their English proficiency and reading comprehension skills, even when a student’s academic focus is on gaining admission to a competitive STEM major.
Another consideration for international students is that a high enough ACT score in English and reading may allow you to waive an English proficiency test requirement, depending on the university. Policies and score benchmarks vary by school, so students should check for more information at the schools where they intend to apply.
Finally, international students should keep in mind that A-Levels are also widely respected and may be admissible at some schools in lieu of a required ACT or SAT score, or in circumstances where students may be unable to submit an ACT/SAT score.
The future of the ACT is uncertain, but it's intriguing to consider the possibilities.
Consistency vs. Adaptation
One notable aspect of the ACT is its consistency despite changes. For instance, the digital ACT is nearly identical to the paper version, ensuring that practice materials remain useful for all students. Unlike the SAT, the ACT's online version is not adaptive. Will the adaptive features of the SAT offer new diagnostic capabilities, prompting the ACT to explore similar innovations?
The Future of Work and Productivity
The rise of AI tools could impact the ACT's optional writing test. As AI changes how we produce written content, will the format and value of the writing test need to evolve? Additionally, with a growing emphasis on 21st-century skills , will a multiple-choice test like the ACT remain relevant for assessing academic readiness?
ACT’s Relevance and Value in a Shifting Admissions Landscape
Despite some schools reinstating testing mandates, about two-thirds of U.S. colleges and universities are now test-optional or test-blind. How will the ACT adapt to this changing landscape in higher education?
Navigating the college admissions process can be challenging, but understanding the role and importance of the ACT and how to navigate a shifting admissions landscape can give you a significant advantage.
If you’re aiming for admission to top US colleges and universities, understanding how your own ACT score will measure up against other applicants and each school’s expectations is crucial and will help you gauge how much time and effort to commit to preparing before you take the test.
Have questions we haven’t answered? Looking for personalized guidance from a world leader in admissions advising? Don't hesitate to schedule a free feedback session with a Crimson expert. We're here to help you every step of the way! From expert admissions Advisors and Strategists to experienced ACT tutors, Crimson has a network of education specialists standing by, ready to power you through your college journey.
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Our Crimson strategists are top graduates from the world's most prestigious universities, including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Oxford, and Cambridge. They bring their firsthand experience and deep insights to stay ahead of the curve in college admissions, providing you with the most up-to-date strategies for success.
