Summary:
The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. It measures skills in English, math, reading, and science reasoning. Like the SAT, the ACT is accepted by nearly all U.S. universities and is often used to assess college readiness and award scholarships.
What Is the ACT?
The ACT (American College Test) is a college entrance exam that evaluates high school students' readiness for university-level coursework. It was developed in the 1950s as an alternative to the SAT and has since become one of the two main standardized tests used in U.S. college admissions. Students typically take the ACT during their 11th or 12th grade year (junior or senior year of high school), and many international students also take the exam as part of their applications to American universities.
The ACT is accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., and many institutions abroad, including some in Canada, the UK, and Asia. Like the SAT, it is now optional at many U.S. schools, but a strong ACT score can still improve an applicant's chances—especially for international students or those applying to competitive programs.
Structure of the ACT
The ACT has four required sections and one optional writing section:
- English (45 minutes) – Tests grammar, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills
- Math (60 minutes) – Covers algebra, geometry, and basic trigonometry
- Reading (35 minutes) – Assesses reading comprehension of passages from fiction, social science, and humanities
- Science (35 minutes) – Measures interpretation, analysis, and problem-solving based on scientific information
- Optional Writing (40 minutes) – A persuasive essay in response to a given prompt
Each of the four main sections is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, and the composite score is the average of those four. The writing section is scored separately.
ACT vs. SAT
Both the ACT and SAT are used for the same purpose—college admissions—but they differ slightly in content and format. The ACT includes a science section, which the SAT does not. The math on the ACT includes a few more advanced topics, but a calculator is allowed on the entire section. The ACT tends to have more questions and requires a faster pace, while the SAT is more focused on deep reasoning and includes some questions where a calculator is not permitted.
Most colleges accept either test equally, and students should choose the one that fits their strengths. Many students take practice tests for both and submit the better score.
Why Take the ACT?
Even with test-optional policies at many universities, the ACT remains valuable for several reasons:
- A strong score can strengthen an application, especially at selective schools
- Many colleges use ACT scores for scholarship decisions
- It can provide a common academic measure across students from different schools or countries
- International students can use it alongside TOEFL or IELTS to demonstrate academic and language readiness
Some universities may also use ACT scores for course placement once a student is admitted.
Registration and Test Centers
The ACT is offered multiple times per year and is available at international test centers, including in major cities across China and other parts of Asia. Registration is done through the official ACT website (act.org), where students can choose a test date, location, and whether to take the writing section. Fee waivers are available for eligible U.S.-based students, but international students usually pay full test fees.