About ACT

ACT – The ACT Test is a standardized entrance exam used by many colleges and universities in the United States for admission, placement, and scholarship decisions. It is a curriculum-based, multiple-choice assessment designed to measure the academic skills students have typically acquired by the beginning of grade 12 in English, mathematics, reading, and (optionally) science, together with an optional Writing Test. ACT

Along with your high school GPA, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and personal essays, your ACT scores are reviewed by admissions offices. A stronger ACT score not only improves the probability of admission, but may also expand access to competitive majors, honors programs, and merit-based financial aid.

The ACT is usually taken by high school students during the second semester of their second-to-last year or during the first semester of their final year of high school. For this reason, students are strongly encouraged to begin preparing in advance—both to achieve their target score and to leave enough time to retake the exam if they wish to improve their initial performance.

Structure of ACT

The ACT consists of three core multiple-choice sections and two optional sections: ACT

• English Test

• Mathematics Test

• Reading Test

• Science Test (Optional Multiple-Choice)

• Writing Test (Optional Essay)

Each multiple-choice section contains both scored and unscored (“field test”) questions. The unscored questions are embedded and not identified, so candidates are expected to treat every question with equal seriousness.

Approximate structure (standard time conditions): ACT

• English Test – 50 questions (40 scored), 35 minutes

• Mathematics Test – 45 questions (41 scored), 50 minutes

• Reading Test – 36 questions (27 scored), 40 minutes

• Science Test (Optional) – 40 questions (34 scored), 40 minutes

• Writing Test (Optional) – 1 essay, 40 minutes

English Test
The English Test presents several passages (often referred to as “essays”) written in a variety of styles and rhetorical situations. Items appear alongside the passages, not at the end. Many questions focus on underlined or highlighted portions of the text and ask students to select the best alternative—including “No Change”—for that portion in the context of the passage as a whole. Other questions address broader features such as the purpose, focus, or organization of paragraphs and entire passages.

Mathematics Test
The Mathematics Test assesses the mathematical skills that students have typically acquired up to the beginning of grade 12. All questions are self-contained, and the emphasis is on reasoning, problem solving, and the application of fundamental mathematical concepts rather than memorization of complex formulas or long computations. A permitted calculator may be used in this section, and students are expected to know basic formulas and computational procedures. ACT

Reading Test
The Reading Test measures the ability to read closely, reason logically about texts using evidence, and integrate information from multiple sources. Students encounter prose passages representative of first-year college materials, followed by multiple-choice questions that assess comprehension, analysis, and interpretation skills. ACT

Science Test (Optional)
The Science Test is an optional, multiple-choice section that measures interpretation of data, analysis, evaluation, and scientific reasoning within biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth/space sciences. Students are not expected to have taken advanced science courses; rather, the focus is on understanding and using information presented in tables, graphs, diagrams, and short textual descriptions, as well as evaluating experimental designs and scientific arguments. ACT

Writing Test (Optional)
The Writing Test is a 40-minute essay task. Students read a prompt that outlines a complex issue and presents three distinct perspectives. They must develop their own perspective on the issue and analyze the relationship between their view and at least one of the given perspectives. The essay is assessed using analytic domain scores, which are combined into a single subject-level Writing score reported on a 2–12 scale. ACT

---

ACT Topics

The ACT covers clearly defined domains and reporting categories in each section. The course will systematically address all of these domains so that students understand both what is being tested and how these skills appear in authentic ACT questions.

English Test

Four scores are reported for the English section: an overall English score and three reporting-category scores. The approximate distribution of content is: Production of Writing (38–43%), Knowledge of Language (18–23%), and Conventions of Standard English (38–43%).

1. Production of Writing

   • Topic Development:

     • Understanding the purpose of a passage or paragraph.

     • Evaluating whether particular details, sentences, or examples are relevant and helpful.

     • Determining whether a text or part of a text has achieved its intended goal.

   • Organization, Unity, and Cohesion:

     • Recognizing logical order within and between paragraphs.

     • Strengthening introductions and conclusions.

     • Using effective transitions to ensure smooth flow and unity across ideas.

2. Knowledge of Language

   • Demonstrating effective language use by:

     • Choosing precise and concise wording.

     • Maintaining consistent style and tone throughout a passage.

     • Eliminating redundancy and wordiness.

3. Conventions of Standard English

   • Sentence Structure and Formation:

     • Identifying and correcting fragments, run-ons, and comma splices.

     • Ensuring parallel structure in sentences and lists.

     • Placing modifiers correctly to avoid ambiguity.

   • Punctuation:

     • Correctly using commas, semicolons, colons, apostrophes, and other standard punctuation marks.

   • Usage:

     • Subject–verb agreement, pronoun agreement, verb tense consistency.

     • Idiomatic expressions and appropriate preposition use.

Throughout the course, students will be placed in the role of “editor,” revising authentic-style passages to improve clarity, correctness, and rhetorical effectiveness.

Mathematics Test

Nine scores are reported for the Mathematics section: an overall Math score and eight reporting-category scores. The content breaks down into Preparing for Higher Math (80%), Integrating Essential Skills (20%), and an additional Modeling indicator that spans multiple topics. ACT

Preparing for Higher Math (80%)

This category covers the mathematical content students are most likely to have encountered in their later middle school and high school years, with a strong emphasis on algebra and functions as general tools for representing relationships and solving problems. It is divided into five subcategories:

1. Number and Quantity (10–12%)

   • Properties of real and complex numbers.

   • Working with integer and rational exponents.

   • Representing and interpreting quantities in different forms (fractions, decimals, radicals, powers).

   • Basic operations with vectors and matrices, where applicable.

2. Algebra (17–20%)

   • Solving, graphing, and modeling linear, quadratic, polynomial, radical, and exponential equations and inequalities.

   • Understanding relationships between different forms of equations (slope–intercept, point–slope, standard form).

   • Solving systems of linear equations and inequalities in two or more variables, including systems represented in matrix form.

   • Applying algebraic methods to real-world scenarios, such as mixture problems, distance–rate–time problems, and growth/decay models.

3. Functions (17–20%)

   • Understanding formal definitions, notation, and representations of functions.

   • Working with linear, polynomial, radical, absolute value, piecewise, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

   • Interpreting function graphs: intercepts, intervals of increase/decrease, maxima and minima, asymptotic behavior.

   • Translating functions (shifts, stretches, reflections) and interpreting these transformations algebraically and graphically.

4. Geometry (17–20%)

   • Plane geometry: angles, parallel lines, triangles (including right triangle trigonometry), quadrilaterals, and other polygons.

   • Relationships of congruence and similarity; using these for indirect measurement.

   • Circles, including central and inscribed angles, arcs, and sectors.

   • Solid geometry: surface area and volume of prisms, pyramids, cylinders, cones, and spheres.

   • Introduction to conic sections and coordinate geometry, including distance, midpoint, and slope in the coordinate plane.

5. Statistics & Probability (12–15%)

   • Describing and interpreting data using measures of center (mean, median) and spread (range, interquartile range, standard deviation).

   • Understanding sampling methods and basic aspects of study design.

   • Analyzing bivariate data, including scatterplots and lines of best fit.

   • Calculating and reasoning about simple probabilities, including compound events and counting strategies when appropriate.

Integrating Essential Skills (20%)

This category measures how well students synthesize and apply their knowledge to more complex, multi-step problems. These questions often involve:

• Rates, ratios, and percentages.

• Proportional relationships and scale.

• Area, surface area, and volume in applied contexts.

• Averages, weighted averages, and medians.

• Converting and representing numbers in different forms appropriately.

Problems in this category resemble the quantitative reasoning students must perform in college coursework and everyday decision-making, requiring them to connect concepts across different areas of mathematics. ACT

Modeling

Modeling is not a separate content block but a cross-cutting indicator. Any question that requires students to interpret, construct, use, or refine mathematical models (such as graphs, formulas, tables, or verbal descriptions) contributes to the Modeling score. Students learn to translate real-world situations into mathematical language, solve within that framework, and interpret their results in context. ACT

Reading Test

Four scores are reported for the Reading section: one overall Reading score and three reporting-category scores. The Reading Test evaluates students’ ability to read closely and reason about complex texts. ACT

1. Key Ideas & Details (44–52%)

   • Identifying central ideas and themes.

   • Summarizing key information accurately.

   • Drawing logical inferences and conclusions.

   • Analyzing relationships such as sequence, comparison, and cause–effect.

2. Craft & Structure (26–33%)

   • Determining the meaning of words and phrases in context.

   • Analyzing the author’s word choice, tone, and style.

   • Understanding the structure of texts, including paragraph organization and narrative perspective.

   • Interpreting characters’ points of view and authorial choices.

3. Integration of Knowledge & Ideas (19–26%)

   • Distinguishing between facts and opinions.

   • Evaluating claims and reasoning in arguments.

   • Comparing and synthesizing information across multiple texts related by topic.

   • Interpreting and integrating visual and quantitative information (graphs, charts, tables) when presented alongside passages.

Passages include literary narratives, social science, humanities, and natural science texts, mirroring the reading demands of first-year college courses.

Science Test (Optional)

The Science Test reports an overall Science score and three reporting-category scores focusing on students’ ability to interpret and evaluate scientific information. ACT

1. Interpretation of Data (38–50%)

   • Reading and interpreting data in tables, graphs, and diagrams.

   • Recognizing trends, relationships, and patterns.

   • Translating between different forms of data representation and performing basic extrapolation and interpolation.

2. Scientific Investigation (18–32%)

   • Understanding experimental tools, procedures, and design.

   • Identifying controls and variables.

   • Comparing and extending experiments; predicting results of additional trials or modifications.

3. Evaluation of Scientific Arguments and Models with Evidence (24–38%)

   • Evaluating the credibility and logical consistency of scientific explanations.

   • Judging which model or hypothesis is best supported by given evidence.

   • Comparing alternative viewpoints when they are inconsistent due to differing premises or incomplete data.

Information is presented in three passage formats: Data Representation, Research Summaries, and Conflicting Viewpoints. Students are trained to extract information efficiently and think critically about how scientific claims relate to evidence.

Writing Test (Optional)

The Writing Test assesses writing skills expected in high-school English and entry-level college composition. Five scores are reported: one overall Writing subject score and four analytic domain scores: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. ACT

• Ideas and Analysis:

  • Demonstrates understanding of the issue and the perspectives.

  • Establishes a clear perspective and engages critically with other views.

• Development and Support:

  • Explains and explores ideas with reasons, details, and examples.

  • Shows how evidence supports the argument.

• Organization:

  • Presents ideas in a logical, purposeful structure.

  • Uses effective transitions and paragraphing to guide the reader.

• Language Use and Conventions:

  • Uses language clearly and precisely.

  • Shows command of grammar, syntax, and mechanics and adjusts tone appropriately for the task.

---

Course Material

All essential learning materials for this ACT course will be provided by the Instructor. The materials are carefully selected and developed to help students:

• Decode and prioritize information presented in text, numerical data, and graphics.

• Practice with authentic-style ACT passages and questions from English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science.

• Build mathematical fluency and conceptual understanding through structured explanations, worked examples, and problem sets mirroring the ACT blueprint.

• Strengthen reading comprehension and analytical reasoning by engaging with texts across disciplines and integrating textual and visual information.

• Refine their ability to revise and edit writing according to the conventions of standard written English, as required by the English Test.

• Develop a structured approach to the ACT Writing Test: analyzing prompts, planning essays, and producing coherent, well-supported arguments within time limits.

The overall design of the course material is to help candidates cultivate the critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to interpret information, evaluate arguments, and reach well-supported conclusions under exam conditions.

---

Learning, Grading, and Workload

This is a Student-Centered Learning course. All materials and classroom activities are designed to develop your critical reasoning and test-taking skills in a systematic way. This places responsibility on each student to:

• Attend class regularly and arrive prepared.

• Participate actively in discussion, group work, and problem-solving activities.

• Engage seriously with in-class drills and homework sets.

You are young adults. The primary responsibility for learning rests with the student. Substantial outside effort is expected. Most students will be able to master the content and strategies of the ACT with a consistent commitment of approximately one to two hours of homework per class meeting, focusing on:

• Timed practice sets for individual sections.

• Review and analysis of mistakes, with emphasis on understanding why an answer is correct.

• Targeted practice on weaker content areas (e.g., specific grammar topics, particular math domains, or reading/science passage types).

Learning in this course is continuous and cumulative—each session builds upon previous sessions. There will be formal section tests, full-length practice exams, and periodic surprise quizzes. These assessments are not only grading tools; they are designed deliberately to simulate test conditions and to help you achieve a higher score on the official ACT exam.