ACT®
Varsity Tutors offers ACT tutoring in St. Louis, Chicago and Houston. We'll help you gain a strong understanding of the material through one-on-one tutoring at your home, a library, a café or anywhere that might convenient for you. Your tutor will take the time to get to know you, teach you the latest test-taking strategies, work with you on any areas of weakness, and thoroughly familiarize you with the test so that you can approach test day with confidence. In general, your ACT tutor serves as a friendly and supportive guide whose goal is to make your ACT test preparation efforts are as efficient and enjoyable as possible.
What is the ACT?
The ACT test is an aptitude exam that was created in 1959 by ACT, Inc. as a competitor to the SAT*. The ACT is one of the two tests colleges and universities use in order to evaluate students for admission. (The other popular test is the SAT.) For a long time the ACT was preferred by colleges in the Midwest, and the SAT was preferred by those on the East or West coasts. Over time, the preference for one test over the other has diminished, and most four-year institutions now accept scores from either test. However, it is still true that more students planning to go to school in the Midwest take the ACT. The ACT can seem a little overwhelming to students who have never taken a standardized test before, and it's a very good idea to prepare for the test in advance. An experienced ACT tutor from Varsity Tutors can guide you through each step of this preparation process. Preparation begins with a practice test which will help the tutor assess your strengths and weaknesses, customize your preparation plan, and build your confidence. Although it can vary with your individual needs and goals, preparation usually continues with a detailed explanation of the test and in-depth reviews of the subject matter for each section. Along the way, your tutor will share the latest study techniques and test tips, monitor your progress with practice tests, and calm any pre- or post-test anxieties.
What is the format of the ACT?
The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests in English (75 questions), mathematics (60 questions), reading (40 questions), and science (40 questions). The Writing Test is an optional short essay on a topic of relevance to high school students. The four major sections are intended to directly relate to what you've learned in high school, but it's a good idea to review this material again before taking the test. Since quite a bit of material is covered in high school, this is where having the guidance of an experienced ACT tutor can really pay off.
The test takes roughly four hours, without the Writing Test, including instructions and breaks. The Writing Test adds an additional 30 minutes. Like the SAT, there may be an experimental section which will not count toward your score; this section may be a short version of any of the four major sections. An experienced ACT tutor from Varsity Tutors can help you polish your writing skills before taking this exam, leading to a less stressful test-taking experience and an improved score.
The English section is intended to test your understanding of the mechanics (punctuation, grammar, and usage) of English and your rhetorical skills. (Note: Spelling and vocabulary are not tested.)
The Math section asks questions regarding pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, plane geometry, coordinate geometry, and elementary trigonometry. You won't be asked to perform complicated calculations, but you do need to know basic formulas and have good computational skills. (Note: Calculators are permitted in this section.)
The Reading section tests your ability to comprehend passages from different types of texts from various fields (i.e., prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science). For each section, you will be asked what is being said, as well as what is being implied.
The Science Reasoning test seeks to evaluate your ability to critically analyze scientific information based on courses you've taken in the past. It's divided into questions of three kinds: Data Representation (graphs, tables), Research Summary (descriptions of experiments), and Conflicting Viewpoints (conflicting views or hypotheses). Each section will present you with scientific information from the earth sciences, physical sciences, or biology and ask you to analyze the data in different ways. (Note: You may not use a calculator during the Science Reasoning test.)
The optional Writing Test is always administered last. This test will present you with two opinions about an issue of interest to high school students. It will then ask you to write a short essay about your opinion on that topic which includes reasons why the other two opinions are incorrect. The Writing Test evaluates your ability to form an argument and communicate it effectively as an essay.
Why is the test necessary?
Only a few of the colleges and universities in the U.S. do not require some form of standardized testing to help them sort through the hundreds of thousands of applications they receive each year. While your ACT score is not the only thing an admissions panel will look at when it considers your application, it might play a role in the final decision. This is because the ACT attempts to measure your aptitude for English, mathematics, reading, and science based on what you've been able to learn so far. In other words, admission panels assume that if you've been able to master these subjects at the high school level, you're probably ready to take them at the entry-level in college.
Another reason the ACT is important is because it gives students who took more difficult subjects (and received all B's) a chance to compete with the students who took easier subjects (and received all A's). Thus, the ACT is a great opportunity for such students to show an aspect of their potential beyond their transcripts.
Additionally, standardized test scores are sometimes required in order to apply for certain scholarships. If you think you might apply for scholarships, it's a good idea to research them beforehand to find out if they require an ACT score. Should I take the SAT or the ACT?
The SAT and the ACT are two very different tests, and it is a good idea to talk to a tutor who is familiar with both tests before deciding which test to take. For example, an ACT or SAT tutor can administer practice exams beforehand to determine your strengths and weaknesses with regard to each test, talk to you about your prior test-taking experiences, and help you determine which test is right for you based on your academic goals.
As mentioned, the ACT and SAT are very different, both in content and format. For example, a perfect score on the SAT is 2400, while a perfect score on the ACT is 36. Not only is the scoring very different, but the approach to evaluating your abilities is also very different. The SAT attempts to measure your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in general, as well as the sophistication of your vocabulary. The ACT is more concerned with how well you learned material covered in the high school curriculum (usually, that learned in the junior year), and whether or not you can apply that knowledge appropriately during the test. Both approaches make sense, because you'll definitely need reasoning skills, a good vocabulary, and a solid background in high school math, English, and science to succeed in college.
However, every student is an individual and has strengths and weaknesses in different areas. Perhaps you have a fantastic vocabulary and good reasoning skills, but you can't recall science formulae easily during a test. In that case, you might want to focus on the SAT. Then again, perhaps science is where you excel, but your knowledge of tricky vocabulary words isn't very broad. If so, the ACT might be the right test for you. Taking practice tests can help you figure this out. If you've taken practice tests and you still don't know, you may want to take both tests once and only send the higher score to the universities to which you are applying. Except for the cost of the testing fee, you have nothing to lose by doing so.
Finally, both tests contain sections involving writing. If you're great at writing essays, this is a good place to show off your skills because admissions panels consider strong communication skills to be essential to success in college. No matter what your major turns out to be, your GPA in college will depend in part on how well you write papers.
Whichever test you choose, experienced ACT and SAT tutors from Varsity Tutors are here to provide you with their encouragement and expertise throughout the test preparation process.
Call us today to find out more about our ACT tutors.
Additional Information
Should You Take the SAT or the ACT?
All four-year U.S. colleges now accept ACT test
* SAT is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
The ACT ® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc., in the US and other countries.
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