ACT Tips and Tricks

English III

What is the ACT exactly?

The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school.

The ACT is a national college admissions examination.

The ACT has up to 5 components: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and an (optional) Writing Test.

ACT results are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the US.

What does the ACT look like?

The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete, including a short break (or just over four hours if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing). Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes (plus 30 minutes if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing).

WHY Take the ACT???

The ACT multiple-choice tests are based on what you're learning.

The ACT helps you plan for your future (Interest Inventory/Student Profile).

Colleges look at your scores. You can take it more than once.

Benefits of a Good ACT Score

Money for college! Lots of scholarships have a minimum ACT score as a requirement.

Get into the college you want. Area colleges and universities all have suggested minimums for ACT scores. 

Does your score allow you to go to the university of your dreams?

College/University ACT Composite Score (Middle 50%)

Illinois State University 22-26

Kishwaukee College Scores under 23 may require remedial coursework…

Northern Illinois University 20-25 (General Admission)

Rock Valley College Scores under 18 may require remedial coursework

Rockford College Minimum composite score of 19

University of Illinois Varies by college, but 25 is the lowest cutoff

Western Illinois University 18-23

Avoid “catching up” while entering college!

Avoid remedial courseworkDo you know that a good ACT score may help you avoid additional testing, as well as HOURS of remedial coursework and “academic probation” status?

How is ACT scored?

The highest achievable score on the ACT is 36. A students score is determined by awarding points for all questions answered correctly. No points are deducted for wrong answers. Each section of the ACT is graded separately, and these scores are averaged to create a composite score for the entire exam. This is your final score, and it is this score that provides college admissions boards with an accurate measure of your skills in the various areas that have been tested.

ACT vs. GPA

When it comes to the GPA and the ACT, students often wonder which one is more important.

Although college admissions officers often say that they give much more weight to a student’s GPA, even they will admit that your ACT score is of considerable importance. 

Here’s what they won’t tell you: your ACT is often more important than your high school grades! Why?

TIPS On Answering Questions

PACE YOURSELF! There are time limits for each

section, and you should not spend too much time on any one question.

Come up with a game plan: Are you going to answer easy questions first and then go back to answer more difficult questions?

Or will you guess and keep going?

…

There is no penalty for guessing. MAKE SURE YOUR GUESS is logical. Don’t be a random guesser.

Read each question thoroughly. Pay close attention to bold or italics.

Answer EVERY question!If more than one answer seems correct,

choose the one that BEST answers the question.

Try to avoid making smudges on your answer sheet. Erase changed answers completely.

To Preview or Not to Preview?

Some students find it helpful to read or skim the questions before reading the passage, so they read with an idea of what’s being asked.

This is a technique that is totally up to you!

Target Scores

English Math

Target Score # Right Target Score # Right

36 75 36 60

30 69–70 30 53–54

26 60–62 26 44–45

23 52–54 23 38–39

20 44–46 20 32–33

17 36–38 17 23–25

11 19–21 11 7–8

Reading Science Reasoning

Target Score # Right Target Score # Right

36 40 36 40

30 35 30 37

26 30–31 26 32–33

23 26–27 23 27–28

20 22 20 22–23

17 18 17 16–17

11 9–10 11 7

GoodLuck!

Get some sleep.Get up on time!No Cell phones! Don’t void your scores. And Everyone else's.

Eat breakfast. You don’t want to be distracted.