Students who desire to study abroad especially in the US need to write standardized tests such as the ACT or SAT. This depends on the school being applied to. Thus, we’ll be discussing the things international students taking the ACT exam need to know. This will help students prepare adequately to ace the exam.
The American College Testing is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. It is a standardized test that measures a student’s skills in five core areas: English, math, reading, science, and writing. However, current practices reveal that the writing option has become optional.
With over 400 testing centres worldwide, let’s find out what international students taking ACT need to know about the exam.
- English practice test questions test students understanding of English, knowledge of language skills and writing. To be able to ace this section, it is advisable to have a good understanding of idioms as this section is filled with lots of idioms. Also, note that the test contains 75 questions and lasts for 45 minutes.
2. Math practice test questions test the mathematical skills students have acquired in courses all the way to the 12th grade. The duration of this test is 60 minutes within which students have 60 questions to answer. If calculators are to be used, review the latest information on permitted and prohibited calculators.
3. Reading practice test questions test reading comprehension commonly encountered in the first-year college curricula. For this section, you have 35 minutes to answer 40 questions.
4. Science practice test questions test the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning and problem-solving skills of students. Test areas include Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space Sciences and Physics. Here, there are 40 questions to be answered within 35 minutes.
5. Writing practice test questions measure the writing skills taught in high school English classes. It also tests entry-level college composition courses. This section contains one topic to be written in 40 minutes using clearly and logically organized ideas.
ACT or SAT?
Most colleges and universities accept scores from both the ACT and SAT and do not favour one test over the other. To decide if either or both exams are ideal for you, you can take a timed full-length practise test of each type. The way you handle time pressure and your most challenging questions can help you decide which test to take.
As a standardized test which serves as a common data point colleges use to compare all applicants, it measures a student’s readiness for college. Practice makes perfect so here are some things you can do to prepare adequately for the test.
- Register at least 3 months before the test date.
- Create a study schedule based on your needs.
- Study the main concepts in each test section.
- Make maximum use of online resources to help with studying.
- Take at least two timed practise tests before test day.