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• Just 41 percent of graduates in 2005 scored a 22 or higher on the ACT Math Test, indicating they are likely to earn a C or better in college algebra.
• Only 26 percent scored a 24 or higher on the ACT Science Test, indicating the likelihood of earning a C or better in college biology.
• Only 51 percent scored a 21 on the ACT Reading Test, indicating they are likely to earn a C or better in college-level social science courses.
• 68 percent of graduates achieved a score of 18 or higher on the ACT English Test, indicating they are well prepared for a freshman English composition class.

Get on track for college

If you’ve taken the right courses in high school, you’re on the right track for college. Students who take the recommended core courses in high school are better prepared for college than those who don’t. ACT score results consistently show this.

What are the minimum recommended core courses?

• four years of English
• three years each of mathematics (algebra and higher), natural sciences, and social sciences
  1. Take more college prep core courses — Performance on the ACT mostly depends on the classes you take in high school. The ACT measures what you have learned in English, math, reading and science. The more college prep, or core, classes you can take in these areas, the more likely you are to earn higher ACT scores. One ACT study showed that students who took calculus scored an average of 3 ½ points higher on the ACT Math Test and 2 points higher on the Science Test. They also earned a Composite score 2 ½ points higher than the students who didn’t take calculus.
  2. Take practice tests — A simple and effective way to become familiar with ACT format and content is to take practice tests. ACT offers a variety of inexpensive ways to take practice tests. Visit actstudent.org for test prep options.
  3. Answer every question — There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT. Your correct answers are counted toward your score. So answer every question, even if you’re not sure of the answer. Eliminate the answers you think aren’t possible. After narrowing down your list of answers, try to make the best guess you can and move on.
  4. Review additional test taking strategies — These strategies include reading each question thoroughly and making sure that you’ve only marked one answer for each question. You can find more strategies at actstudent.org.
  5. Take the ACT again — If you aren’t satisfied with your performance on the ACT, you can take it again. This is a good idea especially if you have taken additional college prep classes since you last took the ACT. Researchers at ACT have studied test performance of students who took the test more than once and found that 55 percent earned a higher Composite score, 23 percent had a lower score and 22 percent stayed the same. Students who take it a second time increase their Composite scores, on average, by one point. Some students may have bigger gains and some may score lower. If you plan to take the ACT again, look at your current test scores and identify weak areas for additional study and review.
     Think ahead to relieve test-taking stress
  1. One student bought a new calculator the night before the test. He didn’t use it before entering the test room, only to find out it didn’t work when he sat down to take the test.
  2. One student didn’t look at her test admission ticket until the day before the test, only to find out that she wasn’t taking the test at her school but at a test center an hour away. She had to rethink how her test day would go and factor in time to drive to the test.
  3. One student arrived at the test center without a photo ID card. He had to run home before the test started to get his driver’s license.
  4. One student left the lights on in a borrowed car he drove to the test. He worried throughout the test and found a dead battery when the test was over.
  1. Find something that interests you and that you enjoy reading, such as a book series, a magazine or a section of the newspaper. Read often.
  2. Create a reading spot. It’s much easier to read if you’re comfortable.
  3. Establish a daily reading time — lunch, before sports practice or bedtime — whatever works best for you. You might even begin to look forward to that reading time.
  4. Visit bookstores or the library and explore all the types of reading materials available. The choices are endless — sports magazines, graphic novels, how-to manuals, teen fiction and newspapers, just to name a few.
  5. Read a book that’s coming out as a movie. Compare the two and think about what version you liked best and why.
  6. Follow your interests and do some research on the Internet. Read about a new band, a new car or your favorite actor.
  7. Try reading something new. Don’t just stick with your favorites. Check out a daily newspaper, a classic novel or a news magazine. You might be surprised by what you read.

The ideal is to take Biology, Chemistry and Physics, plus Algebra II, Trigonometry and/or Calculus.

Some colleges require other classes as prerequisites for admission, such as two or more years of the same foreign language or courses in the visual arts, music, theater, drama, dance, computer science, etc.
The ACT — It’s your choice

Choice is good. And with the ACT® test, you have some choices to make. The first is whether to take the ACT or the ACT Plus Writing. ACT made the Writing Test optional, so colleges can decide whether or not to require scores from a writing test. If the colleges you’re planning to apply to don’t require a writing test, you won’t need to take one. Go to the test prep section at actstudent.org. to find out what colleges have to say about requiring a writing test.

Another important choice ACT provides is score choice. You can choose to see your scores before deciding to send them to colleges. And if you take the test more than once, you can choose to send only your best score. It costs $7 to send a score report to each college you’re interested in, but if waiting to see your score first is important to you, it might be worth it. It’s your decision.
Improving your ACT scores

It’s no surprise that students want high ACT scores to submit when they apply to college or apply for scholarships. There are no secret tips to ensure high scores, but you can do a few things to improve your performance on the ACT.

When you head off to take the ACT, don’t let forgetfulness or inattention surprise you with something unexpected that can affect your test-taking abilities. Here are some true stories of unexpected events:

Obviously, unexpected events happen in our lives over which we have no control. But if you take a few steps to prepare for test day, you’ll be comfortable knowing you’re prepared and may even avoid an unwelcome surprise or two. Read your testing information from ACT early and visit actstudent.org to get familiar with test day procedures and what is allowed in the testing room. And don’t forget to try out that new calculator before heading to the test.
Tips for building your reading skills

College will require you to read a lot of material, much of it challenging, and usually in a short amount of time. Before heading to college, there’s also the ACT, which includes a Reading Test and three other tests that require reading comprehension to complete.

Following are some tips to increase your reading time and help build your reading skills: