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American College Testing

American College Testing

ACT Exam: Registration, Exam Dates, Calendar

ACT Exam: The "American College Testing", or the ACT exam is a standardised test that is primarily conducted to gauge an individual’s mathematical, scientific, verbal and written skills. The goal of the ACT exam, which is typically taken in the last year or two of high school, is to determine your readiness for college-level studies.

There is an optional ACT writing section as well. In the US, admission to universities and colleges is determined by the ACT. The ACT exam comprises four primary sections. The 2-hour and 55-minute ACT consists of 215 questions. You can, however, extend the period by an additional forty minutes if you choose to complete the optional ACT essay.

Exam NameACT
Official Websitehttps://www.act.org
Duration of Exam2 hours and 55 minutes
Popularly Given forUndergraduate admissions in the US & Canada
Administered byACT, Incorporated
Mode of ExaminationOnline
ACT Fee for Indians$176.50 = ₹14,630 (approximate)
$176.50 + $25.00 (additionally for Optional Writing Section) = ₹16,703 (approximate)
ScoringRange of 1 - 36
ACT Contact Info.Phone: 319-337-1270

ACT Latest Updates 2024

The next test date for the ACT exam is June 8th, and late registration for the same will close on May 19th. Register fast to not miss out on the exams. All the latest ACT updates for 2024 will be available on the official website of the ACT exam.

What is the ACT Exam?

International students must take the ACT exam to be considered eligible for undergraduate programmes in colleges abroad. Candidates are assessed on their aptitude in mathematical, scientific, writing and reading skills. The ACT curriculum closely resembles high school coursework and assesses candidates' comprehension, critical thinking, and analytical abilities. The ACT is graded from 1 to 36 on a scale that starts with sectional performance and ends with the overall score of the ACT.

ACT Full Form

ACT stands for 'American College Testing". This exam evaluates high school candidates' college preparation based on their understanding of math, science, and English. The majority of US universities accept international students' ACT scores for admissions purposes. Candidates should check whether or not institutions require ACT scores; if they do, students are not required to submit ACT results unless they prefer to do so. 

Why Should You Take ACT in 2024? 

The following are some justifications for taking the ACT exam in 2024: 

  • The ACT is accepted as a college entrance exam by all US colleges and universities, as well as 225 other universities worldwide.
  • It is the most well-liked college admissions test in the nation.
  • It makes you more visible to scholarships and institutions.
  • The ACT could make you feel more at ease.
  • Score reports are clear and comprehensive.
  • Making an inaccurate guess has no consequences.
  • The scores you wish to send are up to you.

ACT Exam Eligibility Criteria 2024

The ACT exam is available to all high school students who wish to apply to undergraduate programmes at colleges and universities; thus, there aren't many stringent eligibility requirements. Nonetheless, the following are some crucial things to remember:

Age Limit

  • As such, there is no minimum or maximum age required to appear for ACT exam.

Academic Qualification

  • The test is mostly intended for high school students who want to apply to colleges on an undergraduate basis. If you meet the age criteria, you can still take the exam even if you are not enrolled in high school.

In general, the ACT exam is available to all students who satisfy the requirements, and it's a fantastic opportunity to highlight your academic abilities and potential to schools and universities.

ACT Registration 2024: Step By Step Process

Students must complete the online application form with the following information and instructions to register for the ACT.

  1. Register online by making an ACT web account if you intend to take the test at one of the approved testing locations in India.
  2. For the ACT, select a test day and location.
  3. Make a student profile, finish the application request, and send in the necessary additional documentation.
  4. An instant confirmation of your registration will be sent to you.
  5. Use an online funds transfer or credit/debit card to pay the exam fee.
  6. The time to register is usually three to four weeks before the test date.
  7. There will be a late registration fee if you register after the deadline, which is normally two to three weeks before the test date.

Documents Required to Fill ACT Application Form

Students must complete the online application form with the following information and instructions to register for the ACT.

First, the following needs to be ready to register for the ACT exam:

  • Ownership of a laptop or computer connected to the internet.
  • Submission of full course data from high school.
  • The possibility to pay the registration fees for ACT with a credit or debit card.

Mistakes to Avoid while Filling ACT Application Form

Students must complete the online application form with the following information and instructions to register for the ACT.

Let's go on to discuss some typical errors you should avoid when registering for ACT after learning how to do so:

  • Pay attention to the application deadlines.
  • Find your test location in advance and complete the necessary information.
  • Before submitting a photo, thoroughly review the guidelines.
  • Obtain the Test Information Release in advance

It is strongly advised that you schedule your ACT exam in advance. It can be a time-consuming procedure from enrolling in it to getting ready for the ACT to actually taking the test. The work is always worthwhile, though, because your test results may allow you to enrol in the international university of your dreams. 

ACT Exam Fee 2024

ACT Exam Fee: The ACT Exam fee ranges between INR 14,734 to INR 16,821. Options selected by test-takers determine the cost of the ACT exam. A different fee will be charged to those who select a writing test (INR 16,821), while another price will be charged to those who do not select a writing test (INR 14,734). The total ACT application fee, which varies according to the option selected, is shown in the following table:

ACT TestsFeeDescription
The full ACT without writingUSD 176.50
INR 14,734.07
It includes reports for you and up to four colleges (if codes are provided when you register).
The full ACT with writingUSD 201.50
INR 16,821.05
It includes reports for you and up to four colleges (if codes are provided when you register).
Test option changeUSD 25
INR 2,086.98
You may add or remove the writing test through the late deadline in MyACT.

Additional Fees

Students who modify their ACT applications to make changes in any of the following categories may be assessed an extra fee: 

Additional ACT TestsFeesDescription
Late registration feeUSD 36
INR 3,005.25
Registration or test date change made during the late period.
Change feeUSD 42
INR 3,506.12 
It includes making a test date change or test centre change
Score reports to 5th and 6th college choicesUSD 16
INR 1,335.67
Request online before the test date. Refundable on written request if you do not test.
Additional Score ReportsUSD 18
INR 1,502.62
You can request additional score reports online after registration.

ACT Exam Dates 2024

Only a few times a year, from September to July, is the ACT conducted. In contrast to previous tests, you are not allowed to choose an exam date that works for you. You must schedule your exam preparation around these dates. These tests are arranged to align with your fall semester application deadlines. The dates of the upcoming 2024 ACT exams are listed as follows:

ACT Testing Dates 2024Registration Deadlines
7 & 8 June 202410 May 2024
12 & 13 July 202414 June 2024

ACT Test Centres in India 

The ACT exam is taken throughout the year in several significant locations across India. To register for the exam, candidates must pay the ACT Registration Fee. Indian applicants who wish to take the ACT exam must register at the ACT Test Centre that is closest to them. For convenience, it is recommended that candidates register at the closest ACT testing location.

List of ACT test centres is mentioned below:

  • Ahmedabad
  • Bangalore
  • Bhubaneswar
  • Chennai
  • Coimbatore
  • Delhi
  • Jaipur
  • Kodaikanal
  • Mohali
  • Mumbai
  • Mussoorie
  • Salt lake
  • Vijayawada

ACT Exam Pattern 2024

ACT Exam Pattern: The four sections of the ACT exam are reading, science, math, and English. The Writing section is an optional section that includes a single, thirty to forty-minute writing prompt that defines a problem and presents two opposing viewpoints. On this part, students are not given a score.

For candidates planning to apply for the ACT, here is the exam pattern for the same.

ACT SubjectsTest DurationSub-sectionsTotal Questions
English45 minutesUsage/Mechanics
  • punctuation
  • grammar and usage
  • sentence structure

Rhetorical Skills
  • strategy
  • organisation
  • style
75 Questions
Math60 minutes
  • Pre-algebra
  • Elementary Algebra
  • Intermediate Algebra
  • Coordinate geometry
  • Plane geometry
  • Trigonometry
60 multiple-choice questions
Reading35 minutesFour passages are given, each passage from different sections like social studies, natural science, fiction, and humanities40 questions
Science35 minutes
  • Data representation like graphs and tables
  • Research summaries
  • Conflicting viewpoints
40 questions
Optional writing test40 minutesOne writing prompt 
Total3 hours and 35 minutes (excluding breaks)4 sections (one optional)215 question

ACT Syllabus 2024

The required subjects for the ACT exam are science, reading, math, and English. There is, however, an optional writing portion on this exam. An overview of the ACT exam's syllabus, divided into sections, is provided below:

Sub-CategoriesNo. of questionsTime allottedTypes of questions
English75 multiple-choice questions45 minutesTest sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, and rhetorical skills.
Reading40 multiple-choice questions35 minutesFour paragraphs, from the genres prose fiction, humanities, social studies, and social sciences, with 10 questions each.
Science40 multiple-choice questions35 minutesScience-based paragraphs are presented with research summaries, graphs, tables, and charts.
Math60-multiple choice questions60 minutesGeometry, Trigonometry, Algebra I and II.
Writing (Optional)1 essay prompt40 minutescomplement the English and reading tests.

ACT Preparation Tips 2024

ACT Preparation: There are two methods for ACT preparation: coaching classes and self-study. Each of these choices has particular advantages, thus none of them is superior than the others. Since these two approaches cater to different audiences, they cannot be compared. Exam taker needs and preferences will determine the study technique that is selected.

Self-Study: Self-study might be a preferable choice to prepare for the ACT if cost is an issue and one is quite confident in their ability to prepare well without supervision. Although there are ways to cut costs on individual tuition and classes, there are additional considerations to make. You need self-discipline, motivation, and a solid library of books and study materials in order to study independently.

Coaching: Coaching sessions are a preferable choice if you have limited time and require expert advice to ensure a competitive edge in exam preparation. You'll have a group of professionals assisting you and access to a superior study resource. Because attending lessons on time will become routine to you, you'll be able to better manage your time. Additionally, spending time with other students who are also getting ready for the ACT will boost your confidence.

You must first consider your criteria before deciding on the best ACT preparation strategy. 

Best Books for ACT Preparation in 2024

Some of the books that candidates can consider while preparing for the ACT are mentioned below:

Name of the BookLink to Buy
The Official ACT Prep Guide (Red Book) Click Here to Buy
Barron’s ACT Premium Study GuideClick Here to Buy
The ACT Black Book Click Here to Buy
Up Your Score: ACT, The Underground guide Click Here to Buy
Princeton Review’s Premium ACT Prep Click Here to Buy

ACT Mock Exam 2024

To practice the mock tests for the ACT exams, the candidate needs to register on the MyACT official website. There, the candidate will be able to check and solve the practice questions for the exams. 

ACT Result 2024 

The candidate's exam date is used to determine the ACT exam result. The detailed ACT results are broken down into composite and sectional scores. Scores for the ACT exam range from 1 to 36. ACT, Inc. is responsible for administering the ACT exam. The exam in question is a standardised assessment that applicants to undergraduate programmes, primarily in the US and Canada, must take. Students' written, mathematical, verbal, and scientific skills are assessed on the ACT exam.

ACT Cut-Off 2024

Some of the most prestigious universities in the United States are among the eight that make up the Ivy League. Getting accepted into an Ivy League school may depend in part on achieving a high ACT score. An ACT score of roughly 34 (out of 36) is competitive for any Ivy League school. The ACT score ranges for Ivy League schools in 2024 are shown in the table below.

Ivy League SchoolACT Score RangeAcceptance Rate
Brown University34-365%
Columbia University34-353.9%
Cornell University33-357%
Dartmouth College32-356.2%
Harvard University34-363%
Princeton University34-356%
University of Pennsylvania34-357%
Yale University31-365%

How to Send ACT Scores to Various Universities 

The American College Test provides free results to four universities. The results are transmitted automatically. Additionally, the results of an ACT writing test taken by a candidate are disclosed only after the writing test results are made public. To share their score reports with other colleges and scholarship organisations, candidates can obtain extra reports. You have two options for reporting your ACT scores: online or over the phone at 319.337.1270. The ACT will process the scores within a week of receiving the request for score reporting.

The candidates will be required to pay a processing charge of $13 for each regular report. The request for score reporting cannot be cancelled or modified once it has been submitted.

FAQs

Nearly 15 cities conduct the ACT exams and each city has at least two test centres allocated.
The minimum age required for the ACT examination is 13 years. However, students below the age of 16 need parental consent to apply.
Yes, the minimum ACT score required for each university varies. For instance, you may choose to attempt the optional writing portion based on whether or not the universities you intend to apply to need it.

Disclaimer: ACT® is a registered trademark belonging to ACT Education Corp. (“ACT”). ACT is not involved with or affiliated with www.leverageedu.com, nor does ACT endorse or sponsor any of the products or services offered by www.leverageedu.com.

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