1. The ACT What is the ACT? How is it different from the SAT? Should you take both?

2. What is the ACT assessment? 4 It is a college admission examination 4 It tests English, Math, Reading, and Science 4 It contains an optional Writing essay 4 It is curriculum based (not aptitude)

3. How is the ACT different from the SAT? 4 The questions on the ACT are directly related to what students have learned in high school courses in English, math, and science. 4 The Writing Essay is optional 4 Provides test takers with an interest inventory that provides information for career and educational planning

4. What is assessed with the ACT? MATH (60 items/ 60 mintues) Pre Algebra 14 items Elementary Algebra 10 items Intermediate Algebra 10 items Coordinate Geometry 9 items Plane Geometry 14 items Trigonometry 4 items ENGLISH (75 items/45 minutes) Punctuation 10 items Grammar 12 items Sentence Structure 18 items Strategy 12 items Organization 11 items Style 12 items

5. READING (40 items/35 mintues) Prose Fiction 10 items Humanities 10 items Social Studies 10 items Natural Science 10 items SCIENCE (40 items/ 35 mintues) Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics Data Representation 15 items Research Summaries 18 items Conflicting Viewpoints 7 items

6. When is the Optional Writing Essay Available? It was offered for the first time in February 2005. This allowed for students planning on entering college in the fall of 2006 to take the optional writing test in the spring of their junior year or the fall of their senior year.

7. Why is the Writing Essay optional? 4 There are many approaches to the assessment of writing. 4 The ACT multiple choice English Test is designed to measure skills necessary for effective writing (grammar, punctuation, organization, style, sentence structure) 4 Students should take the Writing Test if their college choices require the test score

8. Should I take the SAT, ACT, or Both? 4 Most colleges accept either score (check with your college choices to see if they have a preference) 4 Many students feel they perform higher on the ACT because it is curriculum based 4 Many students take both because if offers them a choice of scores to send to colleges

9. For more information, go to: www.act.org