The ACT, or American College Testing, is a standardized test used by many colleges and universities in the United States as part of their admissions process. It consists of multiple-choice questions in four subject areas: English, Math, Reading, and Science. There is also an optional Writing section.   Students typically take the ACT during their junior or senior year of high school. The scores they receive on the test can be used by colleges to evaluate a student's readiness for college-level work. Many students also take the ACT multiple times to try to achieve their best possible score.   Overall, the ACT serves as a way for colleges to compare students from different backgrounds fairly and helps them make informed decisions about admissions and scholarship awards. It is an important part of the college application process for many students in the U.S.

The ACT score provides a score from 1 to 36 on each test (English, Math, Reading, and Science) and an ACT composite score, which is an average of these four tests. Typically, when people ask about your score, they are referring to your ACT composite score. The composite score ranges from 1 to 36. The national average is 21. If, for example, you scored 31 in English, 30 in Math, 29 in Reading, and 30 in Science, your ACT composite score would be 30. You will receive subscores in English, math, and reading that will range from 1 to 18. These scores give you more details about your performance, but they are not actually used by colleges or universities. The ACT includes an optional essay, known as the writing test. If you take the writing test, you will receive a writing test score and a combined English/writing score. Visit www.ACT.org for detailed information about how your ACT writing test will be scored.

Students take the ACT in the spring of their junior year of high school and, if necessary, again in the fall of their senior year. This is encouraged so that results can be ready for all scholarship deadlines for your final year. Some students are choosing to take their ACT earlier, such as during the fall of their junior year. This gives them more flexibility to retake the ACT one or more times. Be sure to pick up a registration packet from your high school counseling office.