Comprehensive ACT Study Guide and Test Specifications
Overview of the ACT Test Structure and Administration
Standard Multiple-Choice and Optional Sections:
English Section: total items ( scored items, embedded field test items); time limit of .
Mathematics Section: total items ( scored items, embedded field test items); time limit of .
Reading Section: total items ( scored items, embedded field test items); time limit of .
Science Section (Optional): total items ( scored items, embedded field test items); time limit of .
Writing Section (Optional): essay prompt; time limit of 40\,minutes$.\n\n- **Embedded Unscored Field Test Items:**\n - Unscored field test questions are incorporated into all multiple-choice sections to gather statistical data for developing future test questions.\n - Field test items are unlabelled and mixed throughout the sections, making them indistinguishable from scored questions.\n - Field test item slots vary across test forms and administrations.\n\n- **Spanish Language Publication and Online Preparation:**\n - Test preparation publications can be viewed or downloaded in Spanish at `www.act.org`.\n - Online preparation tools include *The Official ACT® Self-Paced Course, Powered by Kaplan®*, which offers virtual classroom instruction (`www.act.org/the-act/testprep`).\n\n# Test-Taking Strategies and Preparation Guidance\n\n- **Long-Term Preparation Tactics:**\n - Review specific content areas that make up large percentages of each test section.\n - Refresh knowledge and skills in subjects previously studied.\n - Enroll in coursework prior to testing for unfamiliar subject material.\n - Practice using official retired test forms under strict timed conditions, observing a 10 \text{ to } 15\,minute break between Test 2 (Mathematics) and Test 3 (Reading).\n\n- **Multiple-Choice Pacing Strategy:**\n - **Target Time Calculation Formula:**\n 1. Estimate total minutes spent skimming passages or reading introductory material.\n 2. Subtract skimming time from the total section time limit.\n 3. Divide remaining minutes by the total number of questions to establish estimated time per item.\n 4. Reserve remaining time at the end of each section to review answers and re-examine flagged questions.\n - Read all section directions in advance of test day to save operational test time.\n - **Section Specific Demands:**\n - English, Reading, and Science sections require identifying the *best* answer choice.\n - Mathematics section requires determining the *correct* answer choice.\n - **Question Order Tactics:**\n - Complete easy questions first, skipping difficult items on the first pass.\n - Flag unanswered questions, guess, and return to them if time remains.\n - Use logic and compare options to eliminate incorrect distractors on difficult items.\n - **No Penalty for Guessing:** Scores are calculated solely on correct responses; leaving blank answers is never advantageous.\n\n- **Paper Answer Document Rules:**\n - Use a sharpened No. 2 pencil with a high-quality eraser (mechanical pencils, ink pens, highlighters, and correction fluid/tape are strictly prohibited).\n - Fill response ovals completely with heavy, dark marks. Marks extending beyond intended ovals may be scored as incorrect.\n - Erase changed answers completely; smudges and stray marks cause optical scanning errors.\n\n# Test Day Logistics, Accommodations, and Administrative Rules\n\n- **Arrival and Dismissal Schedules:**\n - Report to assigned test centers by 8:00\,a.m. on National test dates; late arrivals are not admitted.\n - Testing commences immediately after check-in and seating procedures complete.\n - **Estimated Dismissal Windows:**\n - English, Mathematics, and Reading: 11:00\,a.m. \text{ to } 11:15\,a.m.\n - English, Mathematics, Reading, plus Science OR Writing: 12:00\,p.m. \text{ to } 12:15\,p.m.\n - English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, AND Writing: 12:45\,p.m. \text{ to } 1:00\,p.m.\n\n- **Required and Permitted Desktop Items:**\n - Printed hardcopy admission ticket (printed via MyACT account).\n - Acceptable photo identification meeting ACT specifications (`www.act.org/the-act/id`).\n - Fully charged testing device for registered Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) computer-based examinees.\n - Sharpened No. 2 pencils and erasers (international centers provide approved whiteboards and markers).\n - Non-alarmed watch or timing device placed visible on the desk during testing.\n - Permitted calculator matching ACT Calculator Policy specifications (`www.act.org/calculator-policy.html`).\n - Approved Word-to-Word Bilingual Dictionary for English Learner students appearing on the official ACT-Approved list.\n - Snacks and beverages (consumed strictly outside the testing room during scheduled break times).\n\n- **Prohibited Items:**\n - Textbooks, notes, unapproved translation dictionaries, or reference aids.\n - Highlighters, colored pencils, pens, correction fluid, or correction tape.\n - Electronic devices other than permitted calculators and BYOD testing devices (smartwatches, fitness bands, cell phones).\n - Reading materials.\n\n- **One and One-Half Time Testing Accommodations:**\n - Available for qualified examinees with diagnosed disabilities or limited English proficiency on National test dates.\n - Grants 50\% additional time per test section:\n - **English Section:** 52\,minutes, 30\,seconds50 questions).\n - **Mathematics Section:** 75\,minutes45 questions).\n - **Reading Section:** 60\,minutes36 questions).\n - **Science Section (Optional):** 60\,minutes40 questions).\n - **Writing Section (Optional):** 60\,minutes1 essay prompt).\n\n- **Post-Test Administrative Policies:**\n - **Voiding Tests:** Examinees leaving before completion must inform staff on test day whether to score or void the test. Accessing test content eliminates eligibility for Test Date Changes.\n - **Superscoring Policy:** ACT calculates official superscores taking the highest individual section scores across all test sittings (`www.act.org/the-act/superscore`).\n - **Multiple Testing Limits:** Examinees may not take the test more than once during a single National or International testing window (e.g., Saturday and rescheduled dates within the same window). Duplicate sittings result in cancellation of second test scores without refund.\n - **Test Information Release (TIR):** Service ordering copies of multiple-choice test items, examinee answers, answer keys, writing prompts, and scoring rubrics for specific National testing dates (`www.act.org/the-act/tir`).\n\n# Prohibited Behavior at Test Centers\n\n- Filling in or altering multiple-choice ovals or essay text after time is called (including correcting stray marks).\n- Reading or working on any section outside designated time limits.\n- Accessing smartwatches, fitness bands, cellular phones, or unauthorized electronics from admission until complete dismissal.\n- Giving or receiving assistance, or looking at another examinee's test booklet or answer document.\n- Removing test materials from the room, or sharing/discussing questions, answers, or test form IDs during testing, breaks, or after the test via any medium (including social media).\n- Consuming food, liquids, or using reading materials inside the testing room.\n- Engagement in prohibited behavior results in immediate dismissal and score cancellation without exception.\n\n# Specifications and Content of the ACT Sections\n\n- **English Section Structure and Categories:**\n - Consists of multiple in-house written passages accompanied by side-by-side multiple-choice questions assessing revision and editing decisions.\n - Features "NO CHANGE" choices and passage-level items indicated by boxed item numbers, bracketed asterisks `[*]`, or end-of-passage directive boxes.\n - **Reporting Categories:**\n - **Production of Writing (38\% \text{ to } 43\%):** Topic Development (rhetorical focus, purpose, relevance) and Organization, Unity, and Cohesion (structure, transitions, conclusions).\n - **Knowledge of Language (18\% \text{ to } 23\%):** Precision, conciseness, style consistency, and tone alignment.\n - **Conventions of Standard English (38\% \text{ to } 43\%):** Sentence Structure and Formation, Punctuation, and Usage.\n\n- **Mathematics Section Structure and Categories:**\n - Assesses mathematical skills acquired through early grade 12.\n - Permits approved calculators; basic formulas are assumed background knowledge, but complex formula recall and extensive computation are not required.\n - **Reporting Categories:**\n - **Preparing for Higher Math (80\% of section):**\n - *Number & Quantity (10\% \text{ to } 12\%):* Real and complex numbers, integer/rational exponents, vectors, matrices.\n - *Algebra (17\% \text{ to } 20\%):* Linear, polynomial, radical, and exponential expressions/equations, systems of equations, matrix representations.\n - *Functions (17\% \text{ to } 20\%):* Definitions, notations, linear, radical, piecewise, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic functions, graph features and translations.\n - *Geometry (17\% \text{ to } 20\%):* Congruence, similarity, perimeter, area, surface area, volume, composite figures, circles, triangles, conic sections, trigonometric ratios.\n - *Statistics & Probability (12\% \text{ to } 15\%):* Center/spread measures, data collection, bivariate data, sample spaces, and probability calculations.\n - **Integrating Essential Skills (20\% of section):** Rates, percentages, proportions, area/volume, mean/median, multi-step problem solving.\n - **Modeling (Cross-Cutting Category):** Measures overall ability to produce, interpret, evaluate, and improve mathematical models across all content domains.\n\n- **Reading Section Structure and Categories:**\n - Evaluates close reading, logical reasoning, and evidence integration across college-level prose passages.\n - Contains single long passages and paired short passages preceded by source headers.\n - May include visual/quantitative elements (tables, charts, graphs).\n - **Reporting Categories:**\n - **Key Ideas & Details (44\% \text{ to } 52\%):** Central themes, summaries, explicit/implicit details, sequential, comparative, and cause-effect relationships.\n - **Craft & Structure (26\% \text{ to } 33\%):** Word/phrase meanings, rhetorical choices, text structure, author purpose, character perspectives.\n - **Integration of Knowledge & Ideas (19\% \text{ to } 26\%):** Analyzing claims/evidence, fact vs. opinion, argument evaluation across related texts.\n\n- **Science Section (Optional) Structure and Categories:**\n - Assesses interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills across Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space Sciences, and Physics.\n - **Calculators are strictly prohibited.**\n - **Passage Formats:**\n - *Data Representation (26\% \text{ to } 32\%):* Graphs and data tables.\n - *Research Summaries (50\% \text{ to } 56\%):* Descriptions and results of related experiments.\n - *Conflicting Viewpoints (18\% \text{ to } 21\%):* Inconsistent hypotheses or explanations for scientific phenomena.\n - **Reporting Categories:**\n - **Interpretation of Data (38\% \text{ to } 50\%):** Data manipulation, trend analysis, interpolation, extrapolation.\n - **Scientific Investigation (18\% \text{ to } 32\%):** Experimental procedures, controls, variables, modifications.\n - **Evaluation of Models, Inferences & Experimental Results (24\% \text{ to } 38\%):** Validity judgments, evidence-based conclusions and predictions.\n\n- **Writing Section (Optional) Structure and Domains:**\n - 40\,minute3 distinct perspectives.\n - Examinees develop an independent perspective and analyze its relationship to given perspectives.\n - **Four Analytic Scoring Domains (Rubric Range 1 \text{ to } 6 per domain):**\n - *Ideas and Analysis:* Critical engagement with perspectives, nuanced thesis, analytical context.\n - *Development and Support:* Reasoning, evidence, illustration, implications, qualifications.\n - *Organization:* Structural unity, logical sequencing, smooth transitions, controlling idea.\n - *Language Use:* Vocabulary precision, sentence structure variety, appropriate tone/register, grammar conventions.\n\n# Practice Test Scoring and Scale Conversions\n\n- **Raw Score Definitions:**\n - Maximum scored raw totals per test section:\n - **English Section:** 40\n - **Mathematics Section:** 41\n - **Reading Section:** 27\n - **Science Section:** 34\n\n- **Scale Score Conversion Table (Form 25MC1):**\n\n| Raw Score | English Scale Score | Math Scale Score | Reading Scale Score | Science Scale Score |\n| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |\n| **41** | — | 36 | — | — |\n| **40** | 36 | 36 | — | — |\n| **39** | 35 | 35 | — | — |\n| **38** | 35 | 34 | — | — |\n| **37** | 33 | 34 | — | — |\n| **36** | 31 | 33 | — | — |\n| **35** | 29 | 32 | — | — |\n| **34** | 28 | 31 | — | 36 |\n| **33** | 27 | 30 | — | 35 |\n| **32** | 26 | 29 | — | 34 |\n| **31** | 25 | 29 | — | 33 |\n| **30** | 24 | 28 | — | 32 |\n| **29** | 23 | 27 | — | 31 |\n| **28** | 22 | 27 | — | 30 |\n| **27** | 22 | 26 | 36 | 29 |\n| **26** | 21 | 25 | 35 | 28 |\n| **25** | 20 | 24 | 34 | 27 |\n| **24** | 20 | 23 | 32 | 26 |\n| **23** | 19 | 22 | 30 | 25 |\n| **22** | 18 | 21 | 28 | 25 |\n| **21** | 17 | 20 | 26 | 24 |\n| **20** | 16 | 19 | 25 | 23 |\n| **19** | 15 | 19 | 24 | 23 |\n| **18** | 15 | 18 | 23 | 22 |\n| **17** | 14 | 17 | 22 | 21 |\n| **16** | 13 | 17 | 21 | 20 |\n| **15** | 13 | 17 | 20 | 19 |\n| **14** | 12 | 16 | 18 | 18 |\n| **13** | 11 | 16 | 17 | 18 |\n| **12** | 11 | 15 | 16 | 17 |\n| **11** | 10 | 15 | 15 | 16 |\n| **10** | 10 | 15 | 14 | 15 |\n| **9** | 10 | 14 | 13 | 14 |\n| **8** | 9 | 14 | 12 | 12 |\n| **7** | 8 | 13 | 12 | 12 |\n| **6** | 7 | 13 | 11 | 11 |\n| **5** | 7 | 12 | 10 | 10 |\n| **4** | 6 | 11 | 9 | 9 |\n| **3** | 5 | 9 | 7 | 7 |\n| **2** | 3 | 7 | 5 | 6 |\n| **1** | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 |\n| **0** | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |\n\n- **Composite Score Calculation:**\n - Calculate the arithmetic mean of English, Mathematics, and Reading scale scores:\n \text{Composite Score} = \text{round}\left(\frac{\text{English Scale Score} + \text{Math Scale Score} + \text{Reading Scale Score}}{3}\right)\n - Rounding rules: Round down fractions less than \frac{1}{2}\frac{1}{2}1.\n\n- **Writing Subject Score Calculation:**\n - Multiply each domain rubric score (1 \text{ to } 622 \text{ to } 12.\n - Calculate the arithmetic mean of the four domain scores:\n \text{Writing Subject Score} = \text{round}\left(\frac{\text{Ideas \& Analysis} + \text{Development \& Support} + \text{Organization} + \text{Language Use}}{4}\right)\n - Round down fractions less than \frac{1}{2}\frac{1}{2}$$.