The ACT is a 3-hour and 35-minute college admissions exam (or 2 hours and 55 minutes without the optional essay).
Our ACT Tutoring Program
Our approach to the ACT is educational; we teach the core concepts in grammar, math, reading, science, and writing that comprise the foundation of the material tested on the ACT. After completing our comprehensive program, students are not only prepared to succeed on the ACT but also see improvements across all their academic work.
Throughout our long-term, rigorous ACT program, students will have weekly meetings, complete homework assignments, and take full-length, proctored practice tests, all of which help them learn, practice, and master the material. Students reach a deep understanding of ACT’s underlying concepts and develop efficient problem-solving strategies for every type of question on the test.
Contact us to speak to a program consultant to discuss your goals and schedule a diagnostic ACT.
Program Length
We recommend that students prepare for the ACT for at least a year before taking their first official test. The precise length of our ACT program depends on several factors, including:
- The student's tutoring needs
- When the student begins working with us
- The student's goals
- The number of meetings the student has with the tutor each week
- The date when the student plans to take the official test
Spring 2025 ACT Changes
The Science Test will be optional. Students will have the option to choose the core ACT (English, Reading, and Math), ACT plus Science, ACT plus Writing, or ACT plus Science and Writing.
The ACT will be shorter. Shorter passages in English and Reading and fewer questions (44 fewer total) will allow students more time to finish each question.
The core ACT will take two hours with standard timing and will continue to be scored on a scale from 1 to 36. The composite score will be the average of the English, Reading, and Math scores.
As we learn more about these changes, we will update this page.
English Test
We teach grammatical and syntactical principles as well as idiomatic expression and rhetoric, and we train students to develop a critical eye for editing what they read. Students often find that the skills that help them improve their accuracy on the ACT English Test also improve their writing in their other academic work.
Mathematics Test
We emphasize the principles underlying the recurring math question types on the ACT. Students practice these concepts in targeted worksheets, problem sets, and summary reviews. Our tutors also show students how to use their calculator effectively on the math section.
Reading Test
Through our ACT program, students will learn how to understand college-level reading material in a range of subject areas. We help students become more attuned to the significance of word choice and more adept with methods for discerning an author's meaning—skills that are useful for the ACT and in students’ continued academic careers.
Science Test
Our students become familiar with basic concepts in biology, chemistry, earth and space sciences, and physics so that they can process any given scientific information efficiently and accurately. Our science materials emphasize interpreting, analyzing, and evaluating scientific text and data.
Writing Test (optional)
We emphasize the fundamental structure and fluidity of expression inherent in a strong written composition. Through essay practice, students gain confidence in expressing and developing their ideas in an organized and well-written essay with limited time to reflect upon the topic and perspectives.
Should students take the SAT or the ACT?
All major colleges accept the SAT and the ACT with equal preference. When deciding whether to take the SAT or the ACT, students should not speculate. Diagnostic testing and routine practice will dictate which test best suits the individual student.
We generally recommend that students complete a few months of tutoring before selecting to prepare for either the SAT or ACT. During this period, each student should take an SAT and an ACT diagnostic test. The results of the diagnostics in addition to the student’s preferences and goals will help us advise an appropriate test regimen.
In the first few months of the program, our tutors focus on imparting the core material—including math concepts, grammar rules, and reading skills—relevant to both the SAT and the ACT. After deciding which test better suits each student’s goals and abilities, our tutors will incorporate materials specific to the student's chosen test and develop a rigorous practice test schedule.
What are the differences between the SAT and the ACT?
The ACT and the SAT are both prominent college admissions tests. Both assess the educational development of high school students and the ability to perform college-level work. However, the ACT and the SAT are different educational instruments with different emphases.
|
|
SAT |
ACT |
|
Scoring |
400–1600 composite scale |
1–36 composite scale |
|
Test Length |
Approximately 2 hours |
Approximately 3 hours (not including the optional essay) |
|
Verbal |
54 questions, in two 27-question, 32-minute modules Informational graphics included |
40 reading questions in 35 minutes 75 English questions in 45 minutes |
|
Math |
44 questions, in two 22-question, 35-minute modules Can use an approved calculator Approximately 75% multiple choice and 25% student-produced responses Trigonometry, radians, volumes, complex numbers, congruence and similarity, simple rational expressions, higher order equations, circle-related topics |
60 questions in 60 minutes Can use an approved calculator All multiple choice Arithmetic, algebra I and II, planar and coordinate geometry, trigonometry and precalculus including functions, conic sections, combinations and permutations, logarithms, and matrices |
|
Science |
No science section Science questions throughout the Reading and Writing and Math Sections |
40 questions in 35 minutes Interpretation and application of scientific data presented in tables, pie charts, bar graphs, scatter plots, etc. |
|
Essay |
No essay |
40 minutes Optional Writing and composition, analysis and development of an argument 4 scores:
|
|
Other |
No penalty for incorrect answers |
No penalty for incorrect answers |
How do SAT and ACT scores compare?
Concordance tools and tables are provided on the official SAT website.
|
Section |
Number of Questions |
Minutes Per Section |
Content |
|
English Test |
75 questions |
45 minutes |
Grammar, syntax, usage, rhetoric |
|
Mathematics Test |
60 questions |
60 minutes |
Arithmetic, algebra I and II, planar and coordinate geometry, trigonometry, precalculus including functions, conic sections, combinations and permutations, logarithms, matrices (calculators permitted) |
|
Reading Test |
40 questions |
35 minutes |
Reading comprehension based on four separate passages or passage sets |
|
Science Test |
40 questions |
35 minutes |
Interpretation of scientific data presented in texts, tables, charts, and graphs |
|
Writing Test (optional) |
1 prompt |
40 minutes |
Essay composition |
Download ACT Format and Timing as a PDF.
How is the ACT Scored?
- Each subject area test is scaled from 1 to 36. These four scores are then averaged to provide a composite score from 1 to 36.
- The optional Writing Test receives four scores (in Ideas & Analysis, Development & Support, Organization, and Language Use & Conventions) from 2–12. These scores are averaged for an overall Writing Test score of 2–12.
- The ACT does not deduct points for incorrect answers.
When is the ACT Taken?
The ACT is offered in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July, although the July administration is not available in all locations. We recommend that most students take the ACT in the spring of their junior year and/or in the fall of their senior year.
Upcoming ACT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines
|
Test Date |
Registration Deadline |
Late Registration Deadline |
| December 14, 2024 | November 8, 2024 | November 22, 2024 |
| February 8, 2025 | January 3, 2025 | January 20, 2025 |
| April 5, 2025 | February 28, 2025 | March 16, 2025 |
| June 14, 2025 | May 9, 2025 | May 26, 2025 |
| July 12, 2025* | June 6, 2025 | June 20, 2025 |
*No test centers are scheduled in New York for the July test date.
To download this information as a PDF, click here.
For information about international testing, click here.
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