What are your chances of acceptance?

Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Duke University
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 UCLA
UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

The CollegeVine Guides to the ACT

What’s Covered:

 

Love them or hate them, standardized tests are an important part of the college planning and application process. The ACT is one of the major testing options available to college-bound high school students, so many applicants will choose to make it part of their college preparations.

 

The ACT test consists of four required sections—English, Math, Reading, and Science—as well as a Writing section that is optional overall but required for certain colleges. While this exam has a reputation for being more popular in the Midwestern states, it’s widely accepted by colleges and differs from the SAT in ways that make it a more appealing option for some students.

 

Here at the CollegeVine blog, we’ve frequently posted about the ACT, its structure, its content, and its scoring process. Below, you’ll find a list of all our posts about the ACT with links to each. Read on for everything you need to know about the ACT!

 

Understanding the ACT

 

Whether the ACT is entirely new to you or you’re hoping to improve your understanding of its details, these posts will help you get to know the exam better.

 

 

ACT section guides

 

The ACT’s five sections—English, Math, Reading, Science, and the optional Writing section—require different knowledge and different strategies. Below, you’ll find our section-specific posts about the details of the exam.

 

English

 

 

Math

 

 

Reading

 

 

Science

 

Writing (optional)

 

Preparing for the ACT

 

Once you know how the ACT works, it’s time to get started with the process of studying for the test. Check out these posts for more advice on managing your test preparation.

 

 

Advice for ACT test day

 

Knowing what to expect when you arrive at the testing facility will make the test day experience less stressful and give you a better chance to succeed.

 

 

Understanding your ACT Score

 

Your ACT score report distills your performance on the exam into just a few numerical scores. Below, you’ll find our advice on figuring out what your scores mean for you.

 

 

Retaking the ACT

 

Many students choose to retake the ACT in hopes of receiving a better score. Here’s how to decide whether to retake the test and, if you do decide to do so, advice on doing better the second time around.

 

 

We hope these posts will provide the information you need to understand the test, study effectively, and do your best on the ACT!

 

Want to know how your SAT score/ACT score impacts your chances of acceptance to your dream schools? Our free Chancing Engine will not only help you predict your odds, but also let you know how you stack up against other applicants, and which aspects of your profile to improve. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to gain access to our Chancing Engine and get a jumpstart on your college strategy!

Monikah Schuschu
Senior Blogger

Short Bio
Monikah Schuschu is an alumna of Brown University and Harvard University. As a graduate student, she took a job at the Harvard College Office of Financial Aid and Admissions, and discovered the satisfaction of helping students and parents with the often-baffling college admissions process. She also enjoys fiber art, murder mysteries, and amateur entomology.