Your ACT scores can determine whether you will get into college. So, you want to aim for the best possible score you can get. Most people recommend aiming for a number higher than the national average, which was 19.5 in 2023.
With that in mind, you want to be sure you prepare for it enough. A great place to start is by knowing what to look forward to in the exam.
The ACT released online resources to help students prepare for the upcoming exam. So, here’s an overview of the type of ACT test questions you will encounter.
English Test
In this part, you will find several essays and passages followed by a set of questions. Usually, the answers would be in multiple-choice format. Generally, it aims to test your ability to use and understand the English language.
- Writing: It focuses on how you express your understanding of a topic through writing.
- Language: It evaluates your precision in effectively using language.
- Standard English: It considers the depth of knowledge you have for grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Mathematics Test
The math portion aims to assess your overall mathematical skills, from what you learned in the beginning up to your most recent lessons. These are either individual ACT test questions or part of a set, such as using the same figure or example.
Note that these also cover content areas that are necessary to understand college-level mathematics. In a way, it assesses your mastery of the basics and how you apply them to more complex problems.
- Higher Math: It covers most of the recent mathematics students are most likely learning, starting from algebra.
- Essential Skills: It measures your ability to synthesize information and solve problems accordingly through formulas or a chain of steps.
- Models: It looks into how you produce and interpret models with the correct mathematical solutions.
Science Test
This section focuses on measuring your skills when it comes to interpreting, analyzing, reasoning, and solving problems related to natural sciences. You may come across questions that ask about anything in the field, from biology to physics.
- Data Interpretation: It considers how well you interpret data based on tables, graphs, and diagrams.
- Scientific Investigation: It looks into your understanding of experimental tools, procedures, methods, and designs.
- Evaluation: It determines your ability to validate scientific information and formulate appropriate conclusions and predictions with the given data.
Reading Test
This portion measures how well you can read and reason with different texts using context and evidence. It also considers how you integrate information that comes from several sources into your analysis.
When practicing with ACT test questions for the reading section, you want to consider having a testing timer with you. This way, you can develop techniques that allow you to synthesize information and come up with answers without taking too much time.
- Comprehension: It checks how you understand central ideas and themes and how accurately you can summarize them with clear and logical reasoning.
- Analysis: It considers the depth of your understanding of the meanings, perspectives, structures, and decisions in the passage.
- Integration of Knowledge: It determines how you differentiate between facts and opinions and use evidence to support the connections you make.
- Visual and Quantitative Understanding: It evaluates your ability to interpret visual or quantitative information according to the provided passage.
Writing Test
Although the writing exam is optional, it measures your general skill when it comes to writing. It includes how you express and organize your thoughts.
Keep in mind that your score for this section will not affect your Composite score, which is the average of your four major test scores.
- Ideas and Analysis: It reflects on your ability to voice ideas from a critical perspective.
- Support: It considers your ability to discuss and defend your arguments or explore your ideas on a deeper level.
- Organization: It looks into how you organize your ideas while keeping them clear and maintaining their purpose.
- Language and Grammar Use: It tests your ability to convey a message clearly and concisely with proper use of language and grammar.
Make Preparations by Knowing What ACT Test Questions to Expect
Once you know what ACT test questions to expect, you can set your practices accordingly. In doing so, you can determine your strengths and weaknesses early and address them before you take the actual test. This way, you can boost your chances of achieving a higher and satisfactory score!
