In the first week back from winter break, juniors received a letter in their advisories informing them that they would be taking a test called the ACT, later this month. It is provided by the school, and mandatory for juniors to take. According to the letter, “The ACT with writing is a curriculum-based test that covers learning content for all students based on their academic strengths …Your child’s score report will help determine his or her academic readiness for college.”
The announcement leaves students more questions than answers. One junior asks, “What even is the ACT, and how do I study for it? They didn’t tell us anything.”
The ACT is more like the SAT, a standardized test used for college admissions that’s administered by the ACT organization. Kaiser juniors take the test on February 25, 2025. The purpose of the test is similar to the SAT; to measure a student’s readiness for college and to provide colleges with a data point that they can use to compare people who apply. The test is taken in the library early in the morning, and all other grade levels get the day off.
The test is broken down into four sections according to the subjects, with an additional timed essay at the end of the test. The test is 2 hours and 55 minutes long, and 215 questions: English has 75 questions and a time limit of 45 minutes, math is 60 questions within 60 minutes, reading is 40 questions in 35 minutes, and science is 40 questions in 35 minutes. The test is entirely handwritten, except for approved students with diagnosed disabilities that make them unable to write the essay. As for study material, here’s what to prepare for.
English: Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills
Math: Algebra I and II, geometry, trigonometry and pre-calculus. You may use a calculator.
Reading: Social studies, humanities, natural sciences. Each passage is about 10 questions.
Science: Astronomy, chemistry, biology, geography, and more. You cannot use a calculator, and will be presented with graphs, charts, tables and research summaries.
The ACT is scored out from 1-36. Each section is graded out of 36, and the final score is all of those sections averaged out. The average ACT score is anywhere between 17 to 24, but a 24 or higher is considered good for colleges and universities. Like an SAT, ACT scores are used to help you stand out in college admissions, and give you more opportunities in getting scholarships. It’s also the only admissions test to measure science skills, which is helpful if you want to go into a science-based major.
Leilani Fensulai-Robinson, a senior, recalls that her experience with the ACT last year was similar to the SAT and other AP exams. For her, the hardest part of the test wasn’t the material itself, but “just staying focused the whole time, honestly.” For juniors taking the exam, she recommends to “take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the type of questions asked so that you can work on your comprehension/problem solving skills.”
It’s also important to take care of yourself as a sort of preparation for the test. Another senior, Cody Avellana, recommends to “eat something before the test, but nothing that will upset your stomach.” He suggests studying and brushing up on the subjects in advance.
Fortunately, the official ACT website has practice tests for free of all subjects, and a full ACT study book. Familiarizing yourself with the material and studying consistently is ever a bad way to prepare for any kinds of tests. The test may seem intimidating, but readying yourself for it is never a bad thing.
