ACT
The ACT is designed to assess high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The tests cover four skill areas, English, mathematics, reading, and science. ACT results are accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and universities. The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete with breaks. Actual testing time is 2 hours and 55 minutes.
Why Should I Take the ACT?
There are at least four good reasons to take the ACT:
- The ACT is now accepted by virtually all colleges and universities in the U.S., including all of the Ivy League schools.
- The ACT tests are curriculum based. The ACT is not an aptitude or an IQ test. Instead, the questions on the ACT are directly related to what you have learned in your high school courses in English, mathematics, and science. Because the ACT tests are based on what is taught in the high school curriculum, students are generally more comfortable with the ACT.
- The ACT is more than a test. In addition to the four tests, the ACT also provides test takers with a unique interest inventory that provides valuable information for career and educational planning and a student profile section that provides a comprehensive profile of your work in high school and your future plans.
- The ACT is a good value. As a private, not-for-profit organization governed by educators, ACT is committed to providing services at the lowest possible cost. Accordingly, the ACT provides a comprehensive package of educational assessment and career planning services for college-bound student.
Grading Scale
- Scored within the range of 36 (highest) through 1 (lowest).
- Your score report conveys your score for each of the four tests as well as a composite score. The composite score is the average of your four test scores rounded to the nearest whole number.
- The national composite average is 21. Each sub-test is scored on a 10-36 scale. A composite score is calculated using an averaging technique. A composite scale score of 21 is roughly equivalent to a 1500 on the re-centered SAT.
ACT/SAT Score Comparisons
| ACT | SAT-1 | ACT | SAT-1 | ACT | SAT-1 | ACT | SAT-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1570-1600 | 29 | 1330-1350 | 22 | 1100-1120 | 15 | 830-870 | |
| 35 | 1530-1560 | 28 | 1300-1320 | 21 | 1060-1090 | 14 | 780-820 | |
| 34 | 1490-1520 | 27 | 1260-1290 | 20 | 1030-1050 | 13 | 730-770 | |
| 33 | 1450-1480 | 26 | 1230-1250 | 19 | 990-1020 | 12 | 690-720 | |
| 32 | 1420-1440 | 25 | 1200-1220 | 18 | 960-980 | 11 | 650-680 | |
| 31 | 1390-1410 | 24 | 1160-1190 | 17 | 920-950 | 10 | 620-640 | |
| 30 | 1360-1380 | 23 | 1130-1150 | 16 | 880-910 | 9 | 590-610 | |
Exam Fee
The 2019-20 basic registration fee is $52.00 (no writing); $68.00 (plus writing), which includes score reports for up to four colleges choices for which a valid code is listed at time of registration.
The 2019-20 basic registration fee is $52.00 (no writing); $68.00 (plus writing), which includes score reports for up to four colleges choices for which a valid code is listed at time of registration.
Fee Waiver
If you are a high school junior or senior and can’t afford the registration fee for one of the ACT exams, you may be eligible for an ACT Fee Waiver. Check with your local high school for eligibility.
Ordering
You can order the exam in two manners:
- Order On-line at actstudent.org
- Pick up registration packet at your local high school
- ACT Photo Required for Registration – As part of ACT’s test security requirements, you must now provide a recent photo of yourself in order to complete your test registration. This photo will be used for identification and test security purposes. This photo will print on your ticket and on the score report that is automatically sent to your high school. Photos are valid for two years.
Test Center Codes
| School | Test Center Code |
| Arvin | 165-160 |
| Centennial | 209-630 |
| CSUB | 002-010 |
| East Bakersfield | 210-280 |
| Frontier | 210-340 |
| Garces | 165-490 |
| Kern Valley | 201-950 |
| Golden Valley | 211-850 |
| Highland | 212-090 |
| Shafter | 224-890 |
| Stockdale | 212-820 |
School Test Codes
| School | School Test Code |
| Arvin | 050-160 |
| Bakersfield | 050-205 |
| Centennial | 050-209 |
| East | 050-210 |
| Foothill | 050-213 |
| Frontier | 054-058 |
| Golden Valley | 050-259 |
| Highland | 050-218 |
| Liberty | 050-196 |
| Independence | 054-242 |
| Kern Valley | 051-342 |
| Mira Monte | 054-317 |
| North | 050-220 |
| Ridgeview | 050-202 |
| Shafter | 053-360 |
| South | 050-223 |
| Stockdale | 050-217 |
| West | 050-224 |
Services For Students With Disabilities
ACT is committed to serving students with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations appropriate to the student’s diagnosis. ACT has established policies regarding documentation of an applicant’s disability and the process for requesting accommodations.
For further information visit the following web page:
ACT is committed to serving students with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations appropriate to the student’s diagnosis. ACT has established policies regarding documentation of an applicant’s disability and the process for requesting accommodations.
For further information visit the following web page:
updated July 2020