Background of the ACT exam?

I was just curious, when did the ACT start? Was it always as popular as it is now or did it gain this huge importance over time? It's so crucial to our college applications these days. Thanks!

The ACT, which stands for American College Testing, was first introduced in 1959 as a competitor to the SAT, which had been created in 1926. Both tests provide standardized measures of high school achievement and college readiness, and both have undergone various revisions over the years.

In its early years, the ACT was less popular than the SAT, largely because it was predominantly taken by students in the Midwest, while the SAT was favored by those on the East and West coasts. However, the ACT began to gain more favor in the 1980s and 1990s. An important shift happened in 2012, when the ACT overtook the SAT in terms of the number of test-takers for the first time.

Another key development was that, starting from the late '80s, more colleges began accepting both SAT and ACT scores in applications, contributing to the ACT's increase in popularity. As of now, virtually all colleges in the United States accept both the SAT and ACT.

The ACT's continued relevance and importance can be attributed to several factors, including its focus on curriculum-based assessment, which some educators argue is a more accurate measure of what students have learned in school than the SAT's logic and reasoning-based approach.

Remember, though, while standardized test scores like the ACT are a significant component of many college applications, they're far from the only factor that admissions offices consider. Other aspects, such as your GPA, class rank, extracurricular activities, and personal essays, can play a substantial role in your application as well.