Hey there! I'm considering taking the ACT besides the SATs, but I'm slightly confused about what's actually covered on the ACT. Could someone break down the subjects for me and possibly let me know what unique sections there may be? Appreciate the help in advance.
Sure, happy to help! The ACT covers four primary areas: English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning.
1. English: This section contains 75 questions to be completed within 45 minutes. It measures standard written English and rhetorical skills. Questions on this section will focus on punctuation, usage and grammar, sentence structure, then rhetorical skills like strategy, organization, and style.
2. Math: For the Math section, you will have 60 minutes to answer 60 questions. The questions roughly break down into pre-algebra/algebra (57-60%), geometry/trigonometry (40-43%). This section assesses your ability to solve basic computations and reason quantitatively.
3. Reading: The Reading section consists of 40 questions in 35 minutes and assesses your reading comprehension skills. The section includes four, 10-question passages in the areas of prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science.
4. Science Reasoning: Consisting of 40 questions to be completed in 35 minutes, this section tests interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in natural sciences contexts (biology, earth/space sciences, chemistry, and physics).
Additionally, there is an optional Writing section (typically known as the ACT Plus Writing), which includes one essay that you have 40 minutes to write. This portion tests your skills in creating and organizing an argument.
Remember that unlike the SAT, the ACT doesn't have any no-calculator section. You can use a calculator on all of the math problems. But it might not be as helpful in the Science Reasoning section, which is more about interpreting graphs and data than making calculations.
I hope that clears up your confusion, and best of luck with your prep!
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