The ACT program is a comprehensive system for collecting and reporting information about students planning to enter postsecondary education. It consists of four major components:
- Tests of Educational Development
- Student Profile Section
- Course/Grade Information Section
- ACT Interest Inventory
The ACT is administered on six national test dates each year. Participating colleges may use the residual testing program for their enrolled or admitted students who were unable to test on a national test date.
Through ACT Reporting Services, colleges and agencies designated by the student receive the information collected on the ACT record.
The Tests of Educational Development
These tests are designed to assess students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The optional Writing Test is a 30-minute essay test that measures students' writing skills in English.
The tests emphasize reasoning, analysis, problem solving, and the integration of learning from various sources, as well as the application of these proficiencies to the kinds of tasks college students are expected to perform.
In addition to providing a composite score and scores for each of four skill areas, the ACT also provides two subscores in English, three subscores in mathematics, and two subscores in reading. Two scores are reported if students take both the English Test and Writing Test: a combined English/Writing score and a Writing Test subscore. ACT also provides some comments about each student's essay.
For ACT's recommendation on forming composite scores using multiple sets of ACT scores, see Approaches for Forming Composite Scores.
The Course/Grade Information Section
This component provides 30 self-reported high school grades in the areas of English, mathematics, natural sciences, social studies, language, and the arts. The courses include those that customarily form the core of a college preparatory curriculum and are frequently required for admission to college.
The Student Profile Section
The SPS contains information reported by students when they register for the ACT. This information is organized into the following categories:- admissions/enrollment information
- educational plans, interests, and needs
- special educational needs, interests, and goals
- college extracurricular plans
- financial aid
- demographic background information
- factors influencing college choice
- characteristics of high school
- high school extracurricular activities
- out-of-class accomplishments
The ACT Interest Inventory
This 72-item survey, called the UNIACT, reports six scores that parallel John Holland's six interest and occupational types. On the basis of UNIACT results, World-of-Work Map regions are identified according to a classification of 26 career areas. The main purpose of the Interest Inventory is to help students identify majors congruent with their interests.