The abbreviation ACT means American College Test. This test is conducted by ACT, Inc known as American College Testing Program, Inc in the past. ACT is thought to be as the most popular entry test exam for college admission in the United States of America. The first ACT test was held in the Fall of 1959. ACT is administered in fifty states of the United States. In states like Illinois, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Texas, there are fifty percent high school graduates appear in ACT. The test comprises multiple choice questions. It is designed to evaluate high schools students’ potential as being capable of continuing college level education. ACT is divided into five sub-sections, i.e. English, mathematics, reading, Writing and science. The writing skill section is optional and is taken by the students according to the admission criterion of various institutions. It was added to ACT in 2005.


ACT is regarded as an alternative as well as competitor to the popular College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test known also as the SAT Reasoning Test. Amost 1.3 million candidates appeared in ACT tests in 2007. In 2007, the average score in ACT exam, announced by ACT Inc. was 21.2. While in 2006, the avaerage score was 21.1. The highest possible score in ACT exam is 36 which is obtained only by one student among four thousand. There are 215 questions in total in ACT exam. The break up of the test goes as 75 question in English section, 60 questions are in section of mathematics while sections of reading and science contain 40 questions each. Contrary to many tests of the same calibre, ACT is a curriculum-based exam. The questions asked in the exam are based on the text books the students read in high schools. It does not focus the general understanding and analytical skills of the students. This concentration of ACT on high school curriculum necessitates a thorough prepartion of high school books on the part of the students. The test consists of sub-sections of English, mathematics, and science.


The registration for Act is quite affordable and is within the reach of common students. For 2007-2008 exam, the registrartion fee was announced $30 while registration for ACT Plus Writing was fixed as $44.50. The registration fee includes also charges on sending score report to the candidates. In most of the states, ACT is held in five diffent months of the year i.e. February, April, June October, and December, in America. There is a slight variation of the ACT schedule in some states where it is organized in the month of September also.


ACT also generates interest in career-planning in the students. They have fill up long sheets giving details not only about their performance in high school but they have to provide their career tendencies in future also. Detailed profile of the candidate is the integral part of ACT. This makes the high school students more concerned and responsible about their performance in studies. Like any other entry test, ACT is recognized and acceptable in any accredited educational institution of the world.