ACT Exam - Fees, Dates, Tips, Results & Scores

ACT stands for the American College Test and is administered by the non-profit organization ACT. The ACT exam is a computer-adaptive test for undergraduate courses, where candidates must show their English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science skills by solving multiple-choice questions. US and non-US students can attempt this test for higher education in the US and Canada. Mostly, the students of 11th and 12th standards appear for the ACT exam as it evaluates the student's academic performance for college and career. In the US, the ACT exam occurs seven times yearly, mainly in February, April, June, July, September, October, and December. Whereas outside the US, that means in other countries, it is held five times a year.

The ACT scores are calculated out of 36 and are accepted by around 85 countries worldwide. Universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Stanford University, Yale University, University of Chicago, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, etc., accept them.

Acceptability

ACT scores are accepted by almost 85 countries and more than 200 universities outside the US. ACT is a famous entrance exam test in the US and Canada, allowing students to show their ability in English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. It is comparable and alternative to SAT exam.

Eligibility

Anyone above 13 with valid identity proof can attempt the ACT exam. The passport is mandatory for International applicants. The students need to score a minimum of 32-33 out of 36 to get admitted to the best universities in the US.

Syllabus

The ACT exam syllabus is comprehensive, divided into four non-optional modules and a fifth optional module. Let's take a look at the ACT syllabus:

• English: This section has five passages with 15 questions in each.
• Mathematics: This module has 60 multiple-choice questions based on algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Reading: This module has four different passages and forty questions based on these passages.
• Science: This section tests the scientific skills of the candidate by answering 40 multiple-choice questions.
• Writing(optional): This section is entirely optional. Students have to write an essay on the given question.

Exam Pattern

The ACT exam is a computer-based exam consisting of five modules

1. English has 75 questions with a time limit of 45 minutes
2. Mathematics has 60 questions with a time limit of 60 minutes
3. Reading has 40 questions with a time limit of 35 minutes
4. Science also has 40 questions with a time limit of 35 minutes &
5. writing is an optional module with only one question and time limit of 40 minutes.

The total duration of the ACT exam is 2 hours and 55 mins, with additional 40 mins for the Writing section.

Fees

The fee for the ACT exam for International Students is US$176.5 (INR 14,585), and an additional US$25 (INR 2066) for the Writing module. If a student wants to reschedule their exam or register late, they must pay a fee. You can pay the ACT fees using International cards such as Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex.

Registration

To register for the ACT exam outside of the USA, you have to apply on their official website and choose the preferred Exam Center and Exam Date/Time. If you are registering after the deadline, you are expected to pay the Late Fees in addition to regular exam fees. So, its recommended to apply for ACT Exam in time to reserve your seat.

Exam Dates

In India, the ACT exam takes place five times a year, whereas, in the US, it occurs seven times a year. There are limited ACT exam centers in India, as there are only 17 to 18 exam centers in only 9 states.

Result & Scores

The ACT exam results are announced two business days after the test. But the writing section’s scores are declared two to three weeks after the declaration of multiple-choice answers. The students can check the result on the official website. The total score range of the ACT exam is 0-36, where the average score is 21, and more than 33 is considered for admission to Top Universities in the USA.

SAT vs ACT