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ACT
The ACT Assessment® is designed to assess high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.
A number of Coast Guard programs require applicants to have specific ACT, SAT, or ASVAB scores. Also, many colleges and universities use the ACT as one indicator among others – class rank, high school GPA, extracurricular activities, personal essay, and teacher recommendations – of a student's readiness to do college-level work. However, most colleges and universities admit military personnel to their programs without requiring either ACT or SAT scores.
Test Organization
|
CONTENT |
# OF QUESTIONS |
time allowed |
|---|---|---|
|
English (grammar) |
75 |
45 minutes |
|
Mathematics |
60 |
60 minutes |
|
Reading (comprehension) |
40 |
35 minutes |
| Science | 40 | 35 minutes |
|
total |
215 |
175 minutes |
There's also a separate, 30-minute writing test which you may want to take. However, this test isn't funded by DANTES. To take it, you'll have to take the National ACT Test Plus Writing test. This means taking it at a national test center (i.e., not on base with your ESO) and paying for the ACT and the writing test yourself. The current cost is $48.
Read/download Preparing for the ACT and Taking the ACT for more information about the test. Be sure to carefully review the table of contents in each, so you don't miss something that could be important to you.
Ordering the Test
ESOs who are DANTES Test Control Officers (TCOs) can obtain and administer the ACT at their units at any time. Be aware, however, that the company which owns the ACT tells ESOs to allow 30 days for delivery. To make sure your ESO actually has the test before your scheduled test date, request it at least five weeks before the date you want to take it.
Cost
Military personnel (both regular and Reserve) may take the ACT at DANTES military test sites throughout the country. There is no charge for the first test, but you must pay for all subsequent tests. Unfortunately, DANTES military test sites are not allowed to offer the ACT to anyone but uniformed military personnel. Although there is an ACT Writing Test, it is not offered at military test sites or paid for by DANTES.
DANTES will generally only fund one administration of either the ACT or the SAT. There are two exceptions, however:
-
you plan to apply to more than one school or program and need both ACT and SAT scores,
-
you're transferring to another institution and the alternate test is required.
Results
The results of the ACT are available between two and four weeks after test is returned for scoring.
ACT Preparation Resources
Free eKnowledge ACT preparation software is available through contributions from NFL and MLB players, as well as many other organizations.
If you received the software last year, you’ll need to get a free upgrade. While the software is free (retail price $200), you must pay $13.84, which covers the cost of technical and customer support, registration, licensing, processing, handling, and worldwide shipping.
Parents of high school students applying for college next year should get this software early, so their children can begin preparing ASAP.
There are also many on-line resources. Here are a few :
Compare the SAT with the ACT