About the ACT

On December 10th and 11th, some Northwest High School students took the ACT to help prepare them for the future. 

There are 4 subjects that are obligatory: reading, English, math, and science. The reading test is 35 minutes, English is 45 minutes, math is 60 and science is 35 minutes. You take the test by answering questions from the packet you receive and by filling in an answer bubble sheet.

There are a few items you are required to have: an acceptable photo ID, a number 2 pencil and the administration ticket. You can bring things like a calculator for the math section, but all questions can be completed without the need for a calculator. You can also bring a timing device like a non-digital watch, but you must lay it on a flat surface the test proctor can see. You are also allowed to bring a snack that you are able to eat only during the break period. There are a few students at Northwest who had taken the ACT before. Nick Jackson is a junior who took the test during his sophomore year and is planning to take it again this year. Jackson said, “It is generally a good idea to take the ACT twice, You will generally do better than your first.” 

An optional test you can take on the ACT is the writing test. The writing test is a 40 minute test period where you get a prompt and write an article about it. Some people don’t have to take this test because of their plan for college, but it’s all up to the test taker to decide if they want to. You would need to pay an extra fee to take the writing test and the ACT website will have pricing and other information. Sophia Berger, a junior, took the writing test. Berger said, “The prompt itself wasn’t too bad, and it was pretty easy to start coming up with ideas on the spot.”

For those who are interested in taking the ACT, they can go to the ACT website to find the registration deadline, test date, registration and other information or questions they have. ACT is a very important thing for those who are interested in registering for college and it’s highly recommended to try to take it as soon as possible in your junior year. According to the ACT website, “Taking the ACT test can increase your chances of earning new or better scholarships.” Kenny Chu, a graduate of Northwest High School, also took the ACT. He says, “It proves how much you can accomplish with a time limit and gives colleges a good judge on how well you will perform in college.”