5 Vital Reasons Why You Should Take the ACT

Most people don't find standardized testing enjoyable; in fact, the opposite is true. Why then take the ACT? Is it an improved option over the SAT, too? You might be wondering if it's still worthwhile to take the ACT if you've heard that several universities have test optional policies (either temporarily or permanently) due to the coronavirus outbreak. You can decide whether or not you should take the ACT by reading this blog.  

Standardized test results are crucial for getting into colleges, but they also have worth outside of that. For example, taking the ACT might net you thousands of dollars in financial aid or perhaps a job! Here are the top five justifications for taking the ACT.

#1: Most Colleges Require Test Scores

There are, indeed, some colleges that don't require scores—schools that are test-optional or even completely test-blind. Test-optional policies became much more popular as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, when many students couldn't take the ACT or SAT. Most schools became test optional only temporarily, but some have decided to make it a permanent change.

In that case, why should you take the ACT? Well, most colleges still want to see how you scored on the SAT or ACT. Even if a school is test optional, having a strong test score will boost your application and help you stand out from the crowd. If you decide not to take the ACT, it can limit the colleges you're able to apply to and cause you to lose out on a chance to make your application even more impressive.  

#2: There Are Scholarships for High Scorers

Many schools award merit-based financial aid to students, and test scores are often one of the most important factors in determining which students get scholarships and which don't. Even if the schools you're applying to are test optional, they may still require test scores for financial aid. Because financial aid packages are often worth tens of thousands of dollars, it'd be well worth your time to take the ACT, even if it's not technically required.  

#3: Your State or High School Might Require It

Surprise! Even if the colleges you're applying to don't require the ACT, you still might end up taking it if your high school requires it or if you live in one of the states that requires the ACT. In these cases, you'll take the ACT at school, during the school day. You can send scores from these in-school tests to colleges the same way you would with any other ACT scores, but you also aren't required to send them if you aren't happy with how you did on the test.  

#4: Some Jobs Require Test Scores

This may seem odd, and it's certainly a newer trend. Still, some potential bosses want to see data from the SAT or ACT before they hire you.

This doesn't just apply to test prep jobs, either; this requirement pops up in consulting and finance-related jobs, too. And, according to the Wall Street Journal, it's getting more common.

How much better, then, to get it taken care of now, rather than scrambling to take the test when an employer asks for scores unexpectedly? (Answer: A lot better.)

#5: The ACT Might Suit You Better Than the SAT

Now, if you decide to take a standardized test, you have options. The ACT's rival is the SAT, and, despite what you might think, there are actually some significant differences between the two tests. Here's a summary of four key differences:  

The ACT Has a Science Section

The SAT incorporates some scientific passages in its test, but there's no all-out science section. The ACT's science section contains 40 questions and accounts for a quarter of your final ACT score. Despite its name, ACT Science focuses on graph and data interpretation rather than scientific facts like what photosynthesis is or the parts of a cell. So if graphs, charts, and data are your thing—use the ACT as an opportunity to show off those skills!

The ACT Has Less Algebra and More Geometry

In regard to math content, both the ACT and SAT  have a big emphasis on algebra. However, the ACT also tests certain math topics and skills that the SAT doesn’t focus on as much.

The ACT has a much larger focus on geometry, which makes up about 30-45% of ACT Math. In contrast, geometry accounts for less than 10% of SAT Math questions. Additionally, trigonometry accounts for about 7% of the ACT but less than 5% of the SAT, so there's a slightly larger emphasis of trig on the ACT than there is on the SAT.  

The ACT also tests a few concepts that the SAT doesn’t test at all, such as matrices, graphs of trig functions, and logarithms.

Which math section you prefer is largely a matter of your preferences and individual strengths. If you're not a fan of algebra, but you do really with geometry and trigonometry, opt for the ACT. If you're unsure, taking practice tests of both the SAT and ACT math sections and comparing your scores is a great way to get a sense for which one you feel more comfortable with.

The ACT Has No Grid-in Questions

If you love multiple choice, especially for math, you might want to stick with the ACT. The SAT, though mostly multiple choice, has student-produced response questions, or grid-ins, which are math questions where you must fill in your own answer. In other words, there's no guessing "C" and hoping for the best on these questions; you'll have to enter a numerical value to answer them.

The SAT contains a total of 13 grid-in questions across the No Calculator (five grid-ins) and Calculator (eight grid-ins) subsections. By contrast, ACT Math only has multiple-choice questions. If you’re not a fan of math questions that don't offer you any answer choices, the ACT might be the better choice for you.

The ACT Allows Calculators Throughout the Math Test

The SAT Math section has a calculator subsection (38 questions) and a no-calculator subsection (20 questions). The ACT only has one math section, and you can use a calculator for all of it. The no-calculator questions on the SAT are generally the kind a calculator wouldn't help much on anyway, but, still, if you really rely on having those buttons to push, or just hate doing calculations by hand, the ACT is your test.

Conclusion: Why Take the ACT?

In this blog, we discussed a number of reasons why you should take the ACT. They are:

#1: Colleges typically require test scores
#2: A high score can net you financial aid money
#3: Your school or state might require you to take the ACT
#4: Your job might require test scores
#5: You expect to score higher on the ACT than the SAT

If you decide to take the ACT for any of these reasons, make sure you spend time studying. Your level of comfort will be much higher if you prepare ahead of time—and, most likely, your results will be better, too!

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