act essay 2021

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Are you taking the ACT with Writing? No need to stress! The ACT essay follows a predictable format, which means you can practice and prepare beforehand. Take a look at a sample ACT writing prompt and learn five key steps to penning a high-scoring essay.

Keep in mind: The ACT writing essay is optional. Currently, only 27 colleges and universities require the ACT with Writing. You can see the complete list  here . If there is any chance that you might apply to one of those schools, you should register for the ACT with Writing. Not sure where you will apply? You should strongly consider signing up for the essay and keep your options open.

ACT with Writing: Sample Prompt

This example writing prompt comes straight from our book ACT Prep :

Education and the Workplace

Many colleges and universities have cut their humanities departments, and high schools have started to shift their attention much more definitively toward STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and away from ELA (English, Language Arts). Representatives from both school boards and government organizations suggest that the move toward STEM is necessary in helping students to participate in a meaningful way in the American workplace. Given the urgency of this debate for the future of education and society as a whole, it is worth examining the potential consequences of this shift in how students are educated in the United States.

Read and carefully consider these perspectives. Each suggests a particular way of thinking about the shift in American education.

Write a unified, coherent essay in which you evaluate multiple perspectives on the issue of how schools should balance STEM and ELA subjects. In your essay, be sure to:

• analyze and evaluate the perspectives given
• state and develop your own perspective on the issue
• explain the relationship between your perspective and those given

Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of the others, in partial agreement, or wholly different. Whatever the case, support your ideas with logical reasoning and detailed, persuasive examples.

How to Write the ACT Essay

Your job is to write an essay in which you take some sort of position on the prompt, all while assessing the three perspectives provided in the boxes. Find a way to anchor your essay with a unique perspective of your own that can be defended and debated, and you are already in the upper echelon of scorers.

Step 1: Work the Prompt

What in the prompt requires you to weigh in? Why is this issue still the subject of debate and not a done deal?

Step 2: Work the Perspectives

Typically, the three perspectives will be split: one for , one against , and one in the middle . Your goal in Step 2 is to figure out where each perspective stands and then identify at least one shortcoming of each perspective. For the example above, ask yourself: 

• What does each perspective consider?
• What does each perspective overlook?

Read More: What's a Good ACT Score?

Step 3: Generate Your Own Perspective

Now it's time to come up with your own perspective! If you merely restate one of the three given perspectives, you won’t be able to get into the highest scoring ranges. You’ll draw from each of the perspectives, and you may side with one of them, but your perspective should have something unique about it.

Step 4: Put It All Together

Now that you have your ideas in order, here's a blueprint for how to organize the ACT essay. This blueprint works no matter what your prompt is.

Step 5: (If There's Time): Proofread

Spend one or two minutes on proofreading your essay if you have time. You’re looking for big, glaring errors. If you find one, erase it completely or cross it out neatly. Though neatness doesn’t necessarily affect your grade, it does make for a happy grader.

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ACT essay examples

Published August 31, 2021. Updated October 5, 2021.

The ACT essay, or ACT writing test, is a 40-minute, optional section on the ACT that evaluates your writing skills. On this test, you are given a prompt based on a current issue and presented with three different perspectives. Your task is to write an essay that presents your own viewpoint in relation to the other perspectives.

The ACT essay examples on this page will help you understand how to tackle the ACT writing test prompt effectively and successfully balance your perspective with other perspectives.

If you would like the downloadable version, open these ACT essay examples .

In addition to the examples below, you may find it helpful to review the following resource:

• How to write your ACT essay

Example ACT essays for the ACT writing test

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ACT Essay Writing: Planning and Structure

The ACT essay is an integral part of the ACT exam, providing you with an opportunity to showcase your writing skills and analytical thinking. Effectively planning and structuring your ACT essay is crucial for delivering a well-organized and compelling response. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore key strategies for planning and structuring your ACT essay to maximize your chances of success.

 I. Understanding the ACT Essay Format

Before delving into planning and structuring, it's essential to understand the basic format of the ACT essay:

- Prompt: The essay prompt presents a complex issue and three different perspectives on that issue.

- Your Task: Your task is to analyze the three given perspectives, develop your own perspective, and explain the relationship between your perspective and those given.

- Time Limit: You have 40 minutes to complete the essay.

 II. Planning Your ACT Essay

 a. read the prompt carefully.

1. Identify the Issue: Clearly understand the central issue presented in the prompt.

2. Analyze Perspectives: Pay attention to the three perspectives and their nuances.

 b. Formulate Your Perspective

1. Clearly Define Your Position: Develop a clear stance on the issue.

2. Consider Nuances: Think about the shades of complexity within your perspective.

 c. Outline Your Essay

1. Introduction (5 minutes):

   - Thesis Statement: Clearly state your perspective.

   - Briefly Summarize Perspectives: Provide a concise overview of the given perspectives.

2. Body Paragraphs (15 minutes):

   - Address Each Given Perspective: Dedicate a paragraph to each perspective.

   - Provide Analysis: Critically evaluate each perspective and its strengths/weaknesses.

   - Connect to Your Perspective: Explain how each perspective relates to or differs from your own.

3. Counterargument Paragraph (5 minutes):

   - Acknowledge Counterarguments: Address potential counterarguments to your perspective.

   - Reinforce Your Position: Explain why your perspective is still valid despite counterarguments.

4. Conclusion (5 minutes):

   - Summarize Main Points: Recap your main points.

   - Reiterate Your Perspective: Emphasize your stance.

   - Provide a Closing Thought: End with a thought-provoking statement.

 d. Allocate Time Wisely

1. Time Management: Stick to the suggested time allocation for each section.

2. Practice Timing: Practice with timed essays to refine your time management skills.

 III. Structuring Your ACT Essay

 a. introduction.

1. Engaging Opening: Begin with a compelling hook or relevant background information.

2. Clear Thesis Statement: Clearly state your perspective on the issue.

 b. Body Paragraphs (2-3 Paragraphs)

1. Topic Sentence: Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence.

2. Perspective Analysis: Analyze each given perspective, considering its merits and limitations.

3. Connection to Your Perspective: Explain how each perspective aligns or contrasts with your own.

 c. Counterargument Paragraph

1. Address Counterarguments: Acknowledge potential counterarguments.

2. Rebuttal: Offer a rebuttal, reinforcing the validity of your perspective.

 d. Conclusion

1. Summary: Recap the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.

2. Restate Thesis: Reinforce your perspective.

3. Closing Thought: End with a thought-provoking statement that leaves an impact.

 IV. Additional Tips for Success

1. Clarity Over Complexity: Prioritize clarity in your writing. Clearly articulate your ideas.

2. Varied Sentence Structure: Use a mix of sentence structures for added readability.

3. Proofread: Allocate time to review and revise your essay for grammatical accuracy.

 V. Practice Writing Essays

1. Timed Practice: Simulate exam conditions when practicing your essay writing.

2. Seek Feedback: Have peers or teachers provide constructive feedback.

 VI. Conclusion

Mastering the planning and structure of your ACT essay is crucial for achieving a high score. By understanding the format, strategically planning your response, and following a well-organized structure, you enhance your ability to convey your ideas effectively within the given time constraints. With diligent practice and attention to key strategies, you can approach the ACT essay with confidence, showcasing your analytical and writing skills to the best of your ability.

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The ACT Writing: What is the ACT essay, and should your student take it?

April 23, 2021

In the words of Shakespeare, “To take the writing or to not take the writing? That is the question.” Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly what he said, but it’s still a question that plagues many parents and students as they sign up for the ACT. As your cursor hovers over the registration button, you may be wondering if your child needs to opt for the essay section in addition to the full test. The short answer? Probably.

The writing portion of the ACT isn’t required by all schools, but around 300 colleges do require or at least recommend that applicants take it. If your student isn’t exactly sure where he or she wants to apply, then we recommend signing up for the writing to be on the safe side. This ensures that all bases are covered, and you won’t be in a bind if your student adds a last-minute school to their college list. The writing section cannot be taken separately from the ACT test, so you will need to plan for your student to take it along with the full test.

So what does taking the writing portion of the ACT mean?

The writing section is a 40-minute essay where students will showcase their abilities to form and support an argument. The paper-and-pencil test presents one writing prompt that describes a complex issue and gives three different perspectives on that issue.

Registration Fee

There is an extra registration fee to take the writing portion of the ACT. This is currently $16.

Preparation

Preparing to take the writing portion is relatively easy. It requires reading through the grading rubric and sample essays, and writing a few practice essays. Overall, a student should plan to devote a few hours to preparation. The ACT website has great resources to prepare, which can be found here . For parents, our online test prep platform Testive, has a guide just for you . Additionally, here are some tips to tackle the writing:

Fully understand the prompt before beginning the essay.

Plan and outline the essay by writing the thesis and the main idea for each paragraph.

Aim to write at least three pages in the exam booklet.

Write at least five paragraphs (introduction, minimum of three body paragraphs, and conclusion).

Use advanced vocabulary.

Do not criticize perspectives and remain objective.

The ACT writing is scored by two trained readers. Each reader will score the essay on a scale of 1 to 6 in each of the four writing domains. Each domain score represents the sum of the two readers' scores. The grading rubric can be found here . A score of 8 or more on the writing is exceptionally good, with 6 as the average score. The table below details the percentiles for each score and gives an idea for what range your student should target.

What about the SAT?

The ACT added the writing section in response to the SAT essay to keep the two tests equivalent. The main difference was that the SAT essay was required while the ACT writing was optional. This has now changed, however. In January of 2021, the College Board announced that after June 2021, it would no longer be offering the essay portion of the SAT.

That’s it! Hopefully you have a better idea of whether or not your student should take the ACT essay. If your student needs assistance preparing for the essay or other sections of the tests, contact us today.

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The Official Act Prep Guide 2020 - 2021, (Book + 5 Practice Tests + Bonus Online Content) 1st Edition

The only guide from the ACT organization, the makers of the exam, with 5 genuine, full-length practice tests in print and online.

The Official ACT Prep Guide 2020-2021 is the only guide from the makers of the exam and it includes actual ACT test forms (taken from past ACT exams). It offers 5 actual ACT tests (all with optional writing tests) so you can practice at your own pace. To help you review, this guide provides detailed explanations for every answer and practical tips on how to boost your score on the English, math, reading, science, and optional writing tests.

The test creators also created online resources accessible through this book. You can practice online with 5 full length practice tests to mimic the test day experience. These test questions can be organized, filtered, and tracked to test your exam performance.

Get ready for test day with this bestselling guide to the ACT. The Official ACT Prep Guide 2020-2021 will help you feel comfortable, confident, and prepared to do your best to ace the ACT!

The Official ACT Prep Guide 2020-2021 includes:

• Information about the September 2020 ACT enhancements
• Real ACT test forms used in previous years’ exams
• Five full-length tests available in the book and online, including one NEW full-length test with optional writing test
• Online practice that mimics the testing experience
• Customizable questions bank with detailed answer explanations
• Helpful advice for test day.
• ISBN-10 1119685761
• ISBN-13 978-1119685760
• Edition 1st
• Publisher Wiley
• Publication date April 21, 2020
• Part of series Official ACT Prep Guide
• Language English
• Dimensions 8.5 x 2.2 x 10.8 inches
• Print length 976 pages
• See all details

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From the Publisher

You Got This: A Breakdown Of The ACT Scores

So, you've decided to take the act test - great choice.

The ACT is the leading US college admissions test, giving college admission departments a deeper look into your capabilities as a student and how prepared you are for college. In fact, some say your ACT scores hold greater value than your GPA in college admissions, so it's important to know how scores are measured, what to aim for, and how colleges and universities view your results.

First, Breathe

The ACT could very well be your ticket into the school of your dreams (no pressure!). You probably already have a good idea of what you're going to be tested on, but with so much riding on one test, it doesn't hurt to take a moment to review what's on the ACT.

Quick ACT Refresher:

• Math: Number & Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, Statistics & Probability, Modeling, and more
• English: Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, rhetoric
• Reading: Comprehension
• Science: Questions surrounding scientific charts, graphs, and research
• Writing: Essay (optional and does not contribute to your composite score)

It Doesn't Hurt to Guess:

• Read the question more than once.
• Eliminate the most outlandish choices.
• Analyze your remaining options.
• Select the best two options and then choose one.

Keep in Mind:

Although your scores will reflect your own strengths and areas of needed improvement, here are a few general things to keep in mind:

• A composite score of 21 is average.
• A composite score of 16 or below is considered low.
• Scores are solely based on the number of correct answers, so even if you don't know an answer, you should take a chance and guess.

The ACT is scored comprehensively, which means that each section is tallied individually and then averaged to create your composite score. Scores are intended to show your academic development and achievement, which means they are unique to each student.

Your Composite Score

Each section is graded on a scale of 1 to 36. This means your number of correct answers converts to a score that ranges from 1 to 36 for each of the four tests (English, math, reading, and science). Your composite score is the average of the scores on these sections. Remember, the writing section does not contribute to your composite score.

If you decide to take the writing test, your essay will be scored on a scale of 1 to 6 by two expert readers in each of the four writing domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions.

Readers will assess how well you applied these four domains, which represent the essential skills and abilities you need to meet the writing demands of college. To break it down a bit more, the writing test is intended to see how well you can:

• State ideas and introduce other perspectives.
• Develop ideas with supporting evidence.
• Organize your thoughts logically.
• Express ideas through proper English.

If the readers disagree by more than one point, a third reader will be called in to evaluate the essay for fairness. The two scores for each domain will be added together, and your total writing score is the average of your four domain scores rounded to the nearest whole number.

National Averages:

• English: 20.3
• Reading: 21.3
• Science: 20.8
• Composite: 21
• Writing: 17.2

Making Sense of Your Scores

After you've taken the ACT, your scores are analyzed, calculated, and reported on your ACT Student Score Report. Here's how to make sense of it all and see where you stand:

• Correct answers are counted in each of the four subjects. You will also see college readiness information so you can tell if your scores meet or fall short of these expectations.
• Your composite score is determined by averaging the scores from each of the four subject areas (not including your writing score). You can see how well you did in each subject by viewing the detailed results which show the total number and types of questions asked, how many you got right, and the percentage of correct answers.
• You can compare your scores to US and state rankings broken down by composite and subject scores.

The Waiting Game

You can view your scores online as soon as two weeks after taking the ACT. Score reports are released within three to eight weeks after the test date.

If you take the writing test, your score report will be available only after ALL of your scores - including your writing score - are ready, usually within five to eight weeks after taking the test.

Sending Your Scores

You can automatically send your ACT score report to four schools for free, if you select this option at the time of registration. You can always add more schools after you complete the exam and receive your scores.

ACT scores aren't the only thing schools look at, but they are usually high on the list for Admissions, Course Placement, Academic Advising, Scholarships, and Financial Aid.

Editorial Reviews

From the inside flap.

• Information about the new enhancements to the ACT
• The only guide to include real ACT Tests
• 5 full-length tests in the book and online
• Online practice that mimics your testing experience
• Customizable item bank
• Review the entire ACT test content so you'll know what to expect on test day
• Understand the procedures you'll follow when you're taking the ACT
• Prepare for the types of questions you can expect to find on the test
• Adopt test-taking strategies that are right for you

The Official ACT Prep Guide 2020-2021 is the best resource to prepare you for test day. By using this guide you can feel comfortable that you're prepared to do your best.

From the Back Cover

• Information about the new enhancements to the A CT ®
• The only guide to include real ACT ® Tests
• Review the entire ACT ® test content so you'll know what to expect on test day
• Understand the procedures you'll follow when you're taking the ACT ®

The Official ACT ® Prep Guide 2020-2021 is the best resource to prepare you for test day. By using this guide you can feel comfortable that you're prepared to do your best!

About the Author

ACT (Iowa City, IA) is a not-for-profit organization providing assessment, research, information, and program management services to support education and workforce development. Known most widely as the makers of the ACT exam--the college readiness and placement assessment taken by some 1.8 million high school students each year--ACT produces a number of assessments and services reaching more than 10 million people along the kindergarten through career continuum. ACT's rigorous research informs policy decisions and helps develop programs that boost lifelong learning potential in schools and workplaces around the world. To learn more, visit www.act.org.

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley; 1st edition (April 21, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 976 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1119685761
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1119685760
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 10 - 12
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.11 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 2.2 x 10.8 inches
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Free ACT Official Practice Test PDFs and Answer Explanations

This page contains professionally-written answer explanations to the freely available, official ACT practice tests floating around on the internet.

Depending on the year, either the ACT or the SAT is the most popular college admissions test in the United States. About 1.3 million students in the graduating class of 2022 took the ACT or an estimated 36% of all graduates in the US .

According to ACT, the best way to improve your score is simply to take the test more than once, which is why we’ve published this guide of free ACT practice tests. Students who took the ACT test multiple times scored an average of nearly 3 points higher than those who took the ACT only one time .

How to Prepare for the ACT Test

Armed with these statistics and over 20 years of experience, we are confident in saying that the best way to prepare for the ACT is:

• Review the tested academic concepts (know your stuff)
• Take full-length practice ACT tests (increase familiarization)
• Stick to timed conditions (build endurance)

Click here to get more tips on how to improve your ACT score .

More Tips for School ACT Prep Teachers

One of the simplest ways to help prepare your students for the ACT is to have them work through the official practice tests on this page—and ensure that they’re learning from their mistakes. But also check out these additional resources:

• How to Teach an ACT or SAT Test Prep Course
• Piqosity Success Coaching for ACT Prep Teachers
• Free ACT Practice Tests from Piqosity

Click here to learn more about Piqosity for educators or schedule a free info call with us.

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Free official act practice tests.

However, the free practice test is not always updated each year; the ACT generally recycles the same test for 2-3 years. You can quickly tell if a test is unique or not by looking at the “Form” number, which is found on the bottom-left corner of each page preceded by the year of publication.

The 2023-2024 “Preparing for the ACT Test” is the newest and most current edition of the ACT’s free student prep guide; however the practice test it contains is from 2021, form 2176CPRE.

Note that we have removed the links to download the PDFs below; but you can easily find them by Googling the Form Name. In September of 2022, ACT started sending us and Google nasty-grams about sharing these freely available tests.

The 3, free full-length official ACT practice test PDFs available for downloading and printing:

Score these ACT practice tests on Piqosity for free! You can now score these official ACT practice tests on Piqosity to access our timing, analytics, and score tracking tools. Simply download the PDF and input your answer results in your account.

There are an additional 4, full free-length official ACT practice tests that are slightly outdated but still useful. They are slightly outdated because in 2015, ACT redesigned the optional essay portion of the exam (Writing Test) and updated how it categorizes questions through the entire test. So if you decide to use the official practice tests below, do not work the essay, and just be aware that official question categorizations are now different.

The 4, slightly outdated official ACT practice test PDFs:

• ACT Practice Test 2014-15 (Form 67C)
• ACT Practice Test 2005-06 (Form 59F)

Free Piqosity Answer Explanations

Although ACT provides free practice tests, they do not provide answer explanations. As such we’ve asked some of our brilliant tutors to write detailed step-by-step answer explanations for the following practice tests. Click through the link below to access the free answer explanations:

• English Answer Explanations from 2021 ACT Practice Test
• Math Answer Explanations from 2021 ACT Practice Test
• Reading Answer Explanations from 2021 ACT Practice Test
• Science Answer Explanations from 2021 ACT Practice Test
• Writing Test Sample Essays from 2021 ACT Practice Test
• English Answer Explanations from 2020 ACT Practice Test
• Math Answer Explanations from 2020 ACT Practice Test
• Reading Answer Explanations from 2020 ACT Practice Test
• Science Answer Explanations from 2020 ACT Practice Test
• Writing Test Sample Essays from 2020 ACT Practice Test
• English Answer Explanations from 2015-2018 ACT Practice Test
• Math Answer Explanations from 2015-2018 ACT Practice Test
• Reading Answer Explanations from 2015-2018 ACT Practice Test
• Science Answer Explanations from 2015-2018 ACT Practice Test
• Writing Answer Explanations from 2015-2018 ACT Practice Test

Piqosity Free ACT Practice Tests & Concept Review

• 1 Mini Diagnostic ACT practice test to quickly gauge your starting point
• 12 full-length (2 free) ACT practice tests which closely mimic the official exam
• 15 hour video course + 70 concept review lessons
• Estimated test day score
• Strengths and weakness analysis
• Step-by-step answer explanations and a community of helpful educators

ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. Piqosity is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by ACT.

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How to Write an ACT Exam?

Your high school GPA may play an important role in your college admission, but the ACT exam may have the final say. What is an ACT exam? The ACT is an entrance exam that most colleges utilize to decide on a candidate's admission. The main purpose of the writing test is to disclose and measure the applicants' readiness for college studies. 

The admission officers review the test score along with your high school GPA to make their final decision. Of course, the classes that you took, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation from your teachers, and your application, where you discuss the high school experience from your own perspective, will be reviewed as well. While the importance of the ACT scores may vary from college to college, the higher the score, the more options for the college enrollment you have. 

The ACT exam consists of four sections that include English, Reading, Math, and Science. Aside from that, the prospective candidates are given forty minutes to do the writing test. Writing an essay can be quite difficult; that's why you need to prepare for it. The good news is that ACT essay examples are available online, and you can view sample in this article as well. So, basically, that's what the ACT exam is about. But let's dive into the details with our dissertation help services team. 

What is the ACT Exam?

The ACT exam 2022 consists of several sections that reveal your knowledge of various school subjects. The ACT exam stands for “American College Test”. It's a multiple-choice test where you have a number of questions and several options of answers. And you need to be ready to give it almost four hours. 

How long is the ACT exam exactly? You have two hours and fifty-five minutes for the multiple-choice test and forty minutes for the writing section. The ACT exam 2022 length gives you enough time to choose the correct answers and dive into your essay, which is quite complex. Basically, in the writing test, you will have to expand on the provided important topic and three different perspectives on it. 

When writing a coherent essay, make sure that you show your abilities in several core aspects. You need to be capable of generating ideas and analyzing them from various perspectives. It's also crucial that you provide pieces of evidence that support your viewpoint. The essay must be organized logically, so the reader can easily slide through the narrative. Finally, proper written language use and conventions are also extremely important. 

The Structure of the ACT Writing Test

If you are planning to pass the ACT exam 2022, you need to know the structure of the exam. First, let's look at the time you're given for completing each section, as well as the number of questions each ACT section has. What is the ACT exam, if not an exercise on time management? You have to plan basically every minute while you're taking it. Let's divide the ACT exam length for every section:

How to Write an Act Exam

All in all, you have 3 hours and 35 minutes for the ACT exam, meaning that you have just enough time to go through the test once and mark all of the right answers. Aside from it, students have a ten-minute break after the Math section and five minutes rest before they start writing the essay. Try doing an ACT practice exam and actually see when you might need breaks. You've already learned the most important aspects of the written ACT exam scoring. Now, let's take a look at each section of the multiple-choice test. 

English Test

The ACT English test consists of 75 questions, and the 45 minutes given for it means that you'll have between 30 and 40 seconds for each writing. This section can be divided into three parts in terms of content:

Conventions of Standard English 

This is by far the largest part of the test, as more than 50% of the test is devoted to the conventions. The questions focus on grammar, syntax, punctuation, and the correct use of words. Here you may be asked to choose the correct verb or tense. This part focuses on the general rules of English, so you don't have to write essays, sharing your own perspective on world problems or books.

Production of Writing

Around 30% of the test is devoted to the production of writing. Here, students are given passages from the various texts to check how good they are at seeing the big picture. You must choose the correct answer based on the tone or purpose of the passage. Questions in this section also concern the literary style and strategies used by the author. 

You may need to also know what is diversity essay while preparing for the exams.

Knowledge of Language

This is the smallest part of the English test, as its share ranges between 10% and 20%. This segment focuses on style, tone, and precision. 

The Math test may seem to be a bit too easy at the beginning. But that's because it's arranged in order of difficulty. Basically, you can say that out of sixty questions; the first twenty are quite easy. The next twenty questions are of medium difficulty, while the last twenty questions are the most difficult ones. Check an ACT practice exam to see at what point you really start to struggle with the questions so that you have an idea of what to review. Now, let's see the percentages that each math topic has in the test:

• Pre-algebra - accounts for 20%-25% of questions;
• Elementary algebra - ranges between 15% to 20% of questions;
• Intermediate algebra - up to 20% of questions;
• Coordinate geometry - takes 15%-20% of questions;
• Plane geometry - around 25% of questions;
• Trigonometry - ranges between 5% to 10% of questions;

The good thing is that the ACT exam allows using a calculator, so you don't have to waste a lot of time if you are not the brightest in terms of calculation. 

Reading Test

The reading test has a lot in common with the production of writing questions in the English test. In this section, students are given passages from texts and questions about the passages. You may be asked to identify the author's attitude toward the main subject of the passage. The meaning of this or that word in the context of the passage. The main idea of the body paragraphs. The meaning of the phrase or the function this or that sentence serves within the text. The important part is that you don't have to develop your unique perspective of the text - this is the part of the test that measures your ability to analyze given information without adding your own perspective on the issue.

Science Test

The Science section includes topics like biology, chemistry, space and earth sciences, and physics. You may be asked to pick the right conclusion from the options you have for graphs and diagrams. The section includes questions on conflicting viewpoints. Here, students are provided with a description of a certain phenomenon with several hypotheses on its explanation. Then you need to choose which assumption reflects the notion provided in the questions. 

How to Improve Your Writing Skills?

Considering the ACT exam dates 2022, you still have time to practice the ability to discuss ideas and convey arguments with clarity - improve your writing skills for the essay. You don't know the topic you’ll get, so deciding to buy an essay paper won't be that helpful. But there are a few things that you can do to improve your writing for the ACT exam. 

• Read and write - if you do it frequently, you won't have problems with the test;
• Get familiar with current social issues and various opinions on them;
• Taking debate classes will prepare you for the essay;
• Try writing extracurricular activities, like creative writing clubs;
• Share your writing with others;

Basically, improving your writing can be shaped into a simple formula: read-write-repeat. Read how other people write and try writing yourself. That will master the style and improve your ACT exam scoring. You can try blogging to master your skills. As for the organization of your writing, you can always seek advice from your English teachers and generate productive ideas. Asking your classmates and friends what they think of your writing can also help greatly. Just remember that no one is born with perfect writing skills. You can achieve it only through practice. 

Use our free Plagiarism Checker!

How to Write an ACT Essay?

After all, despite the complexity of the ACT exam 2022 multiple-choice tests, the essay task remains the most difficult part of it. You might have checked ACT essay examples, but writing one yourself in a short time of 40 minutes can be quite stressful. You need to have a strategy for writing. So, here are the steps that can help you. 

• Devote around ten minutes to planning your essay. 
• Think of the way you're going to organize it. 
• Read the one writing prompt and the multiple perspectives, and choose the one you're going to work on. If you check an example ACT essay, you know what to do. 
• Brainstorm the ideas and analysis, as well as supporting pieces of evidence you can provide. 
• Picture the structure of your essay, and then devote 30 minutes to writing it so that you will have just enough time on the test day. 

You want to know how to write Common App Essay Prompts 2022-2023? We encourage you to check out the fresh topics in our article.

ACT Essay Sample

Finally, we are getting to something you can build your essay on. So, you are to get a prompt with three different perspectives on it, and you need to choose which one of them you're going to write your essay, just like the example ACT essay. Let's imagine that the writing prompt you get will be on cancel culture, as shown in many of last year's ACT essay examples.

"Cancel or callout culture is a tradition of removing the support for certain individuals or their work based on their actions or opinions that can be considered objectionable. Traditionally, individuals are called out on social media, which leads to the general awareness of their perceived offense. In most cases, canceling takes the form of pressuring organizations to prevent the subject of the canceling from public appearances. When it comes to business, it can include boycotting their products" — that's what the writing prompt may look like. 

So Much Homework That You Don't Have Time to Prepare for the ACT?

Delegate the part of your homework to our paper writers for hire , and spend your time preparing for the ACT exam. Let the professionals do the paperwork while focusing on important things!

Now, let's check the three perspectives that you can be provided to defeat the ACT exam scoring system:

Perspective 1:

Cancel culture allows marginalized people to hold their tormentors accountable via public opinion when the justice system fails them. Movements like #metoo allowed numerous women and men to call out their abusers. The cancel culture leads to a safer world, free from abuse of various forms. 

Perspective 2:

While the cancel culture allows people to call out their abusers, we cannot disregard the fact that certain people can use it for their own benefit. The culture leads to people being canceled based on proofless claims, which turns the anti-abuse campaign into witch-hunting. 

Perspective 3:

Cancel culture may lead to a change in power but is ultimately unproductive when it comes to social change. As soon as it became big, it turned into simply casting stones at each other. While we may think that it leads to social justice, it's just engaging in the social media frenzy that doesn't affect real life. 

So, here you have the complex issue and three perspectives on it. First, you need to analyze and organize ideas of everything you know about the cancel culture. Think about the examples that you are acquainted with well. Then, examine each of the perspectives presented to you. Think which one is closest to your own thoughts about the issue. Alternatively, you can choose the perspective that you can support with more pieces of evidence. 

You start your essay with an analysis of the cancel culture as a whole. Then you should move to one of the perspectives given. There, you can expand and convey arguments on the topic by providing your own viewpoint. Your viewpoint must be supported by pieces of evidence. Regardless of the perspective you've chosen, in the case of cancel culture, the Harvey Weinstein and Depp vs. Heard cases will surely have something to do with it. Then you finish your essay with a logical conclusion. 

Don't forget that there must be a logical transition between the passages of your essay. The next passage must expand on the information provided in the preceding one. Your viewpoint must be followed by the supporting evidence. Here’s a sample of an essay that uses perspective two as the foundation: Here you go the ACT exam sample:

Is the ACT Essay Optional?

If you checked the ACT exam dates 2022, you have several months to prepare yourself. The first exam will occur on September 10, 2022, while the last one in the calendar year will be held on December 10, 2022. The biggest question that bugs students is whether the essay is optional. Yes, it is.  Moreover, not every college requires applicants to write an optional ACT essay.

Another important thing is that the total ACT exam scoring is not affected by your essay score. Some colleges think writing the ACT test gives candidates a more rounded score. So, all in all, the essay score matters only together with your multiple-choice results. So, why bother writing the essay at all? 

If you are highly competitive, you should try your hand in the ACT writing section. To prepare for it, you can follow the instructions given in this article and read through the ACT essay examples. If you are a mid-range student, you can opt for the writing test, but you should stress out about it, considering that many colleges do not require completing this section. Less competitive students should avoid the ACT writing test and stick to the multiple-choice test. The only reason they should take it is if the college board requires the essay for admission. 

How to Pass ACT with Flying Colors?

Now that we have discussed the ACT exam meaning, you can realize that it is not an easy task, but it's not that difficult either. Given all the information provided here, you know what to expect from the multiple-choice test and the writing portion, and you already know the ACT exam scoring system. ACT exam dates 2022 are approaching, but there is nothing to be scared of. Check the ACT essay examples , read through test tips once again, solve a few training tests, think about the logical structure of your essay, and keep the scoring rubric in mind- now you are ready to go and take the test without fearing the final score!

Let the experts do the work while preparing for the ACT!

You just can't get it all, so don't compromise and get the best of your last few months of school! Graduate with a great GPA by delegating some of the tasks to our experts while you'll be spending time getting ready for the big test! If you need essay help , just give us your requirements and we'll give you a hand asap.

Perhaps you need some nursing or psychology essay writing service ? Do not hesitate to contact us! Our team is always ready to help.

Pass Your Exams with Flying Colors!

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Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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Convert Your Score | © 2021

ACT-SAT Score Conversion & Comparison

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The ACT-SAT* Score Conversion & Information Supersite

If you took the sat ….

Enter your SAT composite score to get your ACT equivalent.

If you took the ACT …

Enter your ACT Composite Score and get your SAT equivalent.

The Tests to Take to Get into American Colleges

Welcome college counselors, admissions officers, parents, and high school students in the Class of 2022, Class of 2023, Class of 2024, and Class of 2025 to convertyourscore.org!

You’ve arrived at the world’s authoritative SAT-ACT conversion tool and information resource. Academically-oriented colleges in the United States require that students submit scores from one of two standardized tests – the SAT and the ACT – in order to be considered for admission. Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are important to such American colleges and universities because they are standardized – unlike high school grades and extracurricular activities, which will vary greatly from school to school and student to student. While there is much debate these days as to whether or not success on the SAT or ACT is a reliable predictor of how a student will perform during his or her freshman year of college, students can’t get wrapped up in the latest academic debates on the matter. For the foreseeable future colleges that prize academic excellence will continue to judge applicants and their perceived potential based on their scores on the SAT or ACT. If you want to have the most college options, you should plan to take the SAT and/or ACT and do well on at least one of them.

The good news is that all American colleges and universities that require submission of standardized test scores as a part of a student’s application will consider a student’s score on the SAT or ACT. Colleges look at your success on these tests as interchangeable – even though the tests assess your skills and knowledge quite differently. Thus, you need to be strategic about which tests to take and when to take them in order to ultimately submit to colleges your best scores.

Many students, depending on their particular strengths and weaknesses, will perform much better on one test or the other. Consequently, prepared students should study for both tests by purchasing and completing timed practice tests included in the latest editions of The Official SAT Study Guide and The Official ACT Prep Guide . Next, students should sign up for and take the SAT and ACT at least once each in order to gauge which test casts them in the best light.

How do the ACT and SAT Differ?

The SAT assesses students in the areas of Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (EBRW) and Math (M). There is also an optional essay in its own section. The ACT tests students in English (E), Math (M), Reading (R), and Science (S). On the ACT there is also an optional essay.

The ACT’s sections are broken down as follows:

• English: 75 questions/45 minutes
• Mathematics: 60 questions/60 minutes
• Reading: 40 questions/35 minutes
• Science: 40 questions/35 minutes
• Optional Writing: 1 essay prompt/40 minutes

The required sections of the ACT take 2 hours and 55 minutes. If you opt to take the optional Writing (essay) section, you will add an extra 40 minutes to the end of your test. The key concepts tested on each section of the ACT are as follows:

• English: Usage/Mechanics and Rhetorical Skills
• Mathematics: Pre-Algebra and Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra and Coordinate Geometry, and Plane Geometry and Triginometry
• Reading: Arts and Literature and Social Studies and Sciences
• Science: Data Representations, Research Summaries, and Conflicting Viewpoints
• Optional Writing: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions

The SAT’s four sections proceed as follows:

• Reading Test: 52 questions/65 minutes
• Writing and Language Test: 44 questions/35 minutes
• Math Test – No Calculator (Multiple Choice + Student Produced Response): 20 questions/25 minutes
• Math Test – Calculator Permitted (Multiple Choice + Student Produced Response): 38 questions/55 minutes

The four sections of the SAT take 3 hours to complete. The key concepts tested on each section of the SAT are:

• Reading Test: Command of Evidence, Words in Context, and Analysis of Social Studies/Science
• Writing and Language Test: Same as Reading Test + Expression of Ideas and Standard English Conventions
• Math Test – No Calculator (Multiple Choice + Student Produced Response): Linear Equations and Systems, Quantitative Skills, and some Geometry and Trigonometry
• Math Test – Calculator Permitted (Multiple Choice + Student Produced Response): Same as first Math Test + Manipulation of Complex Equations

How the ACT and SAT are Scored Today

On both the SAT and ACT there is a difference between raw points earned versus scaled points earned. Basically, raw points are earned for correct answers. On both tests no raw points are deducted for multiple choice questions answered incorrectly or left blank.

Yet, the testing agencies responsible for the SAT and ACT hardly make things simple because they don’t report to you your raw score (at least not directly in top-level summaries available on score reports). Instead they put your raw scores in the oven – they cook them! Instead of calling your final scores on these tests your cooked scores, they call them your scaled scores. Receiving cooked scores probably would rub people the wrong way. Go figure. Yet, how the SAT and ACT cook their scores is completely different. The SAT inflates and the ACT deflates.

The lowest score one can earn on each of the three sections of the SAT is 200. To earn a 200 on one section of the SAT would mean that you answered no questions right and a lot of questions wrong. Thus, 200 is a very rare score to get on any section of the SAT. A 200 still sounds better than 0 to the man on the street, so congrats if you get a 200. Thus, the lowest potential combined score one can get on the two main sections of the SAT is a 400.

Alternatively, if you get every SAT question right (or nearly every question on some test administration dates), you can earn as high as 800 points on each section. Thus, the highest combined score one can earn on the SAT is 1600. Now that’s hot stuff!

The average scores for Americans taking the test come in at just above or below 500 per section depending on the year or exact test date of administration.

Meanwhile, the ACT has a scaled score that looks completely different, first because there are more sections, and second because when you go out to lunch with someone you don’t just want to rattle off the sum of your section scores like you would with the SAT. Remember, if somebody earned a 630 Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and 700 Math on the SAT, they would most likely be overheard saying something like, “So, guess what? I just found out that I got a 1330 on the SAT! Can you believe how awesome I am?” When referring colloquially to your greatness as it relates to your ACT score, you speak a bit differently. You share your average score of all the sections that make up the test. This score is referred to as your composite score. The highest composite score one can earn on the ACT is a 36, while the lowest composite score one can theoretically get on the ACT is a 1. So, again, assuming you are out with a friend after checking your scores online, you would say something like, “Oh my gosh! I just logged in and I got a 30!” For the student in this example to get a 30 means that he or she got section scores that averaged out to 30. So, for instance, he or she may have gotten a 29 on the English section a 33 on the Math section, a 28 on the Reading section, and a 31 on the Science section.

29+33+28+31 = 121 / 4 = 30.25

Please note from the example above that ACT will only round up to the next highest round number starting at X.50; therefore, a score of 30.25 is reported as a 30.

What About My Essay/Writing Score?

Note that in the above example we have not mentioned the student’s ACT Writing score, which on the ACT is synonymous with a test taker’s essay score. This is because a student’s Writing (essay) score does not affect his or her composite score in any way.

The ACT has two readers review your essays, and each reader gives your essay a score between 1 and 6 for four distinct domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. Thus, your Writing (essay) score on the ACT is the average of these scores. The full ACT essay-scoring rubric is available here .

Why this Site is Valuable

The scores that matter to most to ALL colleges when comparing how you did on one test versus how you did on the other test are the scores that this site asks you to report and convert above.

First, colleges are comparing your SAT composite (EBRW + M) score to your ACT composite (E + M + R + S) score.

Comparing your SAT and ACT scores is incredibly frustrating if you don’t do it the right way. The above conversion calculators are valuable because they help you see things from the perspective of college admissions officers as they review test scores from students. Your job as a student is to put your best foot forward on your college application. This site helps you do just that by allowing you to gauge which test is your best test.

Not Ever Going to Be a Fan of Standardized Tests?

The number of colleges that don’t require the SAT or ACT is growing as more colleges acknowledge that a student is more than a score and that by removing testing requirements colleges often get a bump in application numbers. During Spring 2020 in particular, many colleges fretted over plunges in future application numbers in response to the Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic and the global economic depression that resulted from governments around the world forcibly destroying their economies. Many colleges, looking at their financial situations, wagered that lowering admissions standards would prevent demand from plunging too far too fast. They were right, and in some cases application numbers increased so much that colleges decided to maintain test-optional admissions policies indefinitely. 

Yet, remember, just because a college doesn’t require applicants to submit their SAT or ACT score in order to considered for admission does not mean that such a college won’t strongly consider your scores if you do choose to submit them. For instance, you can bet the farm that if you choose to apply Early Decision to University of Pennsylvania in Fall 2021 and as part of your application you submit an ACT score of 35, that 35 will help your chances of getting into Penn.

Always check directly with the colleges on your list before applying to make sure you understand their most up to date admissions policies fully.

• Investigations
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Theater roundup: ‘Sister Act’ charms and other noteworthy news locally and nationally

Credit: ECCENTRIC EXPOSURE PHOTOGRAPHY

Hallelujah! Tia Seay is back in the habit!

Having delivered a memorable portrayal of R&B diva-in-hiding Deloris Van Cartier in the Dayton Playhouse’s 2017 production of “Sister Act,” Seay delightfully returns to the feel-good, late 1970s-era material in the polar opposite role of Mother Superior in INNOVAtheatre’s version. Stern yet comical, authoritative yet concerned, the vocally strong Seay wonderfully navigates Mother Superior’s rigidity (“Here Within These Walls” is beautifully rendered) and introspectiveness (“I Haven’t Got a Prayer”).

It’s also great to witness Seay’s inherent chemistry with Wright State University musical theatre student Amirah Musa, who energetically leads this production as the high-spirited, self-absorbed Deloris. Musa particularly dials down the sass to deliver the lovely title tune as a meaningful emotional epiphany complete with a few vocal runs showcasing her inner SZA.

Director Richard Lee Waldeck’s admirable cast, choreographed by Isadore Karrick, includes radiantly sharp Anna Mae Brown as extroverted Sister Mary Patrick, fittingly meek Mary Kate Caserta as introverted Sister Mary Robert, imposing Michael Abner as vengeful Curtis, understated Jake Eyink as Eddie Souther, and the hilarious Nolan Todd as Joey, holding nothing back in his complete adoration for “The Lady in the Long Black Dress.”

“Sister Act” continues through Aug. 25 at the Sorg Opera House, 63 S. Main St., Middletown. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. (Sensory-Friendly Performance) and 8 p.m. (ASL Interpreted Performance) Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 reserved seating advance and $30 premium seating advance. For tickets or more information, visit innovatheatre.com .

Elsewhere in August:

“A Man of No Importance”

Aug. 23-Sept. 1, Beavercreek Community Theatre

Matthew Smith directs the local premiere of this intimate musical by librettist Terrence McNally, composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens (“Ragtime”). The story concerns Alfie Byrne, a bus conductor in 1964 Dublin, “whose heart holds secrets that he can’t share with anyone but his imagined confidante, Oscar Wilde. When he attempts to put on an amateur production of Wilde’s ‘Salome’ in the local church hall, he confronts the forces of bigotry and shame over a love ‘that dare not speak its name.’” 8 p.m. Aug. 23, 24, 30 and 31, and 3 p.m. Aug. 25, 31 and Sept. 1 at Beavercreek Community Theatre, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek. $18-$20. bctheatre.org .

“The Enchanted Cottage”

Aug. 23-Sept. 8, Dayton Theatre Guild

Debra Kent directs Arthur Pinero’s classic 1923 play concerning Oliver, who returns home from World War I carrying physical and emotional battle scars. Situations evolve when he meets a kind but plain woman, leading to whimsical romance. 8 p.m. Aug. 23, 24, 30 and Sept. 6, 5 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 7, and 3 p.m. Aug. 25, Sept. 1 and 8 at the Guild, 430 Wayne Ave., Dayton. $19-$26. 937-278-5993 or daytontheatreguild.org .

“Shear Madness”

Through Sept. 15, La Comedia Dinner Theatre

One of the longest-running plays in the world and seen by more than 14 million people worldwide, German playwright Paul Pörtner’s funny, interactive whodunit involves a suspicious murder at Shear Madness Salon. New clues and quick improvisation promise to keep the script fresh at every performance. Thursday, Friday and Sunday matinees and Thursday-Sunday evenings La Comedia Dinner Theatre, 765 W. Central Ave., Springboro. $39-$79. 937-746-4554 or lacomedia.com .

Tony-nominated Dayton native receives undergraduate degree

2024 has been an exciting year for Dayton native Dorian Harewood.

In May the esteemed actor received his first Tony Award nomination for his outstanding leading performance in composer Ingrid Michaelson and librettist Bekah Brunstetter’s heartwarming, tear-jerking musical adaptation of “The Notebook.” And on Aug. 8, two days after his 74th birthday, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in a special ceremony held at New York’s Bond 45.

CCM conferred Harewood’s BFA in Musical Theatre, officially recognizing his alumnus status. Harewood left the university prior to graduation in 1972 to pursue an offer and his first acting role. CCM offers nearly 120 possible majors, along with a wide variety of pre-collegiate and post-graduate programs. CCM’s Musical Theatre program is notably the oldest in the country and the conservatory is frequently ranked among the top represented colleges on Broadway.

Credit: SEAN KATZ

Harewood debuted on Broadway in 1971 in the musical “Two Gentleman of Verona,” and went on to appear in “Streamers,” “The Mighty Gents” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” He also starred opposite Chita Rivera in the national tour of “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

His extensive film and TV credits include Simon Haley in “Roots: The Next Generation,” the titular role in “The Jesse Owens Story,” Levi Brown in “Sparkle,” and Eightball in “Full Metal Jacket.”

He’s also the recipient of a 1975 Theatre World Award for his portrayal of Clarence in Russell O’Neil’s short-lived thriller “Don’t Call Back,” and a 1994 NAACP Image Award for his portrayal of jazz saxophonist Clarence “Cool Papa” Charleston on the NBC drama “I’ll Fly Away.”

Credit: Photo: Julieta Cervantes

“The Notebook,” co-directed by Dayton native Schele Williams and co-produced by three-time Tony Award-winning Wright State University graduate Joey Monda of Sing Out, Louise! Productions, opened March 14 at New York’s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. In a daring, refreshing twist distinguishing the musical from the popular 2004 film version of Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 novel, the casting unapologetically blends races. As the charming love story of Noah and Allie is told from their late teens to their 70s, three pairs of actors embody the roles.

The musical’s North American tour will launch in Cleveland in September 2025.

About the Author

Russell Florence Jr. is team leader/coordinator of Lifestyles/Dayton.com. He has been an arts/lifestyles reporter for Dayton Daily News since 2012. He formerly served on the Dayton Daily News Community Board of Contributors and assisted the Dayton Daily News Editorial Board. He received his BA in mass communications from Wright State University.

Friday, August 23, 2024

Electricity Regulation Amendment Act which will lead to long-term energy security signed into law

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.Photographer : Phando Jikelo / Parliament of SA

Published Aug 18, 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, which sets out far-reaching reforms of South Africa’s electricity sector, including the establishment of a competitive electricity market.

The bill assented to by Ramaphosa amends the Electricity Regulation Act of 2006 to respond to current realities in the electricity sector and open up pathways to greater competition and reduced energy costs; increase investment in new generation capacity to achieve energy security; establish an independent transmission company as the custodian of the national grid; and impose severe penalties for damage to and sabotage of infrastructure.

Spokesperson to the president, Vincent Magwenya, said the Act provides for the establishment, duties, powers and functions of the Transmission System Operator SOC Ltd (TSO) – which must be established as an independent entity within five years – and for the National Transmission Company of South Africa to act as the TSO in the interim. It also provides for an open market platform that allows for competitive, wholesale or retail buying and selling of electricity.

Magwenya said the Act provides for market operation as a new activity that may be licensed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). In addition, it requires the development of a market code that will establish rules to govern the future competitive market, and outlines the process through which the code will be approved.

He said the Act further clarifies the principles that apply to the setting or approval of prices, charges and tariffs, providing, among others, that Nersa must enable an efficient licensee to recover the full cost of the licensed activity, must allow for a reasonable return proportionate to the risk of the licensed activity, and may provide for incentives for continued improvement of technical and economic efficiency.

Magwenya said as it does so, the regulator may consider factors such as security of supply, the diversity of supply and the promotion of renewable energy.

“The Act distinguishes between tariffs that must be set or approved by the Regulator, such as network charges, and those which are subject to a direct supply agreement or arise as an outcome of a competitive market,” Magwenya said.

He said to ensure a level playing field for competition between multiple electricity generators, the Act provides that the system operator shall not discriminate between different generators or customers in relation to dispatching or balancing the system, except for objectively justifiable and identifiable reasons approved by the Regulator. He further said access to the transmission and distribution power system must be objective, transparent and non-discriminatory.

“These changes are in line with the broader reforms guided by the Energy Action Plan and the Eskom Roadmap, which aim to modernise and transform South Africa’s electricity system to end load shedding and ensure long-term energy security.

“It is anticipated that diversity of supply and the promotion of renewables will stimulate a demand for new skills, innovation and technology in the electricity sector, which will generate new industrial activity and in turn mitigate unemployment,” he said.

Magwenya said reinforcing the protection of public infrastructure as part of the fight against crime, the law provides for fines of up to R1 million or five years in prison, or both, for persons who, among other offences, damage, remove or destroy any transmission, distribution or reticulation cable, equipment or infrastructure.

He said those who unlawfully receive such cables, equipment or infrastructure face fines of up to R5m or 10 years in prison, or both.

“Going forward, the Act will lead to long-term energy security, a more competitive energy system, more rapid uptake of renewable energy sources, and ultimately, lower energy prices for all South Africans,” he said.

Meanwhile, Eskom said load shedding remains suspended, with the power utility delivering 142 consecutive days of uninterrupted power supply since March 26, including 108 days of constant supply throughout the winter period.

“There has been no load shedding since the start of Eskom’s current financial year on April 1. The Generation Operational Recovery Plan continues to enhance efficiencies for Eskom, resulting in a R10.21 billion reduction in open-cycle gas turbines diesel expenditure from April 1, 2024 to August 15, 2024.

“This represents approximately a 74% decrease compared to the same period last year. The last time South Africa experienced over four months of load shedding suspension was more than four years ago, from March 16, 2020 to July 9, 2020, when load shedding was suspended for 116 days. Eskom maintained an average Energy Availability Factor of 67% over the past seven days,” said Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena.

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ACT Test Day

Everything you need to know for the day of the test., what to bring on test day.

Prepare for test day by knowing what to bring and what to leave at home! 

Bring This, Not That

Admission Ticket Print a copy of your admission ticket to bring to the test center. Your ticket contains important registration match information or your online launch code.

Once you have uploaded your photo , you can print your admission ticket in MyACT .

Acceptable Photo identification  Acceptable photo identificatio n is required to be admitted to the test center. You will not be admitted to test if your ID does not meet ACT requirements.

Number 2 pencil 

Bring sharpened, No. 2 pencils with good erasers (no mechanical pencils or ink pens). Do not bring any other writing instruments; you will not be allowed to use them. 

Watch or Other Timing Device You may bring a watch, timer, or stopwatch to pace yourself during testing, but it may not have an alarm. Your watch or other timing device must be removed and placed on your desk while in the test room, so that it remains visible to staff during the test. If an alarm sounds, you’ll be dismissed and your test will not be scored.

Calculator  Bring a  permitted calculator  to be used on the mathematics test only. You are not required to use a calculator at all, but if you do, it is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted.

Snacks You may bring a snack to eat outside the testing room during break.

Don't bring any of these; you can't access them:

• Textbooks, foreign language or other dictionaries, scratch paper, notes, or other aids
• Highlighter pens, colored pens or pencils, or correction fluid/tape
• Any electronic device, other than a permitted calculator and acceptable watch or timing device
• Reading material
• Tobacco in any form

Prohibited devices

The prohibited use of devices is in effect from the time you are admitted to your testing room until you are dismissed at the end of the test, including break times. Specifically: 

• You may not handle or access a cell phone or electronic device at any time in the testing room or during break times. This includes smart watches, fitness bands, and any other devices with recording, Wi-Fi, internet, or communication capabilities.
• All devices, including cell phones and wearable devices, must be turned off and placed out of sight.
• If you access your device or it activates or alarms in the testing room or during break times, you will be dismissed, your test will not be scored, and your phone or device may be taken away.

Calculator Policy

The ACT calculator policy is designed to ensure fairness for all examinees, avoid disturbances in the testing room, and protect the security of the test materials.

ACT recommends bringing a permitted calculator you are familiar with to be used on the mathematics test only. If you test online, a calculator is available in the test platform, but you may still bring a calculator to use. It is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted.

CAS Calculator FAQs

Acceptable Forms of ID

Current official photo id.

Must be an original, current (valid) ID issued by a city/state/federal government agency or your school.

ID must be in hard plastic card format. Paper or electronic formats are NOT acceptable.

You must use the name on your ID to register to test and the photo ID must be clearly recognizable as you.

ACT Student Identification Form with photo 

You MUST present this ACT Student Identification Form (PDF) with photo if you do not have a current official photo ID as described above. This document must be fully completed by a school official or notary public; neither may be a relative.

Unacceptable Forms of ID

You will not be admitted to test if you present any forms of ID other than those listed as acceptable. The following are examples of unacceptable identification:

• ACT ticket alone
• Birth certificate
• ChildFind ID card
• Credit, charge, bank or check cashing cards, even with photo
• Family portrait or graduation picture, even if the name is imprinted on the photo
• Fishing or hunting license
• ID issued by an employer
• ID letter that is not an official ACT identification form
• Learner's driving permit (if it doesn't include a photo)
• Temporary/replacement driver's license (if it doesn't include a photo)
• Organization membership card
• Passport or other photo ID so old that the person presenting it cannot be identified
• Personal recognition by anyone, including members of the test center staff, classmates, parents, counselors, and teachers
• Photo ID of parents
• Photo with your name embossed or printed on it by a photographer
• Photocopies or reproductions
• Photos issued by a business for promotional purposes (e.g., amusement parks)
• Police report of a stolen wallet or purse
• Printed, stamped, or photocopied signatures
• Published photo, including yearbook or newspaper
• Report card
• Social Security card
• Telephone calls to counselors, teachers, or school officials
• Traffic ticket, even with a physical description and signature
• Transcript, even with photo
• Web page with photo

How Long Does the ACT Take?

The ACT consists of four multiple-choice tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The four multiple-choice sections contain 215 questions and take 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete. After the mathematics test, You will be given a 15-minute break.

If you take the optional writing test you will have 40 minutes to complete the essay and will receive an additional 5-minute break before the writing portion begins. 

How Long is Each Section of the ACT?

Each section of the ACT varies in length and number of questions. The  sections are designed to measure skills that are most important for success in postsecondary education and that are acquired in secondary education. 

Here is a breakdown of each section of the ACT: 

Your scores will be based only on the number of questions that you answer correctly; there is no penalty for guessing. Try to answer every question within the time limit allowed for each section. Keep in mind the optional writing test will not affect your composite score. 

What to Expect on Test Day

What time does the act start.

We know test day can be stressful, so we recommend giving yourself plenty of time. Plan to arrive at the test center no later than 8:00 a.m. As you arrive, testing staff will confirm your registration against your ID, and assign you to your designated seat in a test room. You will NOT be admitted to the test if you are late .

Plan for your Test Morning

• Dress comfortably. Consider dressing in layers, so you'll be comfortable.
• If you're unsure where your test center is located, do a practice run to see how to get there and what time you'll need to leave.
• If possible, travel to the test center on a non-test day to plan your travel time.

Arriving at the Test Center

• Testing staff will check your photo ID during check-in. Be ready to begin testing after all on-time examinees are checked in.
• Please note that ACT may visit test centers to conduct enhanced test security procedures. Testing staff may use an electronic device or paper materials to administer the test. 

During the Test

• Once you break the seal on your test booklet, or use your launch code, you cannot request a Test Date Change, even if you do not complete all your tests.
• A permitted calculator may be used on the mathematics test only. It is your responsibility to know whether your calculator is permitted. Please refer to the ACT Calculator Policy (PDF).
• During your registration process, you will agree to the ACT Terms and Conditions, which contains detailed information about prohibited behavior. On test day, you will once again be asked to agree to the Terms and Conditions.

Taking a Break 

• A short break is scheduled after the second test. Using cell phones or any electronic devices during the break is prohibited . You may eat or drink outside the test room during the break.
• If you take the ACT with writing, you will have a five minute before the writing test to relax and sharpen your pencils.

Finishing Up 

• After the science test you should expect to take a shorter, multiple-choice test covering one of the previous subject areas. The results of the fifth test help develop future test questions and will not be reflected on your scores, so please try your best.
• If you do not want your test to be scored, you must tell a member of the testing staff before you leave the test center. If you do not, your test will be scored. 

What time does the ACT end?

If you take the ACT (no writing) you will finish around 12:35 p.m. If you take the ACT with writing you will typically finish at about 1:35 p.m.

Additional Reminders

• Please note that ACT may visit test centers to conduct enhanced test security procedures including, but not limited to, collecting images of examinees during check-in or other security activities on test day.
• Also remember that cheating hurts everyone. If you see it, report it .

Unexpected Changes

Missed your test date.

Once you have submitted your registration to ACT, by any method, it cannot be canceled. For more information see  Registration Changes .

Occasionally, a test center must cancel a test administration due to bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. When this occurs, the test will be rescheduled for a future date. Visit  Rescheduled Test Centers  to find out if your test center has been rescheduled and for more information about procedures.

Unexpected Registration Changes

Infrequently, ACT may be notified by the test center of a change that could unexpectedly affect your registration. We do our best to minimize the impact to your test experience, however, we may have to update your testing location or update your test format between paper and online testing to ensure your ability to test.

If a change must be made to your registration, an email will be sent to notify you.

ACT Test Security  

You’ve worked hard to prepare for the ACT, and that’s a big deal. We’re also working hard to ensure everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic achievement.  

Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center

To ensure fairness for all examinees, avoid disturbances in the testing room, and protect the security of the test materials, certain behaviors are prohibited at the test center. You will be dismissed and your answer document will not be scored if you are found engaging in any of these behaviors. For more information view the  Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center section of the Terms and Conditions (PDF) .

Report Cheating

Cheating hurts everyone– if you see it, report it through the  Test Security Hotline .

Students who don't do their own work put honest students at a disadvantage. Whether it's using a cheat sheet, copying someone else's work, or sending another person to take the test, we all feel cheated when someone tries to game the system.  

Everyone deserves the chance to show what they have learned. ACT has designed its testing procedures to give everyone an equal opportunity to demonstrate your own academic achievement on a fair and equal playing field.  

If you suspect that someone is trying to take unfair advantages or encounter anything else out of the ordinary, please report it to ACT. You can make an anonymous report about test security concerns by using the Test Security Hotline .

Keep the ACT fair. Report cheating and comply with all testing rules.  

Security Measures

We regularly review preventive measures to ensure every reasonable effort is made to deter and detect potential compromises to test security, while still enabling the greatest possible access for students. Our security measures include:  

• Students upload or otherwise submit (via ACT website, mobile device, or mail) a recognizable head-and-shoulders photo of themselves when registering for the ACT  
• In addition to submitting a photo, students must provide ACT with their gender and identify the name of the high school they attend. ACT will use this information to help match the examinee’s identity throughout the testing process. 
• The student's photo is printed on the examinee roster that testing staff use to check in students on test day.  
• The photo prints on the student's ticket. In addition to their ticket, students bring and present an acceptable photo ID on test day. 
• On test day, test center staff match the name and photo on the student’s ticket, the test center roster, and the student’s photo ID to the student who arrives to take the test before granting the student admission.  
• Both before and after testing, students provide written affirmation that they are the person whose name appears on the test booklet and answer sheet which they have submitted. They also acknowledge that assuming anyone else’s identity to take the test may be a violation of law and be subject to legal penalty.  
• ACT may visit test centers to conduct additional test security measures on test day, such as collecting images of examinees during check-in and/or other security activities.  
• After tests have been scored, the student’s photo will be printed on the score report that is automatically sent to the high school attended by the student. Score integrity can then be reinforced by the people who know the students best—the teachers and counselors at their schools.  
• To deter attempts to circumvent these procedures, students (including those who hope to test on a standby basis) will be required to register their intent to test and will not be allowed to make any test center or test date changes on the day of the test.   

Why We Do This  

Our test security procedures are designed to ensure that examinees have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic achievement and skills, that examinees who do their own work are not unfairly disadvantaged by examinees who do not, and that scores reported for each examinee are valid. 

Related Information

Can Scores be Cancelled?

Terms and Conditions - Compromises/Disruptions in the Testing Process (PDF)

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Average ACT Score for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and Earlier Years

As you'll learn in this article, while ACT scores have been fairly stable in the last few years, there have been some dips and peaks in scores in the last 30 years. Let's take a look at what's happening.

Feature image: Erjwiki /Wikimedia

Average ACT Scores for Past Years

Let's look at some charts for average ACT scores over the past couple of decades. These will show us some trends in the ACT world that have led to recent changes in the test.

Average ACT Scores 1992-1996

Source: NCES Average ACT Scores 1970-1998

In the 1992-1996 ACT scores, there was a general increase in Math, Reading, and Science scores.

Average ACT Scores 1997-2001

Source: NCES Average ACT Scores 1970-2001

In the 1997-2001 ACT scores, there was an increase in English and Math and a decline in Science and Reading. Also, in 1999, the ACT broke the one million test-taker ceiling for the first time.

Average ACT Scores 2002-2005

Source: NCES Average ACT Scores 1995-2010

From 2002 to 2005, there was a slight but steady rise in all scores across the board.

Average ACT Scores 2006-2011

Source: NCES Average ACT Scores 1995-2010 , 2011 Profile Report

As you can see, ACT scores kept increasing until 2007, when there was an all-time composite score high of 21.2. After that, however, all subscores except English and Science consistently declined.

Average ACT Scores 2012-2016

Sources: 2012 Profile Report , 2013 Profile Report , 2014 Profile Report , 2015 Profile Report , 2016 Profile Report *2016 Writing results are based on ACT Writing from September 2015 to August 2016, when the test was scored on a scale of 1-36.

After 2007's peak, there was a general decline in scores across the board for nearly a decade. In 2013, ACT, Inc. instituted changes to the ACT to better reflect national curricula, which is possibly reflected in the general stability of composites and subscores from 2013 onwards (with the exception of Math, which has steadily decreased since then).

Average ACT Scores 2017-2023

Sources: 2017 Profile Report, 2018 Profile Report , 2020 Profile Report, 2021 Profile Report, 2022 Profile Report   2023 Profile Report

In the last five years, the number of ACT test takers has dropped (in conjunction with the number of SAT test takers rising ), which has correlated with a slow decline in scores across the board. There was an especially large drop in both test takers and average scores for the class of 2022, no doubt caused at least in part by the challenges and confusion of the coronavirus pandemic and schools changing their standardized test policies.

Average ACT Score Trends: What Do the Numbers Mean?

As the charts above indicate, there was a moderate and gradual increase in average ACT scores until they peaked in 2007. After, average scores began to decline until 2014 when they increased slightly before settling back down towards the same levels they were at in 2004.

There has been discussion that the downward trend in average ACT scores could be a result of the No Child Left Behind Act and the test-based teaching style in U.S. schools. This slight increase in ACT scores in 2014 could be attributed to the changes ACT, Inc. made to the ACT so that it could better align with high school curricula. Overall, though, average ACT scores have remained relatively stable.

For a long while it was predominantly students in the Midwest that took the ACT, but lately the test has begun to spread to the rest of the U.S. as more and more states are requiring students to take it.

Consequently, more students started taking the ACT each year until 2016, when the new SAT was introduced (since when, the number of ACT test takers has declined back down to 2012 numbers).

Even at the peak of more than 2 million students taking the ACT, however, the data shows that students generally do better on the ACT than they do on the SAT—for which there has been a steady, stronger decline in scores. (The long-term results of the 2016 SAT redesign aren't yet known.)

One thing to note, though, is that just like with the SAT, the ACT shows a disparity in scores based on ethnicity and, very likely, income level. The following chart clarifies these differences between average ACT scores based on ethnicity from 2001 to 2023:

Sources: NCES Average ACT Scores 1995-2014 , 2016 Profile Report, 2017 Profile Report , 2018 Profile Report , 2020 Profile Report, 2021 Profile Report , 2022 Profile Report   2023 Profile Report

*Averages for Asian and Pacific Islander students were combined until 2011 **Averages for Native Hawaiian students folded into averages for Pacific Islander students starting 2017

Overall, the white, Asian, and two or more races subgroups have the highest ACT score averages, with Asian scores consistently increasing. By contrast, African American and American Indian/Alaska Native subgroups have the lowest ACT averages, likely because they are typically the most disenfranchised groups.

What's Next?

Now that you know about the average ACT scores, it's time to figure out what a good ACT score is for you specifically .

If you're definitely decided on the ACT, read our in-depth guides to prepping for the ACT. If you don't have a lot of time left, use our last-minute ACT cramming tips . Got time? Then learn how to come up with your own ACT study schedule .

Not sure whether you should take the ACT or SAT? Take a look at our article on the differences between the ACT and SAT to help you determine which test is right for you .

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Anna graduated from MIT where she honed her research interests in Earth Science and Social/Political Science. She has years of tutoring experience, loves watching students learn and grow, and strongly believes that education is the cornerstone of our society. She is passionate about science, books, and non-profit work.

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