The ACT is an entrance exam used to measure a high school student's readiness for college. It also provides a standard measure for colleges to use to compare all applicants. It is used along with a high school student's GPA, classes, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays.
The test consists of four curriculum-based, multiple-choice tests in English,mathematics, reading, and science, and an optional 40-minute writing test.
For each of the four multiple-choice tests, the raw score is the number of correct responses. Scale scores range from 1 (low) to 36 (high) for each of the four multiple-choice tests and the Composite score. The Composite is the average of the four multiple-choice test scores, rounded to the nearest integer.
The ACT writing test measures students' writing skills - specifically, those writing skills taught in high school English classes and in entry-level college composition courses. Students will receive a total of five scores for this test; a single subject-level writing score reported on a range of 2-412, and four domain scores based on an analytic scoring rubric.
A student's writing test score has no impact on his or her Composite score or subject test scores. If a student does not take the writing test, the absence of a writing test score has no effect on the Composite score or subject test scores either. However, without writing test scores, no English Language Arts (ELA) score will be reported.
NOTE: If a student chooses to take the ACT writing test, that student must take the multiple-choice tests and the writing test in the same test administration.
More information about scoring can be found at www.act.org/the-act/scores.
Many students take the ACT more than once. However, you may take the ACT no more than 12 times total. If you want to retest through another testing program other than National or International (for example, DANTES or Residual Testing), you must wait a minimum of 60 days between retests. If you are allowed to retest within 60 days of your last administration, your second set of scores will be canceled without refund.
• Examinees can read information on creating an account and the items you will need by visiting https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html
• Examinees can create and account and register for the ACT at https://services.actstudent.org/OA_HTML/actibeCAcdLogin.jsp
• Once the registration has been processed, examinees will be sent an admission ticket that they must take with them to the test center.
• The fee for taking the ACT is $46 (no writing) and $62.50 (with writing).
Additional fees could include:
• Late registration (US or Canada): $29.50
• Standby testing: $53.00
• Test date change: $26.00
• Test center change (same test date): $26.00
• Test information release (TIR): $20.00
• International Testing: $57.50
• Score reports for 5th and 6th college choices: $13.00 each
On the day of the test, the examinee must bring their admission ticket. If you have lost your ticket, you can print another through your ACT web account. You must also bring acceptable photo identification. You will not be admitted to test if your ID does not meet ACT requirements.
Acceptable forms of ID:
• Current official photo ID: Must be original, current (valid) ID issued by a city/state/federal government agency or your school. Note: School ID must be in hard plastic card format. Paper or electronic formats are NOT acceptable. Your first and last names must match the ticket. The photo must be clearly recognizable as you.
• ACT Student Identification Form with photo: You MUST present the ACT Student Identification Form with photo if you do not have a current official photo ID as described above. It must be completed by a school official or notary public; neither may be a relative. All items must be completed.
• ACT Talent Search Student Identification Form: If you are participating in an Academic Talent Search program and were not required to submit a photo with your registration, you must present your ACT Talent Search Identification form. If you are participating in an Academic Talent Search program and were required to submit a photo when you registered, you must present either a current official photo ID or an ACT Student Identification Form with photo.
Unacceptable forms of ID:
• ACT ticket alone
• Birth certificate
• ChildFind ID card
• Credit Cards (including those with a photo)
• Diploma
• 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
• 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
Resource Materials:
• Test preperation information is available .
• You may order test preparation manuals at www.LSAC.org. Examinees can check the following items in their LSAC file online at www.LSAC.org:
• Receipt (or non-receipt) of transcripts
• Receipt of letters of recommendation
• Reports requested by or sent to a law school
• Receipt of their electronic applications submitted through LSAC
• The name and telephone number of the prelaw advisor at their four-year undergraduate degree-granting school (File status online is available at all times expect 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Sundays)
Accommodations may be available to individuals with documented disabilities who are registered to take the LSAT. Candidates need to be aware that submission of the accommodations request packet does not guarantee testing accommodations. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis on the documentation submitted.
1. Obtain an accommodations request packet by going online at http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/accommodated-testing.asp and printing out the entire packet or write to LSAC at the following address (well before the registration deadlines):
Law School Admission Council
Test Administration
Testing Accommodations Section
662 Penn Street, Box 2000-T
Newtown, PA 18940-0995
The test is available in regular print; large, 18-point-type print; and in braille. A non-scan answer sheet is also available. Depending on the nature of the disability, other accommodations may include but are not limited to the use of a reader, an amanuensis, a wheelchair-accessible test center, additional rest time between sections, or additional testing time. Requests for these or other arrangements, or the use of special aids, should be included when a candidate submits their registration materials.
2. It is important that the candidate reviews the entire Accommodations Request Packet for detailed information on accommodated testing policies, procedures, and deadlines.
3. Register for the LSAT, and submit all the required forms in the accommodations request packet. The accommodations request packet contains forms that the candidate and their evaluator must complete; a description of the type of documentation they must supply to support their request for accommodations; and detailed instructions for completing the forms. It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain and submit all required documentation with their LSAT/LSDAS Registration Form by the registration deadlines listed on the Candidate Form, which is part of the accommodations packet.
LSAC encourages candidates who need accommodations to register and submit all required documentation well in advance of the registration deadlines.
LSAC will review your request for accommodations within two weeks of its receipt. However, the entire process may take substantially longer. The candidate is advised to submit their request for accommodations well in advance of the test date in order to facilitate their planning and preparation for the test.
If the request for accommodations is granted, LSAC will make arrangements with the test center and send the candidate and the test center supervisor confirmation of the accommodations granted. Since some test centers may be unable to provide certain types of accommodations, LSAC strongly recommends that the candidate registers early to allow sufficient time for alternate arrangements, if necessary. LSAC cannot guarantee that they will test at the center for which they hold an admission ticket. Additionally, the candidate’s test may be scheduled for an alternate test date. LSAC reserves the right to make final judgment regarding testing accommodations.
Law School Admission Council-LSAC
662 Penn Street
Box 8512
Newtown, PA 18940-8512
(215) 968-1001
Fax (215) 504-1420
lsacinfo@LSAC.org or www.LSAC.org
Automated telephone systems:
Phone: (215) 968-1001
Hours: Available at all times except 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. ET Sundays.
Service representatives (weekdays only):
Phone: (215) 968-1001
Hours: September to March 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET; April to August 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET.