PreACT®/ACT®
PreACT/ACT Instruction
More students now take the ACT than the SAT. The best way to determine whether the ACT is better suited to your student’s abilities is to call us and have a conversation. We can also administer free SAT and ACT diagnostic tests to help find which one is a better fit. Today, the tests are very similar and most students score similarly on both, though there are serious exceptions to that rule. Our industry-leading ACT/SAT textbook can be purchased on Amazon here.
We do not require any upfront financial commitment. There is no need to purchase a “plan” or “package”. You are only billed for the time our instructors spend with your student. We provide all the materials. Located in the Denver-Metro Area? We will even come to your home. Located elsewhere? We have a cloud-based software program that makes online meetings a breeze.
Moser focuses on one-on-one instruction, so your student’s individual needs will be met. We start by evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, which we use to customize a personalized, goal-oriented plan. Read more about our approach.
The ACT tests a student’s college-readiness across four multiple-choice sections and three domains: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. There is also an optional essay (“Writing”) component. Nonetheless, students can achieve great scores without completing sections on time. Each of the four multiple-choice sections is based on a 1–36 point scale, and a composite score is calculated as the average of the four section scores rounded to the nearest whole number value.
If you have ACT related questions, visit out PreACT/ACT FAQ page or contact us directly!
What You Need to Know
What
The ACT is a college entrance exam accepted by all American colleges and universities, as well as many foreign schools. It tests a student’s college-readiness across four domains: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. It also includes an optional essay component.
When
Most students take the ACT in the winter and spring of their junior year, though many retake the exam the summer before or fall of senior year. The ACT is administered nationally 7 times a year: February, April, June, July, September, October, and December. Click here for a list of upcoming test dates and registration deadlines.
How
Students can register for a National ACT test date by creating an account with the ACT.
Test Format
Section
Questions
Time Limit
English
50 multiple-choice questions
35 minutes
Math
45 multiple-choice questions
50 minutes
Reading
36 multiple-choice questions
40 minutes
Science (optional)
40 multiple-choice questions
40 minutes
ACT Essay (optional)
1 prompt
40 minutes
Total: 2 hours, 5 minutes(2:45 with Science or Writing, 3:25 with Science and Writing)
Description of Test Sections
The ACT consists of four multiple-choice sections (called “Tests”) and an optional essay (referred to as the “ACT Writing Test”). These four multiple-choice sections (and essay) always appear in the same order: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The ACT Writing Test is always administered last.
- English Test
- Measures students’ knowledge of the rules of punctuation, grammar, style, and usage
- 35 minutes, 6 passages, 50 questions
- Math Test
- Measures students’ conceptual math knowledge and problem-solving skills
- 50 minutes, 45 questions
- Graphing calculator allowed
- Questions ordered from easiest to most difficult
- Content ranges from pre-algebra and number theory through pre-calculus
- Reading Test
- Measures students’ ability to efficiently read and comprehend college-level texts
- 40 minutes, 4 passages, 36 passage-based questions
- Usually includes one comparative reading exercise, consisting of 2 passages (labeled “Passage A” and “Passage B”)
- Passages are always in the same order: Literary Narrative/Prose Fiction, Social Sciences, Humanities, Natural Science
- Science Test
- Measures students’ ability to process and evaluate scientific concepts and information
- Involves interpretation of provided information (text, graphs, tables, and charts): relatively little outside knowledge of scientific principles is required
- 40 minutes, typically 6 or 7 passages, 40 questions
- ACT Essay
- Measures students’ writing, analytical, and critical thinking skills
- 40 minutes, 1 prompt
- Three perspectives on an issue are provided, and students must address and analyze each perspective while advancing their own perspective
Scoring & Accommodations
Scoring
- Each of the three mandatory multiple-choice Tests is scored on a 1–36 point scale, where a raw score counting up questions correctly answered translates to a score on that 1–36 scale. The test scores are then averaged and rounded to the nearest whole number to calculate a composite score. Tests are slightly curved based on difficulty, so raw scores don’t always translate to the same scale score. Roughly, however, the percentage of questions answered correctly on any given section translate to that same percentage of 36
- The optional ACT Science and Writing Tests do not affect a student’s composite ACT score but rather receive separate scores. The Science test is scaled from 1-36 like the other multiple choice sections. The essay is scored on four domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions. Two readers score each domain on a 1–6 scale, and the domain score is the sum of the two readers’ scores. The domain scores are combined and averaged to yield an overall Writing score, also on a 2–12 scale.
Testing Accommodations
Students with documents learning differences may receive testing accommodations, including extra time. To request ACT testing accommodations, students must first create an account with the ACT and register for a test date.
2024 - 2025 ACT Test Dates & Deadlines
National Test Date
Registration Deadline
Late Registration Deadline
Photo Upload/Stdby
September 6, 2025
August 1
August 19
August 29
October 18, 2025
September 12
September 30
October 10
December 13, 2025
November 7
November 24
December 5
February 14, 2026
January 9
January 23
February 6
April 11, 2026
March 6
March 24
April 3
June 13, 2026
May 8
May 29
June 5
July 11, 2026
June 5
June 24
July 3
We're Here to Help!
We have helped thousands of students worldwide reach their testing and academic goals. Our senior tutors have over 10,000 hours of one-on-one teaching experience, and as a result of our customized programs, Moser alums have gone on to attend top schools.
See why the Moser name is trusted by families and schools alike. Call today for a free consultation!
Fill out a form and receive an in-depth consultation free of charge.
Call our Founder and President, Scott Moser, to discuss your student’s goals and needs.