ACT International Test Dates Guide, 2022-2023 (2023)

FAQs

Is the act changing in 2023? ›

We've compiled the most important updates for the new 2022-2023 season below! The SAT and ACT will still be compared using the same concordance tables; they have no plans to adjust these moving forward.

Students have 35 minutes to complete 40 questions on both the Reading and Science sections, which means you have 52 seconds per question or a little less than nine minutes for each of the four Reading passages and a little less than six minutes for each of the six Science passages.

The ACT has a total of 215 questions with 1 optional essay. The English section has 75 questions, the math section has 60 questions and the reading and science sections both have 40 questions.

All four-year universities in the US, and more than 200 universities outside of the US, accept and value the ACT.

But for now, the short answer is that most colleges are not requiring SAT or ACT test scores for the class of 2023.

Because the composite score is rounded either up or down, you won't have to answer every single question correctly to get a score of 36.

You can miss 1-3 questions on each ACT section and still earn a 36 composite score.

To get a perfect 36 in English, you can't get any questions wrong. In Math, you can miss one. In Reading, you can't get any wrong; ditto in Science. Don't despair, perfectionists!

C or H are right (and wrong) as often as any other answer choice. The only guess letter you don't want to use when you are completely guessing is E or K because they only show up on the math test. Ok, myths exposed, let's move on to how and when to guess.

Writing (Optional)

Especially with no provided basic math formulas, this could be their “hardest section of the ACT.” But not every student struggles in math – they could have a hard time in Science, English, or Reading. So the hardest section of the test will absolutely vary from student to student.

Is it better to answer all questions on ACT? ›

It is important to answer all of the questions in each section of the ACT exam. Students are awarded points for each question they answer correctly, and no points are deducted for incorrect answers. Even if you feel the need to guess on a question, remember, you will not be penalized if you get it wrong.

International students should check to make sure that a testing center exists in their country before registering for the test. You can search for testing centers in your country on the ACT website. Not all countries have testing centers, and not all testing centers administer the ACT on every testing date.

Pros of the SAT for International Students

The SAT might be more appealing to international students than the ACT for a couple of reasons. One is that the verbal sections (Reading and Writing) now count for half the exam score, rather than two-thirds of the total score.

A 26 ACT score is a great score and, unless your ideal school is seeking a higher one, there's no particular reason to retake it. Make sure you have a good college list of between 7 and 10 schools to apply to and see where your ACT score falls on their commonly accepted scale.

Both ACT and SAT scores are used for college admissions decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships. Most colleges do not prefer one test over the other. Neither the SAT or ACT is harder than the other. Different students tend to do better on one test over the other.

15 ACT Score Standings

Out of the 1.91 million test-takers, 1589292 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 16 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted. You have a very low chance of getting into 1483 schools with this score.

Generally speaking, you need a minimum ACT score of 31 to get into an Ivy League School. The minimum score is 32 at a few of these schools, including Harvard and Yale. The minimum SAT score to get into an Ivy League school ranges from 690 to 730 for the reading section and from 700 to 730 for the math section.

98th percentile: A 32 ACT score is above the national average. This score is excellent for most Ivy League universities. So if you are wondering, 'is 32 a good ACT score' to get into any of the highly selective Ivy League colleges, you should know that this score is sufficient to stand out among your competitors.

Schools vary considerably in the kinds of ACT scores they look for in applicants. Less selective institutions tend to accept scores closer to the national average (21), whereas more competitive universities often prefer scores in the 32-36 range.

What happens if you get every question right on the ACT? ›

For example, on Reading, you'll get four passages and 40 multiple-choice questions, so the highest possible raw score is 40. If you got all 40 questions right, your raw score would be 40. If you got 19 questions wrong and 21 questions right, your raw score would be 21.

Thus, the maximum number of questions you can get wrong on the ACT and still get a perfect score is 7 questions. Either by having 4 questions wrong in the English section, and 3 wrong in the Math section and perfect scores in Reading and Science.

To do well on the ACT without studying, answer easy questions first and use the process of elimination. Use diagrams and visuals to one's full advantage. Make intelligent guesses to get good ACT scores. There's no penalty for guessing, and there's a 20% chance of getting the right answer each time.

Generally speaking, it's best to aim for an ACT composite score that's in the 75th percentile or above – this means a score of at least 24. However, a score that's "good" for you may not be the same as for somebody else – your ACT score goal will vary based on your college, scholarship, and career goals for the future.

The absolute minimum ACT score you can get is a 1, although this is very unlikely to happen. You might be more worried about getting a score high enough to get into college.

Starting in 2015, the format of the essay was changed slightly. Students are now given 40 minutes to write, and the Writing section is scored out of 36 rather than out of 12.

Unsurprisingly, a full 36 is the rarest score of all—just 0.313% of all test takers earned a perfect ACT score. Roughly three times more students earned the next-highest score of 35; however, this is still a very rare score that just 0.925% of test takers earned.

If you have attained a 35 ACT or your college is asking for one, it means they are asking for an above-average score. 35 on the ACT is equal to 99%. So, this means you need to be a topper in the class to have a 35 on the ACT. 36 ACT is considered as 100% or full marks in all subjects.

The idea that C is the best answer to choose when guess-answering a question on a multiple choice test rests on the premise that ACT answer choices are not truly randomized. In other words, the implication is that answer choice C is correct more often than any other answer choice.

For those guessing on only a few of the last ten questions, A/F would be the better option. The Safe Bet: Answer choice E/K is the safest choice because it, so far, has always had one correct answer. In fact, E/K has met or exceeded the expected average 82% of the time, making it the most consistent answer choice.

Is C the most common answer? ›

Most people (and tutors) tell students that, if they have no idea on a question, to just guess answer choice “C” — the middle answer on most multiple choice tests.

Origin of the Myth

But here's the thing: While there were studies done that showed higher scores in one month than another, those months changed year to year. First experts would cry “December is easiest! Take it in December!” and a few years later they'd swear “May is by far easier!”

There's no “passing score” on the ACT; a good ACT score is one that helps strengthen your application and increases your chances of getting into the school of your choice.

Do You Feel Confident in the Content? Obviously, it's not a good idea to take the ACT® unless you have a good grasp on the content that will be tested. The ACT® Reading and ACT® Science sections are both the hardest and easiest to prepare for.

You should guess when you don't know the answer, when you're running out of time, or when the question is going to take way more time than it's worth. We're going to help you guess strategically so that you can maximize your points—even when you don't have all the answers.

Don't choose random letters

Although your chances of answering questions correctly when you guess without eliminating a single option are slim, they will be much higher if you stick with a single letter option every time you need to guess blindly.

Overall, you can skip/get wrong around 50 questions per ACT test to get a composite score of 26. For English, you can skip/miss 14 questions on average to get a 26. For Math, you can skip/miss 17 questions on average to get a 26. For Reading, you can skip/miss 11 questions on average to get a 26.

Average ACT: 20

The average ACT score composite at American International College is a 20. The 25th percentile ACT score is 17, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 22. In other words, a 17 places you below average, while a 22 will move you up to above average.

Is it harder for international students to get accepted at US universities? In general, no. Many international students are accepted into US universities every year. In 2020, the average acceptance rate for international students at top US universities was 43.8%.

It is recommended to study for at least 10 hours so you are prepared. It is also better to keep your studying within one to six months before the test: Less than one month, the material doesn't have time to sink in. More than six months, and you are likely to forget some of the earlier information.

Is the ACT internationally recognized? ›

All four-year universities in the US, and more than 200 universities outside of the US, accept and value the ACT.

There's no absolute ACT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 33 to have a chance at being considered.

Did you know that the majority of students who take the ACT more than once increase their score? On average, for testers who received an initial score between 13 and 29, the second Composite score increases by one point.

However, the following reasons may make the SAT considerably harder for international students: Command on English Language: As all sections on the SAT require reading passages or understanding word problems, a good command of language structure and syntax is important.

In addition to SAT I scores, your SAT II (SAT Subject Test) scores are also very important to international schools. Whereas many US universities do not require SAT II scores, international universities often do.

In reality, all colleges and universities that require standardized testing accept both the ACT and SAT. And college admissions counselors have openly stated they do not prefer one test over the other.

With the SAT and ACT both moving to digital testing for the 2023-2024 school year, students and parents may be wondering which format is right for them. There are pros and cons to both digital and paper testing, so it's crucial to weigh your options before making a decision.

The RESTRICT Act (S. 686) is a proposed legislation that was first introduced in the United States Senate on March 7, 2023. To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to review and prohibit certain transactions between persons in the United States and foreign adversaries, and for other purposes.

But what does that mean for applicants? In March 2022, the CSU Board of Trustees approved the removal of the SAT and ACT standardized tests from undergraduate admissions processes.

What is a good ACT score for class of 2023? ›

Based on the data above, we can conclude that ACT scores of 21 or higher can be considered “good” ACT scores for 2023 as well since ACT score averages stay fairly stable year over year.

As of now, the ACT is still a paper-and-pencil exam for students taking it in the United States. A computer-based version of the paper-and-pencil ACT is offered in some states and school districts on school-day test dates only as well as at international testing centers.

Viewing your scores online does not speed up reporting. ACT cannot provide your scores by phone, email, chat, or fax. Multiple choice scores are normally available two business days after testing for students taking the ACT test using computer-based testing.

The Immigration Act of 1924 limited the number of immigrants allowed entry into the United States through a national origins quota. The quota provided immigration visas to two percent of the total number of people of each nationality in the United States as of the 1890 national census.

The Chinese Exclusion Act was approved on May 6, 1882. It was the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States. In the spring of 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Chester A.

The bill, if passed, wouldn't target TikTok specifically. Instead, it would authorize the Secretary of Commerce, under orders of the President, to restrict or ban digital products and services from countries it deems to be foreign adversaries: China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela.

Most high school students take the ACT for the first time in their junior year. While you may wait to take it until the fall of your senior year, it's usually best to sit for the ACT sooner, ideally by the spring of your junior year.

As a general rule, studying somewhere between one and six months will probably be enough to produce significant results. That said, the skills needed for the SAT/ACT can be continually refined. The more time you spend familiarizing yourself with the test, the closer you'll get to a perfect score.

Many of the changes to the SAT's format and content are designed to make the exam more accessible for students. The digital SAT will be shorter, reading passages will be more concise, questions will be more direct, and students will have access to a wider range of digital tools.

California State University, the largest-four year university system in the country, is poised to eliminate SAT and ACT standardized tests from its undergraduate admissions process, following a trend in higher education over concerns that the exams are unfair to minority and low-income students.

Does the ACT get harder every year? ›

When those skills and constructs become more complicated and difficult over time, the ACT reflects that. Those changes tend to occur very gradually, however, not usually within a two to three year span.

According to FairTest, more than 1,750 schools will have ACT/SAT-optional policies in place for fall 2023, meaning that applicants can choose whether to submit test scores and have them be considered in a college's admissions process.