ACT test prep

You can register for the ACT on the ACT website.

Yes. All four-year colleges accept both the ACT and SAT. From a college’s perspective the tests are interchangeable.

• Note: A few colleges (for example, Cal Poly) prefer the ACT to the SAT.

The ACT has a philosophy of constant improvement to the test. As such, it frequently makes small changes to the content and structure of the exam between test dates, often doing so without public announcement.

Recent changes include:

• The occasional “double passage” on the Reading section (two short passages replace one of the longer passages)
• The appearance of a few questions that include advanced math concepts like matrices
• The reduction in number of science passages on the Science section from 7 to 6

Our team is on it! We continually modify our curriculum and tutoring strategies as the test evolves. Our program is designed to give you an edge.

The ACT is easier than the SAT in that students typically answer a higher percentage of questions correctly on the ACT. A student scoring in the 50th percentile of ACT test-takers answers about 60% of the questions correctly. A student scoring in the 50th percentile on the SAT answers about 50% of the questions correctly.

As result, students often subjectively prefer the ACT to the SAT because it “feels easier.” However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is the better fit. The real question is: how do your ACT and SAT scores compare, and how do they compare to the scores of other test-takers?

We can help you determine which test is a better fit for you. Give us a call at (650) 331-3251 to discuss!

The ACT is a 2-hour and 55-minute test. The ACT with writing includes an additional 40-minute essay at the end of the multiple-choice portion.

The ACT test has four sections: English, math, reading, and science, each worth 36 points. The ACT with writing has an additional essay. Our tutoring program includes resources and official ACT prep subject guides to help students prepare for each section.

Amid the shift towards test-optional policies, accelerated by the pandemic, many schools no longer mandate ACT Writing. Following the SAT essay’s discontinuation, most institutions that once valued ACT Writing adjusted their requirements.

Currently, most institutions either disregard ACT Writing scores or give them minimal weight in admissions. Not participating in ACT Writing won’t disadvantage your application.

For specific school requirements, search online with “[school name] ACT writing requirement.”

A good ACT test score is one that matches the admissions profiles of the colleges that would be a good fit for you. To see how competitive your ACT score is, visit any college’s website and look at the acceptance statistics from the previous year.

A college publishes score ranges in one of two ways: as an average or as 25th/75th percentile.

• The average ACT score is the average score of all admitted students.
• The 25th percentile ACT score means that 25% of admitted students scored at or below that number and 75% scored above it. The 75th percentile ACT score means that 75% of those accepted scored at or below that number and 25% scored above it.

Yes! We offer both in-person and online ACT test preparation.