Why Take The ACT?

In general, there are four primary reasons why the ACT is recommended for college-bound students. The first of these is the ACT's ubiquity in the U.S. collegiate system; virtually all U.S. colleges and universities accept the ACT as a qualifying college exam. This naturally includes the Ivy League universities, the prestigious University of California system, and individual world-renowned schools like Carnegie Mellon, Caltech and MIT.

Another reason for taking the ACT is that, more so than other admission exams of its type, the ACT is curriculum-based, meaning it draws more from what students have already studied than it does from aptitude testing. Because the ACT is not designed to measure a student's facility with a particular aptitude, or intelligence in general, it is often seen by students to be a more applicable and less threatening test experience. Related to this is the total package of services provided by the ACT, which includes an inventory of interests and a student profile section, both of which can be used to further define a student's background and future plans for college admission officials. The ACT may also help you if you are looking into an online college degree.

The fourth reason for taking the ACT is the cost-benefit ratio. The fees for the ACT are generally significantly lower than for other competing collegiate admission exams, and thus provide students greater access to collegiate admissions than might be otherwise possible. This is due to the ACT being created and administered by a private non-profit corporation. Also, when combined with the service package offered with the ACT, the cost-benefit ratio tilts more favorably to students.