How Many Times Can You Take the ACT?
A common question that students ask is – how many times can you take the ACT?
According to ACT, Inc.’s current policy, students may take the ACT up to 12 times, with their results valid for 5 years from the exam date. The ACT is administered seven times a year: February, April, June, July, August, September, and October. So, if you were wondering how many times you can take the ACT, you have your answer!
Can Colleges See How Many Times Can you take the ACT?
Are you looking for the answers to the question – can colleges see how many times can you take the ACT? Many experts don’t recommend taking the ACT multiple times because several universities demand candidates submit their ACT results to be considered for admission.
You should only take the ACT when you are confident with your preparation unless you want to enter a subpar score into your application. Not all colleges can see how many times can you take the ACT unless you are asked to submit the entire history of your tests.
Reasons To Retake the ACT
Below we’ll explain the various reasons why it’s generally a good idea to take the ACT more than once.
Better Understanding of the Test Environment
No matter how many practice tests you take, you will not know how you perform under the pressure of test day until you experience it. This does not mean that you shouldn’t study for the first time you take the ACT; you might get your dream score the first time, so don’t slack on studying.
Identifying Areas for Improvement
When you get your first score back, you may find that you performed worse in a certain area than you expected. Resitting the test gives you the chance to adjust your study plan to tackle areas where you want to improve. Understanding your ACT score properly is a key way to help you identify where you need to improve.
Clarifying Your Goals
Having a clear goal in mind when going into your first ACT exam is extremely important, but you may find that your goal is unrealistic after getting your score back.
Increasing Your Confidence
All the factors above combine to create one great advantage for retaking the ACT; a boost in confidence! Nothing can prepare you better for test day than having a test under your belt, and believing in your own abilities is just as important to ACT prep as studying.
How Can You Raise Your ACT Score Before the Next Exam?
There are a few pointers to keep in mind when retaking the ACT to minimize the number of times you take the ACT exam.
- Begin early: Do you believe that starting to prepare for the ACT in 9th grade is too early? Consider it again. While you don’t need to purchase ACT materials right away, you should focus on being well-prepared when test day arrives. Begin to work on practice examinations to help you build your foundation.
- Prepare by taking high school classes: The ACT is designed to assess what you’ve learned in your classes. So, studying and paying attention in class will help you prepare for the ACT as well.
- Take a lot of practice exams: Examine each test and pay close attention to the questions you answered incorrectly. You’ll probably start to discover trends, which will provide you insight into which aspects of your preparation you should improve and focus on. This will minimize the number of times you take the ACT exam.
- Understand the scoring system: The ACT is divided into four sections: reading, science, mathematics, and English. Each area is graded on a scale of 1-36, and you’ll also earn a composite score based on the average of the four sections. There is a second, optional writing part graded on a scale of 1-12, and does not contribute to your overall score.
- Don’t allow exam nerves to get the best of you: Test anxiety is a significant problem many students face. If you have it, talk to your guidance counsellor or a trusted teacher about it; they may be able to direct you to some external services, such as counselling or a tutor. Students facing financial difficulties can also take the ACT for free up to 4 time
