BlueHouse

Hey everyone!

Long story short, I am doing a project on the ACT and would love to hear some opinions. My "focus" questions are "How do we know the ACT question creation process accurately assesses our knowledge?" and "How do we know the scores are truely representative of our success in college?"

For students (and/or parents):

What was your ACT experience?
Did you find that the ACT score correlated with your GPA?
Do your think the ACT accurately assesses your knowledge?

For teachers:

Do you think the ACT covers information necessary for college admission?

Anyone:

Did it test your knowledge, or was it testing your ACT testing abilities (a.k.a. how well you know the test)?

Anyone who knows anything specific about the ACT's question creation process or how they create the "curve" I would love to know!

P.S. For those of you in IB - this is a ToK project, please help!

viciouspoultry

1. My experience has been pretty good, I studied and got a very respectable score but the only complaint I have is with the reading section and the limited time but otherwise I think the test is straight forward and fair.

2. To an extent yes and to an extent no. GPA really has nothing to do with how intelligent one is, its more less a measure of how hard you are willing to apply yourself. The ACT also requires you to apply yourself (studying) but some people are natural test takers and can go in and come out with a 30+ without even looking at a sample test (and those people tend to have lower GPAs because they don't do homework)

3. I think the only area that the ACT assess knowledge is in the math section because you are actually doing real math problems, otherwise the remaining sections are just learning the curve balls the ACT throws at you.

4. Same as Number 3, with exception for math just tested your ACT testing abilities.

As far as I know the curve is predetermined

BlueHouse

thank you viciouspoultry (by the way, love the name) this is exactly the kind of information I need!

bluebayou

BH:

son's experience last year, but he took the test cold: no review, no prep.

1. Poor -- his ACT was significantly below his SAT.
2. Not even close.
3. Negative. The ACT (and SAT) assess your ability to take tests. SAT Subject Tests test actual knowledge of a HS curriculum.

btw: It's not really a curve per se, but a scaled score based on a reprensentative sample of respondents.

BlueHouse

Thanks BBYou!

I need about 20 responses to get a feeling for the college confidential opinions so keep them coming OK? Thanks again

fireflyscout

1. Son took 3-4 practice exams before the ACT. His actual score was at the top of what he had scored on the practice tests.

2. His test score was somewhat higher than his GPA would indicate (a bit of a slacker).

3. Probably more so on the ACT than the SAT, but science section really isn't about science knowledge but the ability to read and interpret scientific passages and graphs.

bluebayou

BH:

Two anecdotes: two kids I know of, both strong students, one a Val, scored extremely low in the science section. With a little practice, that score alone increased 9 points (new composite = 35), and 7 points. If that ain't testing how you can take a test......

curiousmind

1. Experience: Good. ACT seems to be a fairer test than the SAT.

2. Score/GPA Correlation: The answer will probably vary depending on the student and the school he/she attends - grade inflation at the school, naturally smart but a slacker, etc.

3. The English and math sections assess student's knowledge. The reading and science sections test the ability to analyze/interpret information quickly.

Like any other tests, you can definitely "learn" the test by practicing. I do believe, though, that the ACT accurately assesses the ability to handle college curriculum. At the competitive college level, it's all about how well (and quickly) you can absorb new information.

Ephemeral2

1. Excellent - the ACT has given me a real chance at elite universities.
2. Score vs. GPA: 4.0 unweighted GPA, 36 ACT = definite correlation
3. More than the SAT, I think the ACT tests your actual knowledge.
4. I hate TOK.

BlueHouse

Ephemeral2 - very funny. I really enjoy ToK. How's IB treating you?

zebes

For students (and/or parents):

What was your ACT experience?

D took ACT for first time in April. I think she looked at a few practice questions on the ACT site just to give her an idea how the test was set up as she was only familiar with SAT. She scored much higher than the SAT (1440 vs 35).

Did you find that the ACT score correlated with your GPA?

Yes, she has a 4.0 u.w./GPA.

Do your think the ACT accurately assesses your knowledge?

For her, yes ... but she's a rare bird, someone who scores very well on standardized tests and is very disciplined and studies hard for her grades, doing all the homework, etc. even though she tends to feel as though a lot of it is busy work. Her bro scored high on the ACT, too, ... just as intelligent but tended not to complete homework assignments.

Did it test your knowledge, or was it testing your ACT testing abilities (a.k.a. how well you know the test)?

Seeing as she knew very little about the test (did no prep books), I think it tests her knowledge. She also scores very high on AP exams, of which she's taken several classes, and I predict she'll do well on the SAT subject tests in June.

She loved the fact that the ACT didn't have vocabulary words; she's such a math person.

zebes

SpacedOutSax

My son got a 36 on the ACT, no prep, no studying. GPA 4.2 weighted, 4.0 unweighted. Science and reading are to determine your critical thinking abilities. It is my understanding that ACT is a "show what you know" and the SAT is "how will you do in college". How it determines that, I don't know!!
It bothers me that there are complaints about the length of time given. Either you know it or you don't. Test taking skills? C'mon.....its just like any other skill one needs to master in order to be good at it. Another thing to remember is that standardized tests tell colleges how good your high school curriculum was. If you are Val, GPA 4.0, does that mean you got the same education as another Val, GPA 4.0 from another school? This varies widely all over the country. Look at the state cutoff scores for SAT.....all different.

omegared179

What was your ACT experience?
It was fine, that was my first real standardized test (I hadn't taken an ACT or SAT before)

Did you find that the ACT score correlated with your GPA?
Um, I smoke and drink too much, so my GPA is low, but I think it is relatively close
3.5 UW 3.8 W VS. 31 C

Do your think the ACT accurately assesses your knowledge?
Um, I'm not sure what you mean, but it did ask a lot of questions I knew, and some I didn't (those last 5 math questions were brutal)


Anyone:

Did it test your knowledge, or was it testing your ACT testing abilities (a.k.a. how well did you know the test)?

I bought two ACT books and I read them two weeks before, and I suppose I knew the test a little, but my knowledge was up to par?

BlueHouse

Thanks so much Firefly, bbU, curious, ephemeral, zebes, spaced and megared! I am getting just what I need...but I would love more...I am hoping for 20 opinions so please keep em coming!

BlueHouse

Anyone else want to chime in on how they feel the ACT assesses knowledge? Would love your opinions?