Staff Report

The registration deadline for the next ACT

test is Jan.7.

The new optional writing test will make its debut on the Feb. 12 national test date for the ACT Assessment.

College-bound students should register by the Jan. 7 postmark deadline. The late registration postmark deadline is Jan. 21 (an additional fee is required for late registration). Students can register online at www.actstudent.org, or they can get a registration packet from their high school guidance counselor and register by mail.

ACT decided to make this writing test optional (the SAT writing test is mandatory) because a majority of colleges will not require a writing score. Some colleges will require writing test scores for students enrolling as college freshmen in the Fall of 2006. Students may decide to take the ACT Assessment with or without the writing test, depending upon the requirements of their prospective colleges. Students can determine if a particular college requires the writing score by searching at www.actstudent.org.

The cost of the ACT Assessment is $28 without the writing test, and $42 with the writing test.

The ACT Assessment is designed to measure a student’s academic achievement. It contains four primary tests, in English, reading, math and science. The exam takes about three hours (add an extra 30 minutes if the writing test is included). Colleges use ACT scores, along with a student’s high school GPA and other information to help determine admissions and the appropriate course placement for new students.