<p>I just read that it's common practice for the SAME form (as in the same exact questions) of the ACT to be given multiples times in one year. Is it also true that the ACT does not have an experimental section? (This may explain why they may have to resort to using the same form for different test dates.) If these things are true, the ACT definitely seems an inferior test to the SAT, despite College Board's numerous problems and flaws in administering the exam.</p>
<p>It is said to be used in small testing locations that do not attract large numbers so that they just buy one test and use it all year, but I do not think the ACT entirely gives the same test numerous times.</p>
<p>Yah... Small test centres can only afford one type of booklet. Mind you, these test centres have a volume of like less than 20 students in a year lol. This is a huge problem (one that I wish I'd known about!), but at least the ACT measures achievement not aptitude lol.</p>
<p>According to ACT, it has a huge number of actual tests, it does recycle, but the recycle period is many years. Thus, whether tests are repeated in a short period of time is something it may deny.</p>
<p>Yeah, there is no experimental section.(which, by the way, i love) But they don't recycle the same test in the same year. I've heard maybe they recycle tests every3-4 years or something though...just rumors.</p>
<p>My take on this is that it is a myth. </p>
<p>First, I think that such loophole would have garned a lot of publicity. I know of a ACT location that is extremely small and the tests are not repeated several times in the same year. </p>
<p>Secondly, while we do no thave many ACT students on CC, we used to have a post poster who wanted to a perfect 36 on the ACT and documented his crusade that include several sittings. I'm sure that, had he had the same test several times, he would have earned the perfect score. He was from Idaho. </p>
<p>The ACT may not have the resources of TCB but is not that poor. On the other hand, the quality and integrity of the test is ... lacking to say the least. The biggest fallacy is that the test espouses the U.S. HS curriculum. I would hate to attend a school at teaches what appears on the ACT in the verbal sections. In my book, the ACT stands for Almost Credible Test.</p>
<p>Xigii, this is not a myth. I have seen invoices from the ACT and spoken with students who test at various small test-centers. Many of these test centers only order one type of test due to either cost or ignorance. Either way, I know kids who wrote the same test numerous times. Unfortunately for me, I never wrote at the same test center twice. I have, however, spoken with the administrators, who say it is a common occurance. </p>
<p>Regarding the quality of the test, it tests achievement not aptitude, which is what it <em>should</em> do. It <em>should</em> test what you've learned in high school. You may disagree, but if you think aptitude is testable, you'd be best to take ap psych ASAP.</p>
<p>xiggi has a point, in that the Scientific Reasoning portion essentially cannot be taught in such a manner that will guarantee outstanding performance on that particular part of the test. I would attribute this to the dearth of logic and the abundance of randomness required to score high.</p>
<p>I live for the day when there is one exam, one language, and one nation.</p>
<p>Scientific Reasoning is a semi-aptitude test. It contains things you (generally) should've learned in high school, but also explains them so that anybody could do well on it. In this right, if you apply the concepts learned in high school you'll do well. However, if you did not learn these concepts in high school.... you're on your own.</p>
<p>On the science portion some of the stuff is really random and isn't anything I'd learned before, but the explanation of it that the test gives is usually sufficent. If you haven't had any of the information before, though, you wouldn't have time to read everything and completely understand it and answer the questions in the time given.</p>
<p>This debacle shows how stupid the organization is. How could ACT let test centers use the same tests over and over? Why does the test center have to take a hit, instead of the test-takers? I assume it is because the tests comes in packages of 20 or something but still. If true, it is totally absurd. The ACT organization should simply not accept tests made for different dates.</p>
<p>I have never heard of ACT centers using the same test over and over. I live in the Midwest, and the ACT reigns supreme here. Everyone in the nation gets the same test on the same testing days, just like the SAT. A school on April 9, will not and can not give the same test given on Feb 12. I don't know where you got this from...</p>
<p>Honestly, I believe the ACTs are much better from a student perspective because it takes much less time to study for it than say the SATs because there is no vocab. However, prep material and practice tests are hard to come by since ACT isn't as popular as SATs (which will change in the future). I also doubt the myth about small locations giving tests for different dates because I've taken the ACTs multiple times at least 2 small locations.</p>
<p>they definately recycle... i took some practice tests.. then took the real thing, and BAM there was the same set of sci questions lol</p>