If you're in high school or know someone who is, you might be thinking about the ACT. Like the SAT, the ACT is a standardized test used to measure college readiness or academic aptitude. Most people who take the ACT are high school-aged students. Taking the test expands your higher education options.

In some cases, the ACT isn't optional, it's mandatory. Some states require all high school students to take the ACT (or the SAT) to graduate.

The pandemic led K-12 schools and colleges to rethink the importance of standardized tests. Some K-12 schools waived the graduation testing rule. And some colleges and universities waived the test as an application requirement.

You might want to learn more about the ACT because it's a high school graduation requirement. Or you might want to take the test to open your options. Read on to learn how the ACT might fit into your educational future.

Key highlights about the ACT

What skills does the ACT test for? 

The ACT