Act File

Created in 1959, the ACT was designed specifically to compete with the SAT. While the SAT was originally intended to measure aptitude or "innate intelligence," the ACT focused on curriculum mastery —essentially testing what you actually learned in school.

Have you ever wondered why you have to upload a headshot for your admission ticket? This became mandatory after a 2011 cheating scandal in New York where college students were caught being paid to take the test for high schoolers using fake IDs. Created in 1959, the ACT was designed specifically

For decades, the SAT was the "gold standard" on the coasts. Harvey Mudd College , a prestigious engineering school, was the very last institution to begin accepting ACT scores, finally doing so in 2007 . This became mandatory after a 2011 cheating scandal

A high school counselor in Maine tracked 10 years of data and found that students who took the ACT alongside the SAT qualified for significantly more merit-based scholarship awards—totaling over $1 million for her students over four years. Recent and Upcoming Changes (2025-2026) A high school counselor in Maine tracked 10