Hi everyone! I was curious about the history of the ACT test – how it came about, its original purpose, and how it has evolved over time. If anyone has any information about this, I'd love to learn more!
Hey there! The history of the ACT test is quite interesting. It was developed in 1959 as an alternative to the SAT. The man behind its creation was E.F. Lindquist, a professor at the University of Iowa. He believed that the SAT focused too much on reasoning abilities whereas the ACT aimed to gauge a student's knowledge and preparedness in core subjects like English, math, and science.
Originally, the test consisted of four sections: English, mathematics, social studies, and natural sciences. Over the years, it has evolved to better align with the changing educational landscape. In 1989, the social studies section was replaced with reading comprehension, and in 2015, an optional writing test was added. The natural sciences section was also renamed to 'science.'
The ACT has always been popular in the Midwest and South while the SAT was more prevalent in the Northeast and West. However, the ACT has gained in popularity, and as of 2012, it has surpassed the SAT in the number of test-takers across the US. It'll be interesting to see where the test goes in the future, especially considering the shift toward test-optional policies!
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