ACT & Pre-College Testing

• All SD public school Juniors will take the ACT during the school day at no cost.
• This will include the English, Reading, Math, Science and Writing sections of the ACT.
• The ACT is a nationally recognized college admissions and scholarship test.
• Students will not need to register or pay on their own. Schools will handle scheduling and registration.
• Students who plan to retake the ACT can use the test results toward their Superscore.

• The ACT provides real-world benefits, including college admission opportunities and access to scholarships.
• Using the ACT increases student engagement and better reflects readiness for life after high school.
• It aligns South Dakota with many other states that use college readiness exams as their official high school assessment.
• It eliminates an additional assessment for many high school students.

• The ACT will meet the federal and state testing requirements for Juniors, replacing the current state test.
• Students who already planned to take the ACT for college applications will now do so as part of the state testing program—saving time and money.

• PreACT
  • The PreACT offers 10th grade students with an early experience with ACT test items, provides a predicted ACT test score, and offers a wealth of information to help students get the start they need to be college ready.
• Methodize ACT Prep
  • Methodize is a FREE online ACT test prep program provided on SDMyLife to all 9-12 grade students in South Dakota. Students and educators can log into their SDMyLife accounts and access Methodize at any time.
• ACT Practice Resources
  • ACT provides FREE practices tests, videos, and study guides to help build confidence for students on test day.

• Students can retake the ACT in hopes of improving their score, and they can use the test results of their state assessment toward their Superscore.
• A Superscore is the average of your three best subject scores from all of your ACT test attempts.
• Since the Science portion of the ACT is optional when you retake the ACT, students planning to major in a STEM field or take college science courses required for their program of study (not just to fulfill general education) should consider retaking the science section of the exam too.
• Students who have math and science scores will still receive a separate STEM score.

For the Class of 2027 and Beyond:

If their ACT Composite or Superscore is 28 or higher, students will also need to meet minimum ACT subscores of 18 for English, 21 for Reading, 22 for Math, and 24 for Science. Therefore, it is recommended that students take the optional Science portion to ensure they satisfy subcategory requirements.

• The ACT is America’s most widely accepted college entrance exam used to assess students’ general education development and ability to complete college-level work.
• Most take the ACT during their Junior or Senior year.
• To learn more, refer to www.act.org or the South Dakota Department of Education’s Office of Assessment.

Available through the South Dakota State Library, Learning Express Library is an online platform of 300+ practice tests covering ACT, SAT, GED, and more. Free of charge.

Available through SDMyLife, high school students may prepare for the ACT at no cost and at any time. Log in to access this free, online test preparation that helps students build math, reading, science, English, and ACT test prep skills.

• Hear audio explanations of test questions
• Access strategy guides for each test
• Complete practice tests and quizzes
• Read explanations to every question
• Track strengths on each test
• Get valuable test-taking tips

Wondering how to get into college? Knowing who to contact, admissions requirements, and how to apply for college will help you become a college student.