Illinois high school juniors are NOW required to take the ACT to fulfill graduation requirements

After nearly a decade, Illinois high school juniors must take the ACT instead of SAT to fulfill graduation requirements starting next school year. Many colleges and universities stopped requiring entrance exams during the pandemic but are moving back to requiring the tests for admissions.

The Illinois State Board of Education shared that the ACT has been awarded the contract for the next six years (2025 -2031). Steven Isoye, chairman of the State Board of Education, told Chalkbeat Chicago that the decision to go with ACT over SAT, “came down to price.” The procurement office evaluated bids on “technical specifications, commitment to diversity, and price.” Overall, the ACT received more points.

At TVT, we understand that even the thought of these tests, alone, can be overwhelming for students and cause test anxiety, so we’re sharing helpful insight on what to expect and how to plan ahead for a seamless transition. 

TVT tutors, Keith Friedman and Lynn Lach, who specialize in test prep share their thoughts below:

"This might work out well for a majority of students. About 75% of my test prep students over the years took the ACT, so this will give most students one free opportunity at a test they were likely to take anyway. The free ACT might also be welcome to those who struggle with math - only 25% of the total score is based on the math section while 50% of the SAT is from the math score. But the ACT also poses challenges that the SAT doesn’t. These mainly deal with time - getting through each section within the required time is a challenge for almost everyone."

          - Kieth Friedman - TVT Tutor 

"Not much has changed - the switch just means that Illinois has signed a contract with ACT for its tests to be the ones administered by high schools as the standardized test given for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. The format is very different from the new PSAT, so it may be an adjustment for 9th and 10th graders, but for 11th graders who are looking towards college admissions, they will still go through the same process that juniors in previous years had to go through - figure out which test's format they are more confident with and focus on that one. 11th graders can still take either the ACT or the SAT on their own, and both are still accepted by colleges and universities for college admissions. " 

          - Lynn Lach - TVT Tutor

Understanding the basic differences between ACT and SAT is a great place to start. The College Essay Guy breaks down the difference in tests with an “at a glance chart”. 

The ACT has more questions (meaning generally less time per question), while the SAT has fewer questions that may seem more difficult and take more time to answer. The ACT is broken up into four categories, each with a straightforward title: English, math, reading, and science (with an optional essay). Meanwhile, the SAT has only three primary categories: writing and language, evidence-based reading, and math. There is no dedicated science section for the SAT, but science-ish questions may still be found in the Writing and Language section.

The best way to improve scores is to study and take practice tests. Test-taking strategies are often just as important as knowing enough about the content. “That’s why practice tests are so important: they help you learn more about how to take the test even as you learn more about what the test is all about.”  - The College Essay Guy

​Our TVT test prep experts are here to help support your students and we welcome the opportunity to work with you and learn more about your needs. Contact us today to get started, as we look forward to developing a customized plan for you.
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