Essai’s Guide to the Best Resources for ACT Prep

If you are studying independently for the ACT and your scores in the different sections are fluctuating quite a bit, then the answer is not to take more practice tests. It is important to identify the section(s) in which your scores are not consistent and learn the rules/formulas/skills for that particular section. If you simply carry on taking tests from Crackact without “knowing your stuff” then your scores will often be at the mercy of luck.

Good preparation takes luck out of the picture. This post is meant to help you do exactly that. Below are the books and resources that we recommend for your fluctuating scores in individual sections. Additionally, we will not just be pointing you in the direction of resources, but advising you on how to use these resources to gain control over your scores.

Best ACT Reading Resource: UWorld

We think a 30 day subscription to UWorld for $29 can make a world of difference to your score. The Uworld content is very good and, more importantly, the ways in which you can use it are very helpful. Uworld can operate on tutor mode (it explains a question every time you submit an answer) and on an untimed mode. 

How do we recommend you use UWorld? 
Start by trying to increase your accuracy. Do single passages, untimed, tutor mode; when you get something wrong or unsure of an answer, read the explanation that UWorld provides. Do this until you are consistently getting 90% correct: more than 6 in a row. 

Then take off the tutor mode wheels, and start doing two passages untimed, then three, then four. The point here is to develop your own method of answering these questions, becoming very familiar with the questions, and developing your reading stamina. Always make sure to go back over the questions you got wrong – Uworld’s explanations will help you avoid making the same mistakes next time.

Once you are comfortable with doing multiple passages in a row and consistently getting 90% correct, we recommend you start paying attention to time. Try doing one passage timed, then two, then three, then four. Don’t worry too much if your accuracy slips slightly: aim to get one more question done accurately in time each time, and you’ll soon be doing all four passages in time with accuracy!

Best ACT English Textbook: (ACTing English: The Essai Guide to ACT English)

ACTing English is a great guide that equips you with all the tips and tricks you need to master the English Section. 

The textbook takes you through all the concepts you need to know to tackle the English section in a lucid manner. A shining feature of the book are the scaffolding exercises. These are step-by-step questions that force the student to use simple rules rather than intuition when answering ACT English questions. The book isn’t dreary to look at either, with plenty of fun visuals and illustrations included in each chapter.

With nearly a thousand questions including two full tests, the book has enough practice materials to help you raise your score - on average, students who use our English material see a 12 point improvement!

How do we recommend you use ACTing English?
We recommend working methodically through the book. Each chapter begins by teaching a set of related concepts: we recommend you make your own notes based off the teaching material. The teaching is followed by scaffolding exercises focussed on that particular skill. If you struggle with the scaffolding exercises, make sure to go back over the notes on that concept. At the end of each chapter, ACT-style multiple-choice questions test your ability to apply the concepts you’ve learned. The multiple-choice questions will include questions on concepts from previous chapters, so make sure you keep revising what you’ve already learnt.

Once you’ve worked through each of the chapters, you should be good to go. Once you’ve revised the concepts, have a go at the two mocks at the end of the book. Make sure to review your mistakes and brush up on any weak areas after the first mock, then have a go at the second mock. After all that, you should be good to go!

*While this is a book that we have published, we still firmly believe that it is the best sure-fire guide to the ACT English.

Best ACT Math Textbook: (Ultimate Guide to Math ACT: Richard Corn)

After being updated in 2018, Richard Corn’s Ultimate Guide to Math ACT quickly reclaimed its spot as the best ACT Math textbook. It explains each concept that you need to know for the ACT in depth and does not include any extra information. 

The book also moves through pre-algebra and basic algebra before moving on to advanced topics, providing students with a strong foundation to tackle the more difficult concepts towards the end. When used in conjunction with full Math tests, this book is your best bet to conquer the Math section.

How do we recommend using Ultimate Guide to Math ACT?
If you struggle with math in general, or you are unsure which areas you are weak in, then we recommend working through the book methodically from start to finish. The book will guide you from the foundations of math needed for the ACT through to the more difficult concepts.

If you already have a good sense of specific areas where you struggle (e.g. coordinate geometry), then focus on those chapters. Still take the time to look over the whole book – there might be something you didn’t even know you didn’t know! 

Best ACT Science Textbook: (FTLOAS: Michael Cerro and Prepscholar Guide to ACT Science)

For the Science section, we recommend either For the Love of ACT Science by Michael Cerro or the Prepscholar Guide to ACT Science. 

For the Love of ACT Science is a tried and tested guide that set a new benchmark for ACT Science Textbooks. The book helps you identify different question types and provides specific strategies to help you tackle them. It also includes two full science tests and sectional tests that only include question types that you’ve learned how to solve.

Prepscholar Guide to ACT Science does not include any practice tests, but makes up for it by listing multiple strategies to students for attempting questions - not just one restrictive approach. 

Both books include a list of science facts that you would need to know for the ACT. These books demystify the Science section by identifying patterns in a section that is seemingly random.

How do we recommend using FTLOAS and Prepscholar Guide to ACT Science?
With both these books, we recommend working through them methodically from front to back. That way you will avail yourself of all the skills needed to tackle the Science section, plus be able to try out a variety of strategies (in the case of the Prepscholar Guide) for answering questions in the Science section.

We recommend that you note down the various strategies and then apply these systematically in three untimed Science sectional tests. Using these two books in tandem might help a lot; FTLOAS has questions from all the different question types, while the Prepscholar Guide is heavier on the strategies. You can use the strategies learnt in the Prepscholar Guide and apply them to the questions in the FTLOAS.

ACTxiety

At the moment, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the fate of standardised tests for college admissions this year — and for some, this anxiety is stretching into next year as well. We thought it would be prudent to put down some good information here about the current state of things, and how we see it playing out for students applying this year and for those applying next.

For students applying this year, things might seem very complicated at the moment. However, there is a simple way to look at it. There is a list of colleges that have gone test-optional for you. If you are okay limiting your college list to those colleges then you can safely disregard preparing for the ACT/SAT. Here is a list of top colleges that have gone test-optional for your class:

SNO	COLLEGE	TIME PERIOD FOR WHICH IT IS TEST OPTIONAL	RANK	CONSIDER SCORES IF SUBMITTED
1	BROWN	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#14 (NATIONAL)	YES
2	CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY	NEXT 2 ADMISSIONS CYCLES	#12 (NATIONAL)	NO
3	CARNEGIE MELLON	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#25 (NATIONAL)	YES
4	COLUMBIA	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#3 (NATIONAL)	YES
5	CORNELL	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#17 (NATIONAL)	YES
6	DARTMOUTH	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#12 (NATIONAL)	YES
7	HARVARD	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#2 (NATIONAL)	YES
8	JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#10 (NATIONAL)	YES
9	THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#28 (NATIONAL)	YES
10	TUFTS	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#29 (NATIONAL)	YES
11	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SYSTEM All 10 COLLEGES	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	UCLA #20 (NATIONAL)	YES (UNTIL 2023)
12	UNIVERSITY OF PENNYSYLVANIA	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#6 (NATIONAL)	YES
13	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#22 (NATIONAL)	YES
14	WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AT ST LOUIS	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#19 (NATIONAL)	YES
15	YALE	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#3 (NATIONAL)	YES
16	AMHERST	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#2 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
17	BARNARD COLLEGE	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#25 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
18	CARLETON COLLEGE	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#7 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
19	CLAREMONT MCKENNA	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#7 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
20	COLGATE UNIVERSITY	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#17 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
21	DAVIDSON COLLEGE	NEXT 3 ADMISSIONS CYCLES	#17 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
22	GRINNELL COLLEGE	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#14 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
23	HAMILTON COLLEGE	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#14 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
24	HAVERFORD COLLEGE	NEXT 3 ADMISSIONS CYCLES	#11 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
25	KENYON COLLEGE	TEST OPTIONAL 2021 ONWARDS	#27 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
26	MACALASTER COLLEGE	TEST OPTIONAL 2021 ONWARDS	#25 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
27	MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE	NEXT 3 ADMISSIONS CYCLES	#7 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
28	POMONA	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#5 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
29	SWARTHMORE	NEXT 2 ADMISSIONS CYCLES	#3 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
30	UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#23 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
31	VASSAR	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#14 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
32	WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#10 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
33	WELLESLEY COLLEGE	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#3 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES
34	WILLIAMS	2020-2021 ADMISSIONS CYCLE	#1 (LIBERAL ARTS)	YES

However, if you want to apply to colleges outside this list then you still need to take the ACT/SAT. Top colleges like Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Yale still require you to take the ACT/SAT. These scores are an important component of their admissions processes.

How will these tests be administered? At the moment, this is unclear. However, both the SAT and the ACT are starting to develop systems for at home testing. The ACT is already administering the test online in centres around the world, and the SAT already administered at-home testing for this year's APs. They will need strong systems to ensure test security, and this is probably what they are working on now. 

So, what does this mean for you seniors who are applying this fall? If you want to apply to a college outside the list of test-optional colleges, then we think you should prep for the tests this fall/winter. The SAT and ACT are working to get there; we think the students should too. However, if you are not interested in non-test-optional colleges, then wave goodbye to your test-prep books and do something productive this summer to add to your activities list, study hard for your school exams, and be good to your teachers. Those other components of your application are now going to be way more important. 

If you are a rising junior (grade 11) this year and thinking of applying to college next year (admission in 2022), then you should definitely be preparing for these tests. Why? In all likelihood, the ACT and the SAT (and the world hopefully) will have new systems in place. Remember that a vast majority of the colleges on that list above have only gone test-optional for this year. 

We understand that all this shifting news, college announcements, new testing formats add to the already existing anxiety that surrounds college admissions. This is a hard year. And undoubtedly, it is especially hard for students who will be applying this year. However, we believe, in the face of anxiety, it is important to face it, look at it, experience it (don't write about it in your Common App essay, but perhaps in your journal), and then with a cold, dispassionate eye make a decision based on practical realities — like the table above. 

Liberal Arts Colleges' SAT and ACT Policies

Rank	University	ACT/SAT Required	SAT Subject Tests Policy	Superscore Policy(ACT and New SAT)	Average ACT Score Range	Average SAT Score Range	ACT/SAT Writing Section
1	Williams College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	32-35	1410-1550	Not Required
2	Amherst College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	31-34	1390-1540	Not Required
3	Swarthmore College	Required	Not Required(Math 2 recommended for Engineering School)	Superscores	31-34	1380-1550	Not Required
3	Wellesley College	Required	Not Required	Does not superscore	30-34	1330-1520	Not Required
5	Pomona College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	31-34	1400-1540	Not Required
6	Bowdoin College	Test OptionalScore Supression Policy	Not Required	Superscores	30-34	1300-1510	Not Required
7	Carleton College	Required	Not Required	Does not superscore	31-34	1350-1530	Not Required
7	Claremont McKenna College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	31-34	1350-1500	Not Required
7	Middlebury College	Required(Can be substituted with 3 Subject Tests)	Not Required	Superscores	31-34	1330-1500	Not Required
10	Washington and Lee University	Required	Not Required	Superscores	31-34	1348-1490	Not Required
11	Colby College	Test Optional	Not Required	No Official Policy	31-33	1350-1510	Not Required
11	Haverford College	Required	Not Required	No Official Policy	32-34	1370-1530	Not Required
11	Smith College	Test Optional	Not Required	No Official Policy	30-33	1320-1490	Not Required
14	Grinell College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	30-34	1370-1530	Not Required
14	Hamilton College	Required(Can be substituted with 3 Subject Tests)	Not Required	Superscores	31-34	1350-1510	Not Required
14	Vassar College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	31-33	1370-1510	Not Required
17	Colgate University	Required	Not Required	Does not superscore(Allows submission of multiple attempts for review)	31-34	1320-1510	Not Required
17	Davidson College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	29-33	1290-1450	Not Required
17	United States Naval Academy	Required(Do not accept scores from tests with accomodations)	Not Required	No Official Policy	26-32	1150-1370	No Official Policy
17	Wesleyan University	Test Optional(Score supression policy)	Not Required	Superscores	30-34	1320-1500	Not Required
21	Bates College	Test Optional	Not Required	Superscores	29-32	1290-1460	Not Required
21	United States Military Academy	Required	Not Required	No Official Policy	23-28	1185-1400	Required
23	Harvey Mudd College	Required	2 Subject Tests Required(One must be Math 2)	Superscores	34-35	1490-1560	Not Required
23	University of Richmond	Required	Not Required	Superscores	30-33	1290-1460	Not Required
25	Barnard College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	30-33	1330-1500	Not Required
25	Macalester College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	29-33	1310-1500	Not Required
27	Bryn Mawr College	Test Optional(Required for International Applicants)	Not Required	Superscores	28-33	1300-1500	Not Required
27	College of the Holy Cross	Test Optional	Not Required	No Official Policy	28-32	1270-1420	Not Required
27	Colorado College	Test Optional(May be required for athletes and International Applicants)	Not Required	Superscores	29-33	1300-1470	Not Required
27	Kenyon College	Required	Not Required	Superscores	29-33	1280-1470	Not Required
27	Soka University of America	Required	Not Required	No Official Policy	25-30	1180-1410	Required

National Universities' SAT and ACT Policies

Rank	University	ACT/SAT Required	SAT Subject Tests Policy	Superscore Policy(ACT and New SAT)	Average ACT Score Range	Average SAT Score Range	ACT/SAT Writing Section
1	Princeton University	Required	Two Subject Tests Recommended	Does not superscore	32-35	1440-1570	Not Required
2	Harvard University	Required	Two Subject Tests Recommended	Does not superscore	33-35	1460-1580	Not Required
3	Columbia University	Required	Not Required	Superscores	33-35	1450-1560	Not Required
3	Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Required	Not Required	Superscores	34-36	1500-1570	Not Required
3	Yale University	Required	Recommended	Superscores	33-35	1450-1560	Not Required
6	Stanford University	Required	Not Required	Superscores	32-35	1420-1570	Not Required
6	University of Chicago	Test-Optional	Not Required	Superscores	33-35	1490-1570	Not Required
6	University of Pennysylvania	Required	Two Subject Tests Recommended	Superscores	32-35	1440-1560	Not Required
9	Northwestern University	Required	Not Required(Click to view exceptions)	Superscores	33-35	1430-1550	Not Required
10	Duke University	Required	Two Subject Tests Recommended	Superscores	33-35	1450-1570	Recommended
10	Johns Hopkins University	Required	One or moreRecommended	Superscores	33-35	1470-1560	Not Required
12	California Institute of Technology	Required	Not Required	Superscores	35-36	1530-1580	Not Required
12	Dartmouth College	Required	Two Subject Tests Recommended	Does not superscore	31-35	1420-1560	Not Required
14	Brown University	Required	Two Subject Tests Recommended	Superscores(Does not super score ACT composite)	32-35	1420-1550	Not Required
15	University of Notre Dame	Required	Not Required	Superscores	33-35	1400-1550	Not Required
15	Vanderbilt University	Required	Not Required	Superscores	33-35	1450-1560	Not Required
17	Cornell University	Required	Not Required	Superscores(Does not super score ACT composite)	32-34	1390-1540	Not Required
17	Rice University	Required	Two Subject Tests Recommended	Does not superscore	33-35	1450-1560	Not Required
19	Washington University in St. Louis	Required	Not Required	Superscores	32-35	1470-1570	Not Required
20	University of California -- Los Angeles	Required	Not Required(Math Level Two and a science test are recommended for the school of engineering)	Does not superscore	28-34	1270-1520	Required
21	Emory University	Required	Recommended	Does not superscore	31-34	1350-1520	Not Required
22	University of California --  Berkeley	Required	Recommended	Does not superscore	28-34	1300-1530	Required
22	University of Southern California	Required	Required for some schools	Does not superscore	30-34	1350-1530	Not Required
24	Georgetown University	Required	Three Subject Tests Recommended	Superscores	31-34	1370-1530	Not Required
25	Carnegie Mellon University	Required	Two Subject Tests Recommended	Only superscores the SAT	33-35	1450-1550	Not Required
26	University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor	Required	Not Required	Does not superscore	30-34	1330-1510	Not Required
27	Wake Forest University	Test Optional	Not Required	Does not superscore	29-33	1310-1470	Not Required
28	University of Virginia	Required	Not Required	Superscores	30-34	1330-1500	Not Required
29	Georgia Institute of Technology	Required	Not Required	Superscores	31-34	1390-1540	Recommended
29	New York University	RequiredCan be substituted with other scores	Required only if ACT/SAT/AP/IB scores are not submitted	Superscores	29-34	1310-1510	Not Required
29	Tufts University	Required	Not Required	Superscores	31-34	1380-1530	Not Required
29	University of North Carolina -- Chapel Hill	Required	Not Required	Superscores	27-33	1270-1470	Not Required
29	University of Rochester	Test Optional	Not Required	Superscores	30-34	1320-1500	Not Required

Do I take the SAT or the ACT?

For us, the choice is relatively simple: it is based on practical realities of the tests. Our argument is about preparation — not preference. Once you take a diagnostic test for either the ACT or the SAT, ask yourself the following question:

How many points do I need to improve?

If you took an SAT diagnostic test and you are more than 270 points from your target score, then we recommend you take the ACT. Why?

If you took an SAT diagnostic test and you are less than 270 points from your target score, then click here.

If you took an ACT diagnostic test and you are more than 7 points from your target score, then we recommend you take the ACT. Why?

If you took an ACT diagnostic test and you are less than 7 points from your target score then click here.

We understand that this might sound a little too simple, too watered down. What about the Science section, you might ask. And what about time management? Isn’t the ACT a lot faster than the SAT? These are valid questions, but they should not determine your choice of test.

We have been teaching these tests for six years now, and the questions above do not compare to the real question: How many points do I need to improve?

Contact us to find out more.

Why does the ACT give me a better chance of a big score improvement?

The answer is in the numbers. Our argument is that the availability of more real practice tests and more official test dates results in bigger score improvements.

Fact 1: The ACT has many more official practice tests than does the SAT.
Evidence: There are 78 official ACT practice tests. There are only 22 official SAT practice tests.

Fact 2: Internationally, the ACT is offered more times than the SAT.
Evidence: The ACT is offered 7 times a year. The SAT is offered 5 times a year.

You can take either test

If you’re within 270 points on the SAT or within 7 points on the ACT from your target score then we recommend that you choose between the two based on test dates.

1. Look at when they are offered (in the tables below)

2. Pick a date at least 5 months in ahead that does not clash with your school exams. Ideally, your test date is at least one month away from school exams.

3. If you had taken an ACT diagnostic test, but you see that SAT test dates are better than the ACT dates, then take an SAT diagnostic test to see what it’s like and start prepping for it.

4. If you had taken an SAT diagnostic test and within 270 points of target score, but you see that ACT test dates are better than the SAT dates, then take an ACT diagnostic test to see what it’s like and start prepping for it.

Bottom line: When you’re in range of target score, both these tests are equal. You could prepare for either and, in all likelihood, get the score you want. However, if you are not within range (270 points on SAT or 7 points on ACT) then, in our opinion, they are not equal. The ACT gives you a better chance of a bigger score improvement and thus a better chance of getting to your target score.

ACT

Test Dates	Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline
April 3rd-4th (CANCELLED)	March 13th (CANCELLED)	March 27th (CANCELLED)
June 12th-13th	May 22nd	June 5th
July 17th-18th	June 26th	July 10th
September 11th-12th (TBC)	August 21st (TBC)	September 4th (TBC)
October 9th-10th (TBC)	September 18th (TBC)	October 2nd (TBC)
December 11th-12th (TBC)	November 20th (TBC)	December 4th (TBC)

SAT

Test Dates	Registration	Late Registration
May 2nd (CANCELLED)	April 3rd (CANCELLED)	April 22nd (CANCELLED)
June 6th (Subject Tests Only)	May 8th	May 27th
August 29th	TBC	TBC
October 3rd (TBC)	TBC	TBC
December 5th (TBC)	TBC	TBC

Perfect 10: Writing the Common Application Activity List

On the Common Application, you will be asked to list a variety of basic biographical information that ranges from you parents’ occupations to your address. You will be asked your academic history; you will be asked for your test scores; you will, crucially, be asked for your activity list. 

The activity list is exactly what it sounds like: a concise summary of your extracurricular engagements from grade 9 to grade 12. You are asked to list these based on the number of years you’ve spent on each activity, number of weeks per year, and number of hours per week. You must give your designation for each activity; you must also submit a 150 character activity description, which is where the craft of activity list creation begins.

Submitting a well-written activity list is the most important thing you can do in order to demonstrate the scope of your academic and extracurricular engagement to admissions teams. This is the perfect place to summarise your profile — a coherent and demonstrated record of increasing engagement with your chosen academic field, from Grade 9 up to Grade 12.

The Common App form allows you to input 10 activities, each with a description of just 150 characters (including spaces)! The UC form is much more generous with the space it provides you: 20 activities which can be described in 500 characters each. Application forms for UIUC, ApplyTexas, and Canadian universities have their own word counts and specifications, but most effective activity lists are structured according to similar principles.

We’re here to help you develop an impressive activity list that shows colleges just how proactive, focused, yet diverse you are in your interests and pursuits. Here’s some tips to get you started:

1. Order your activities based on degree of importance.

   • Activities in which you have invested a lot of time and effort deserve a place at the top of the list, as do selective or credit-bearing programs.

2. Focus on your scope of action.

   • In the limited space you have, you want colleges to know in what capacity you have contributed to a certain initiative or program — it will give them an indication of how you might benefit their university campus in the future.

3. Numbers are just as important!

   • If your social project has directly impacted a large number of lives, you have raised significant amounts of money for a specific cause, or you hold an impressive sports ranking, it’s a big deal — let colleges know what you are capable of achieving.

4. Some things are bound to be left out.

   • We know you’ve done 2 summer schools, volunteered at 3 NGOs, and interned at 5 publication houses, but there’s no way everything you’ve ever done can be included in this concise list. Remember to be selective and only choose the activities that demonstrate your best personal achievements.

An Example

Let’s see what a bad Common App entry looks like:

Founder of XYZ Initiative
Istarted an innovative social project called XYZ which works towards the objective of making quality education accessible to all sections of society.
(150 characters)

Why is this a bad entry?

To begin with, it violates Rule 2 — it gives the reader no specifics about what you’ve done with regard to this project. Second, 150 characters is just not enough space to write a long sentence with extraneous descriptives; in fact, your description can comprise just phrases explaining your engagement in the project and its impact.

How can you fix this entry?

Founder, XYZ Initiative
Worked to widen access to quality education; partnered with NGO ABC; developed educational content for students of Class 3; conducted 10 workshops
(146 characters)

Take your time to think about why this version works better to showcase your profile. Understand these simple tips, and you’re on your way to the college of your dreams!

Tongue-Twisters: An Essai Guide to the TOEFL & IELTS Exams

If you are planning to study abroad in an English-speaking country for your Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree, you will most likely have to submit either an IELTS or TOEFL score. The TOEFL and IELTS are two of the most widely-accepted tests to certify your English proficiency, which determine your English level by assessing your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. 

So, what exactly is the IELTS?

IELTS is an abbreviation for International English Language Testing System. The test is available in two formats: ‘IELTS Academic’, for those planning to study at a higher education level abroad; and ‘IELTS General Training’, which focuses on social skills and workplace contexts. In this piece, we will focus on IELTS Academic.

The IELTS test uses British English and consists of four parts: reading, listening, writing and speaking. It takes two hours and 45 minutes to complete, including transfer time from one section to the next. In India, the IELTS exam is offered by two institutions: the British Council and an Australian organization known as the IDP. At essai, we prefer to use the services of IDP, as they offer both a paper-based IELTS exam in addition to the computer-based IELTS exam. Additionally, the design of the IDP tests allows you to send all of your scores through an online portal. In contrast, if you take the exam administered by the British Council, you have to physically send your documents and a demand draft signed by your bank to the British Council office in Gurgaon in order to send your scores.

And what about the TOEFL?

TOEFL is an acronym for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is an English proficiency test, developed by an American company, ETS, to measure an individual’s reading, speaking, writing, and listening proficiency in American English. There are two methods of taking this test; it can be taken as a Paper-Based Test (TOEFL PBT) or an Internet-Based Test (TOEFL IBT); TOEFL IBT, however, is more popular. The test takes four hours to complete. 

Comparing IELTS and TOEFL

For the UK, you can submit a TOEFL score for your application; however, only the IELTS UKVI, is accepted to support the UK Visa and Immigration application. But for Canada and the US, both the TOEFL or IELTS will work across all universities. For admissions purposes, both have equal weightage — however, if you are determined to attend a UK university, you’re better off with IELTS.

But do you really need to take these exams?

Kind of. Most colleges require you to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores if you do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution or from one of the English speaking countries (India doesn’t count). This might seem odd to you, as English has probably been the primary medium of instruction at school throughout our academic journey. Along with this, you’ve probably also taken the ACT or SAT examinations (which already test your skills in English). It is important to note therefore, that while the system is flawed, there are some ways in which you can get around these requirements.   

It is possible for you to request a waiver for these English language proficiency exams — but first, you are expected to satisfy different conditions by different universities. Sometimes you can be automatically exempted, based on ACT/SAT score; sometimes, you have to send in an English Proficiency Certificate; sometimes, you have to write and request a waiver; and sometimes, you simply have to take the TOEFL/IELTS.

Depending on the the university requirements, you may be required to specify the particulars if not already covered as an automatic exemption. In such cases, the admissions committees will most likely evaluate the validity of the waiver request on a case by case basis. Here’s a list that covers the TOEFL/IELTS waiver policy of different universities:

College Name	Score Exemption Policy	Form / Admissions Email
Babson	SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing: 650 or higher ACT English: 27 or higher	ugradadmission@babson.edu
Bentley	Earned a score of 650 or higher on the SAT Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section. Earned an ACT reading and English score of 29 or higher.	ugadmission@bentley.edu
Boston College	You score 650 or above on the SAT EBRW or 29 or better on the ACT English section.	bclawadm@bc.edu.
Boston Uni	Waiver requests must be received by the application deadline and must accompany a complete application (no specific exemption policy)	admissions@bu.edu
Brown	Brown does not require a test of English proficiency, but our most competitive applicants whose main language of instruction throughout high school is not English will submit the IELTS/TOEFL.	admission@brown.edu
Boston Uni	Waiver requests must be received by the application deadline and must accompany a complete application (no specific exemption policy)	admissions@bu.edu
Chapman	600 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. 24 on both the ACT English and Reading sections (studying in English schools makes them automatically review you for a waiver)	admit@chapman.edu
Claremont Mckenna	A waiver can be granted for students whose primary language of instruction throughout high school was English.	admission@claremontmckenna.edu
CMU	No Waiver	admission@andrew.cmu.edu
Cornell	A score of at least 35 on the SAT Reading Test OR a score of 30 or higher on both the ACT Reading and English Sections.	admissions@cornell.edu
Dartmouth	If you currently attend a secondary or post-secondary academic program conducted in English, then this testing requirement is waived.	admissions.reply@dartmouth.edu
Emory	SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing: 700+ ACT English: 30+ 4 years in English school	admission@emory.edu
GWU	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or Critical Reasoning: 650+ ACT English: 29+	gwadm@gwu.edu
University of Indiana	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing - 560 ACT English section - 21
Northwestern	English-medium school will qualify kids for waiver	admission@northwestern.edu
Notre Dame	SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 650+ ACT English or Reading: 26+	admissions@nd.edu
NYU	Your education has been completed entirely in schools/colleges/universities where the language of instruction is English.	admissions.ops@nyu.edu
Santa Clara	ACT Reading: 27 and ACT English: 27 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 630	admission@scu.edu
UMass Amherst	Entire secondary education (four years) is at a school where English is the primary language of instruction and the British or American curriculum is followed	mail@admissions.umass.edu
UNC-Chapel Hill	Waiver granted on case-by-case basis	unchelp@admissions.unc.edu
UPenn	No Waiver	info@admissions.upenn.edu
USC	650 on the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing exam (redesigned SAT) OR 27 on the ACT English exam	admissions@usc.edu admitusc@usc.edu

The Colon

Everyone knows how to use a colon, right? Or maybe not.

The most common misconception is that colons are just about lists, but that’s being unfair to the colon: it can do a lot more than just list things.

Unsurprisingly, the colon is quite similar to a semicolon. Remember, with a semicolon, there must be an independent clause (subject and conjugated verb) on either side of the semicolon. In other words, the semicolon is interchangeable with a full stop.

FORMULA: IC ; IC. = S + CV ; S + CV.

The colon is a little bit different, however. Just like a semicolon, a colon must have an IC before the colon. But unlike the semicolon, you can have pretty much anything you want after a colon: an IC, a phrase, a list, even just one word. While the semicolon is wedded to independent clauses, the colon is a bit more willing to play the field.

FORMULA: IC : Anything. = S + CV : Anything.

Even if there is a bit more wiggle room with the colon, you still need to be careful how you use it. It must be preceded by an independent clause, but that independent clause must also be a complete thought. Have a look at the example below:

EXAMPLE: They passed by villages and cities, such as: Mirzapur, Sirsa, and Allahabad.

This is an incorrect use of a colon. We do have a subject (They) and conjugated verb (passed) before the colon, but we do not have a complete thought. Why? Well because you can’t finish a clause with such as because it leaves you with an incomplete thought –you’re expecting something else to happen.

Another way of putting it is to say that what is before the colon must be able to stand on its own. Ignoring what comes after the colon, imagine putting a full stop instead of the colon: if that makes sense, you could use a colon; if not, then you can’t use a colon.

Let’s have a look at some examples of correct colon usage:

IC : IC
They walked to the river bank: the boatman’s vessel lay nestled among the reeds.
S + CV : S +   CV

On the boat, Tanvi and Ganesh hid under a blanket: Horatio might be searching for them.
S +       CV                   : S + CV

IC : Phrase
The boatman, Dilip, heaved off slowly from the bank: the beginning of their river journey.
S             + CV                                           : Phrase

IC : List
Flocks of birds flew overhead in the dawn light: storks, cranes, and a few stray flamingos.
S       + CV                                    : List

IC : Word
Dilip started the boat engine, overwhelming the boat with one smell: diesel.
S +   CV                                                                                                : Word