ACT College and Career Readiness
ACT Holistic Framework
Planning for Future Success Starts Now
A Holistic Framework for College and Career Readiness
Shifts in education and the workplace are changing how we must think about college and career readiness in America. It’s that simple.
To help people navigate these shifts from kindergarten to career (K–Career), ACT has created a holistic framework for understanding education and work readiness, navigating life’s transition points, and achieving success.
Read the report:
Beyond Academics: A Holistic Framework for Enhancing Education and Workplace Success (PDF)
ACT College and Career Readiness Standards
Giving Clearer Meaning to Test Scores
What Sets ACT Assessments Apart?
The ACT College and Career Readiness Standards are the backbone of ACT assessments. They describe essential skills and knowledge students need to become ready for college and career, giving clear meaning to test scores and serving as a link between what students have learned and what they are ready to learn next.
The standards encompass the many paths available to students after high school, and they reflect our ability to provide insights related to both college and career readiness.
ACT College Readiness Benchmarks
Setting the Bar for Success
The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are the ACT scores that indicate that students are ready for common first-year college courses.
Educators and policymakers have come to rely on the Benchmarks as an indicator of readiness for college and careers. The Benchmarks can be used to aid in college course placement decisions, identify students who need additional academic support, and as a performance standard for monitoring educational improvement.