ACT

A few months ago, James Ashley took the SAT. The SAT, the Scholastic Aptitude Test, has long been the standard exam for those applying to universities in the US. He scored 2100 out of 2400, a good score by any standard. Ashley, 18, didn't stop there however. He had heard about another exam – the ACT – and word had it that it was easier than the SAT and like the SAT, was also accepted by all American colleges.

When it came down to comparing his scores, Ashley found that his ACT score of 34 out of 36, was better than his SAT score.

"My ACT score was much higher, and I believe the exam itself is easier than the SAT,"he said . He has sent both his scores to the US universities.

The ACT, a college-entry test comprises English, reading, mathematics and science questions, is increasingly being seen as an easier test for Nigerian students, with its emphasis on numerical abilities over linguistic and verbal ones. So far, Nigerian students have overwhelmingly chosen to take the SAT.

Though the ACT does not give out specific data on the number of tests and test takers from different countries, officials said there had been a "steady increase" from Nigeria in the test. Further, in the past three years, they had been besieged by applications for opening new centres.

There has been a steady increase in the number of students taking the ACT in Nigeria and ACT is actively exploring options to expand the availability of the ACT American university admissions test in Nigeria.