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I Want To Achieve More Than My Parents

ACT established the ACT Scholars program to nurture the academic talent of graduate and community college students at the University of I...

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ACT established the ACT Scholars program to nurture the academic talent of graduate and community college students at the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College, respectively. These institutions share ACT’s commitment to helping all learners achieve their college and career goals. Each ACT Scholar’s story reflects resilience, passion, and a vision for the future.

For ACT Scholar Komi Segbedgi, college is more than an education, it’s a chance to honor his parents’ sacrifices and pursue opportunities they never had. At Kirkwood Community College, Komi has found a community where diversity enriches his experience and expands his perspective. With support from the ACT Scholar program, he’s been able to shift from balancing full-time work and full-time study to focusing more deeply on his academic goals.

Hear Komi’s advice for other students, the challenges he’s overcome, and what receiving the ACT scholarship has meant to his journey in the video.




7 Ways the ACT WorkKeys Program Is a Game-Changer for Workforce Development

Finding qualified candidates is a challenge for both employers and colleges. What if there were a way to bridge the gap between classroom le...

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man showing an employee how to work on machinery

Finding qualified candidates is a challenge for both employers and colleges. What if there were a way to bridge the gap between classroom learning and job performance? That’s where the ACT WorkKeys® program steps in. WorkKeys is a comprehensive initiative designed to prepare individuals for success in the workplace. Here’s why it’s a game-changer:

1. Real-World Skill Focus

WorkKeys assessments are built around practical, job-relevant skills like applied technology, business writing, and essential skills. These aren’t abstract academic tests; they reflect the actual tasks people face on the job. In fact, a recent ACT research study reported that a vast majority of students surveyed feel that they would be better prepared for college and the workplace with courses focused on developing essential skills.

2. Contextualized Assessments

WorkKeys assessments are contextualized to real-life workplace scenarios, helping individuals demonstrate how well they can apply academic knowledge and work skills in real-world settings.

3. Nationally Recognized Credential

The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is awarded to those who show proficiency in the core skill areas of applied math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents. Recognized by thousands of employers nationwide, it helps job seekers stand out and gives employers confidence in hiring decisions.

4. Career Exploration & Skill Gap Analysis

WorkKeys goes beyond testing. It offers tools for career exploration, identifying skill gaps, and developing targeted training plans, empowering individuals to grow, adapt, and create a path toward achieving their goals.

5. Job Profiling for Employers

The Job Profile component helps employers define the skill levels needed for specific roles. This ensures better alignment between workforce capabilities and job demands, improving hiring, training, and promotion decisions.

6. Broad Adoption Across Sectors

WorkKeys is used by employers, workforce agencies, states, individuals, and educational institutions alike. Its widespread adoption underscores its value in supporting career readiness and economic development.

7. Bridging Education and Employment

By emphasizing and assessing skills that are important in the workplace, WorkKeys helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and job performance, creating stronger talent pipelines for communities and industries.

The bottom line: ACT WorkKeys benefits just about everyone

As we celebrate Workforce Development Month, it’s important to acknowledge that ACT’s WorkKeys program is more than just a set of assessments—it’s a strategic tool for building a skilled, adaptable workforce. Whether you're a student, job seeker, educator, or employer, incorporating WorkKeys assessments and curricula into candidate searches, job searches, internships, and apprenticeships offers a clear path to success in today’s dynamic job market.

Bridging Access and Opportunity with the ACT Fee Waiver Program

For many students, the ACT is more than a test; it’s a bridge to post-secondary opportunities. But for learners facing financial barriers, e...

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headshot of Kagan Word
For many students, the ACT is more than a test; it’s a bridge to post-secondary opportunities. But for learners facing financial barriers, even the registration fee can feel like an impossible hurdle. The ACT Fee Waiver Program offers learners in need the opportunity to take the test and open doors to possibilities beyond high school. With access for all learners as a cornerstone of the ACT mission, this program helps them build confidence and prepare for long-term success.

Kagan Word, a 2022 fee waiver recipient, is now a Biology/Pre-Med student at Tennessee State University, a historically black college and university. His high school counselor at Forrest City High School, in Arkansas, a strong mentor to the entire student body, ensured the class was aware of the ACT Fee Waiver Program and encouraged them to take advantage of it.

Kagan knew he needed to take the ACT to gain acceptance into college with opportunities for merit scholarships, so he immediately jumped at the idea of applying for a waiver. He emphasized the importance of school counselors in spreading awareness and guidance throughout the process and reflected on how that shared knowledge made him feel. “It meant that my education and future were valued by not only myself but by my school and ACT itself. It also boosted my confidence in pursuing opportunities both educationally and professionally.”

Additionally, Kagan shared that receiving the fee waiver motivated him to study harder and take advantage of the opportunity being afforded him. “With the test being free, I wanted to give it my best shot—so I put in a lot of work to study and prepare.”

Learners such as Kagan, who are recipients of the program, benefit not only from increased college and career opportunities but may also develop healthy study habits and increase confidence in their post-secondary endeavors.

Why This Matters

The ACT Fee Waiver Program is about more than just gaining access to the test; it’s a collective effort with a ripple effect.
  • Educators play a critical role in informing and guiding learners toward fee waivers. Stories like Kagan’s show how a simple conversation can change a learner’s trajectory.
  • For parents and guardians, fee waivers ease financial stress and empower children to pursue college with confidence, so it’s important to work with school counselors who can determine eligibility.
  • Employers benefit too! Learners who take advantage of the ACT Fee Waiver Program now can be valuable employees later. Giving them those opportunities can help build a stronger, more prepared workforce.
  • Finally, for influencers and advocates, sharing stories like Kagan’s helps normalize the use of fee waivers, encouraging more learners to consider postsecondary options.
When educators, parents, and community leaders join forces to promote the ACT Fee Waiver Program, financial barriers are broken down and pathways are built for all learners’ success. This simple act of collaboration empowers the next generation of leaders to realize their full potential.

New ACT Study: Gen Z Male Students Are More Optimistic About AI Than Female Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Research shows a notable gender gap in how students view AI’s impact on education and careers. IOWA CITY, IA — Male s...

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males student on laptop with AI graphics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Research shows a notable gender gap in how students view AI’s impact on education and careers.

IOWA CITY, IA — Male students, on average, are noticeably more optimistic in their views toward artificial intelligence (AI) compared to their female peers, according to new research from ACT. The report, released today, highlights a notable gender gap in high school students’ perspectives on AI, including its trustworthiness, potential impact on jobs, and its role in society.

The research shows that, in addition to having more optimistic views, male students were also more likely than female students to agree that knowing how to use AI would help prepare them for a college major, give them an advantage when applying to college, and be important in their planned college majors.

“We found that students viewed some aspects of AI, such as its potential effect on their lives, more favorably than others, and that AI can be related to a student’s choice of college major,” said Jeff Schiel, a lead research scientist at ACT and author of the report. The study also found that students’ attitudes toward AI are positively related to the amount of AI training they receive in high school.

The research and report are based on a survey of students who registered for the ACT in December 2024. In the survey, some students shared examples of how AI has changed their future academic and career plans.

“I used to be very interested in computer science, but the emergence of AI has made me think that the need for humans in computer science will be obsolete in the future,” wrote one high schooler, who is an aspiring health sciences and technology major.

Another student shared that, “With the advancement of AI, I wanted even more to go into medicine to see how artificial intelligence can help the overall well-being of the people.”

Other students, however, were less optimistic about how AI impacts their future job prospects.

“I originally was interested in graphic design. But after seeing the abundance of AI-generated art and how companies have been taking advantage of it, I fear the job will not be as dependable financially and will not be seen as valuable to others,” replied one student who initially was an aspiring arts major.

Key Findings:
  • Training in AI: As the amount of high school training in how to use AI increased, students’ views toward AI grew more positive.
  • College Majors and AI: Students planning to study art-related majors in college tended to be more concerned about AI taking away jobs compared to those planning computer science, math, engineering, health sciences, and technology majors.
  • College Preparation: Overall, 60% of students agreed that knowing how to use AI would help prepare them for a college major or degree program.
About the Report
The report is based on responses to an online survey administered to a random sample of 81,689 high school students from Grades 9-12 who registered for the December 2024 national ACT test. A total of 3,816 students responded to the survey. Read the full report to learn more about student perspectives on AI.


About ACT:
ACT is transforming college and career readiness pathways so that everyone can discover and fulfill their potential. Grounded in more than 65 years of research, ACT’s learning resources, assessments, research, and work-ready credentials are trusted by students, job seekers, educators, schools, government agencies, and employers in the U.S. and around the world to help people achieve their education and career goals at every stage of life. Visit us at www.act.org.  
Contact: publicrelations@act.org


ACT Research: Unlocking Success Through Essential Skills Development

Education is about more than grades or degrees — it’s also about equipping students with the tools they need to excel in life and work. Over...

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Group of students on lawn high fiving each other
Education is about more than grades or degrees — it’s also about equipping students with the tools they need to excel in life and work. Over the years, the spotlight on "essential skills" (formerly referred to as social-emotional learning or SEL) has intensified, and for good reason. These skills, encompassing traits like grit, teamwork, resilience, curiosity, and leadership, are critical for personal growth and professional success. We have conducted pivotal research to understand how essential skills can bridge gaps in preparedness, benefiting students’ academic journeys and eventual entry into the workforce.

What are essential skills?

Essential skills are the foundational traits and behaviors that influence how individuals think, act, and respond to challenges. These traits can be cultivated through formal education, life experience, and intentional development programs. For this research, the essential skills examined include the following key qualities:
  • Grit – Persistence, goal orientation, and diligence in achieving objectives.
  • Teamwork – Collaboration, empathy, and trust when working with others.
  • Resilience – Effective stress management and the ability to bounce back after setbacks.
  • Curiosity – Openness to new perspectives, creativity, and a willingness to learn.
  • Leadership – Optimism, assertiveness, and the ability to inspire and influence others.

These skills are universally applicable, shaping everything from relationships to classroom and workplace behavior. Many employers have now expressed the need to prioritize candidates who demonstrate these transferable traits.

The growing importance of essential skills

Our research highlights the key role that essential skills play in both education and employment. Reports from the World Economic Forum indicate that seven of the top 10 core skills needed in today’s workforce are closely linked to key attributes such as collaboration, adaptability, and resilience. But why does this matter?

Here’s a breakdown of what our surveys revealed about students’ perceptions of these skills' importance:

High school students
  • Over 92% of surveyed high school students agreed that essential skills are vital for success in college.
  • Many students recognized their strengths in these areas but expressed a desire for further development to feel more prepared for higher education.
  • Some cited challenges, such as managing lifestyle changes, academic pressures, and the college admissions process, as reasons for feeling less equipped to transition to college.
College students
  • Nearly 97% of college students agreed that essential skills are crucial for workforce readiness.
  • However, 28% admitted they felt unprepared to enter the workforce, often pointing to gaps in leadership, resilience, and hands-on experience.
  • Interestingly, many students supported the idea of college coursework or programs explicitly focused on essential skill development.
Current challenges in essential skill development

While essential skills have gained traction in K-12 education, their integration into higher education has lagged. Programs focusing on grit, teamwork, curiosity, and other crucial attributes are widely adopted in primary and secondary schools, often as part of essential skills standards. However, there’s less standardization and fewer resources for essential skill initiatives at the college level.

This gap can leave students underprepared for the demanding transition from high school to college or from college to the workforce. Our research identified several reasons for this disparity:
  1. Lack of formal programming: While some colleges offer optional workshops or first-year courses on life skills, these initiatives often lack consistency or scale.
  2. Limited awareness: Both students and faculty may underestimate the importance of essential skills development, focusing solely on academic performance.
  3. Structural barriers: Implementing new curricula in higher education is often complicated by constrained budgets, competing priorities, and institutional resistance to change.
The case for essential skill curricula in higher education

Our findings make a compelling case for bridging these gaps through structured, well-designed essential skill programs in colleges. Here’s what the data suggests:
  1. Boosting preparedness: Students who participated in essential skills interventions during K-12 education exhibited better stress management, improved academic performance, and higher levels of civic engagement. Extending such programming into college could enhance workforce readiness and personal resilience.
  2. Student interest: Both high school and college students expressed strong support for college-level programs. For example, nearly 85% of college students agreed that essential skills should be taught in college. Furthermore, over 70% said they would enroll in a course specifically designed to improve these traits.
  3. Scalable models: We highlighted examples of effective implementation in higher education settings, such as digital badges signifying skill mastery, residential programs fostering leadership, and first-year seminars integrating essential skill lessons. These scalable approaches showcase the adaptability of such programs for diverse campus environments.
What’s next: A call to action

It’s clear that essential skills aren’t just nice to have – they’re vital for thriving in today’s educational and professional landscapes. However, capitalizing on their benefits requires a shift in institutional priorities. Educators, administrators, and policymakers must work together to integrate essential skills into the core of college education. Possible steps include:
  • Developing credit-bearing courses: By offering essential skills courses as core or elective subjects, colleges can encourage broader student participation.
  • Integrating skills into existing curricula: Essential skills content can complement existing coursework, such as embedding teamwork exercises into group projects or introducing lessons on grit in capstone seminars. The ACT WorkKeys Essential Skills Curriculum offers a framework to help educators seamlessly implement these skills into their coursework.
  • Leveraging digital tools: Badges, modules, and online certifications can make skill-building more flexible and accessible for students.
  • Building in faculty professional development: Successful implementation will require training and supporting instructors in recognizing and fostering essential skills among their students.
Students also play a role by advocating for programs that support their holistic development. Essential skills affect everything from their academic performance to their career trajectory. By investing in these areas, institutions can better prepare learners to lead, create, and inspire in an increasingly interconnected, competitive world.

The bottom line

The road to success demands more than just technical knowledge or degrees. Grit helps students persevere through challenges. Teamwork drives collaboration in diverse environments. Resilience allows individuals to bounce back stronger, while curiosity and leadership enable innovative thinking and influence.

The evidence is clear, and the demand is growing. Essential skills not only improve educational outcomes but also prepare students to face the real-world challenges of adulthood. It’s time for colleges to rise to the occasion. Prioritizing the integration of essential skills into higher education is not just a step forward; it’s an investment in the leaders of tomorrow.



EdTech Veteran, Eric Wenck Joins ACT as Chief Technology Officer

For Immediate Release: Iowa City, IA - ACT today announced that edtech veteran Eric Wenck has joined the assessment company as chief techno...

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Headshot of Eric Wenck

For Immediate Release:

Iowa City, IA - ACT today announced that edtech veteran Eric Wenck has joined the assessment company as chief technology officer.

“This leadership position is paramount to our continued growth and success and reflects our unwavering commitment to world-class experiences for learners, educators, team members, and ACT partners,” said ACT CEO Janet Godwin. “With 35 years in the information technology and education industries, I’m confident Eric is poised to lead ACT’s technology initiatives well into the future.”

Eric will lead a team of approximately 200 team members working with Product and Operations teams to deliver enhancements to current services, new products, and optimal internal systems to ensure the highest quality experiences for everyone engaged with ACT.

“Having built my career in the education and technology space, I’ve been able to combine my passions for mission-based work and business discipline,” Wenck said. “I can’t think of a better place than ACT to continue that work by developing technological innovations to help realize the company mission of leading the industry in best-in-class educational products and services. It’s truly a privilege to join ACT.”

In addition to its flagship college readiness test, ACT provides PreACT assessments, work-ready assessments that lead to recognized certification, and assessments for international students seeking to demonstrate their English-language skills and readiness for college in the United States and other countries.

The ACT is equally accepted at all major institutions of higher education in the United States, including Ivy League schools, and at more than 400 higher ed institutions outside of the U.S.

“Everyone at ACT recognizes that our systems provide critical points of connection between learners, educators, institutions of higher education, and future employers,” Wenck said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to help ensure those systems remain reliable and expandable to meet growing and changing needs.”

Manage Your Time, Manage It Well

ACT established the ACT Scholars program to nurture the academic talent of graduate and community college students at the University of...

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ACT established the ACT Scholars program to nurture the academic talent of graduate and community college students at the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College, respectively. These institutions share ACT’s commitment to helping all learners achieve their college and career goals. Each ACT Scholar’s story reflects resilience, passion, and a vision for the future.

For ACT Scholar Konstantin Titarenko, college is both a family legacy and a personal opportunity. Inspired by his parents’ determination to earn their degrees after immigrating to the United States, Konstantin is pursuing his education at Kirkwood Community College while balancing work, classes, and leadership as co-chair of the school’s sustainability club.

With help from the ACT scholarship, he’s able to focus more on studying and building connections while worrying less about his finances.

Hear Konstantin’s advice for fellow students, the role his family’s example has played in his journey, and what the ACT scholarship has meant to him in the video.


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