Validity of the ACT assessment as an indicator of reading ability

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore the validity of ACT Assessment test results as indicators of reading skill. This was considered important because of the large and growing number of postsecondary institutions using open admission policies and admitting students with a wide range of reading ability. If ACT scores were found to be predictive of reading performance, ACT data could be used to identify those students who might profit from remedial reading training. Various test score combinations were used to predict students’ performance on numerous reading tests at a large number of postsecondary institutions. These studies indicated a high level of predictive accuracy.