Bob,
Oh yes, the ACT is still alive and kicking! Where I live (in Ohio), most everyone takes the ACT and very few take the SATs. I was eligible through my advanced English class to take the PSAT, which they don't offer often, back in November. And the PLAN test (the practice ACT) is required of all sophomores in my school to take before advancing to 11th grade.
The ACT and SAT are both accepted in most colleges and you can choose to take only one or both of them. The ACT is composed of four different sections (English, Math, Reading, and Science) while the SAT has only three (Math, English, Reading). Also, on the ACT you are encouraged to guess if you don't know the answer, while the SAT takes points off for guessing. (which, as Barnabas would say, bites)
I found the ACT much harder than the PLAN-which is the way it is supposed to be.
I bet Buzz Hackett never even bothered taking the ACT-I doubt he cared about college! Carolyn, on the other hand, probably took the ACT or SAT, but must not have done very well on it, because we don't see her going off to college! However, her and Stokes' "student" got a 36-the highest score!
-Lindsey
