The ACT helps colleges evaluate your readiness for college-level work and provides colleges with one common data point to compare applicants. Thinking of taking the ACT? Here's a quick overview of what to expect.
The ACT measures what you have learned throughout high school. The exam consists of three multiple-choice sections: English, mathematics, and reading with optional science and writing sections.
The thee core sections of the ACT (English, mathematics, and reading) have 131 total questions which you have two hours and five minutes to complete. The optional science section has 40 questions, and you have 40 minutes to complete them. The optional writing section has just one essay, and you have 40 minutes to complete it. The ACT can be taken online or on paper.
The English section measures your mastery of the elements of effective writing. You’ll be asked to evaluate several essays and answer multiple choice questions about each essay. Questions focus on three areas:
The ACT English section has 50 questions, and you have 35 minutes to complete them.
The ACT reading section features several prose passages of varying lengths that represent the levels and kinds of reading typically encountered in first-year college courses. You’ll be asked to
The ACT Reading section has 36 questions, and you have 40 minutes to complete them.
The Math section measures the mathematical skills that students have typically acquired by the beginning of grade 12. You’ll be asked to solve a wide range of math problems involving functions, geometry, statistics, probability, algebra, modeling, averages, medians, and percentages. You may use an approved calculator but unlike the SAT, which provides certain math formulas to use in solving problems on the test, the ACT does not provide math formulas. Formulas must be learned and memorized before taking the test.
The ACT mathematics section has 45 questions, and you have 50 minutes to complete them.
Your scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly. No points are deducted for questions left blank or answered incorrectly. Your composite ACT score is the average of the three required sections, rounded to the nearest whole number.
ACT scores range from 1 - 36, with 36 being a perfect score. According to the ACT, scores of 24 - 28 are considered competitive at many selective colleges; however, the most selective colleges often require ACT scores of 30 and above.
If you’re looking to start your ACT prep plan, the ACT website offers testing tips and free practice questions, along with an online prep course. There are also many other test prep resources available online and at your local library and bookstore.
Counselors often recommend that students take the ACT for the first time in the fall or spring of their junior year, so they will have time to take the test again if they would like. Be sure to confirm the last possible date you can take the test with the colleges on your list and verify whether any of them require or accept scores from the ACT Science or Writing Tests.
When you register for the ACT, you can have your scores sent at no cost to four colleges.. Additional score reports can be sent for a fee per college. If you’d rather see your scores before deciding where to send them, you can wait, but you’ll need to pay a fee to send them later. Fee waivers are available for students who qualify.
Students who take the ACT more than once can submit their best scores from the English, mathematics, and reading sections as well as a “superscore” combining their highest section results across test dates into one composite score.
Many colleges and universities do not require the SAT or ACT for admission, but many of these schools will consider your test scores if you submit them. Strong scores on the ACT can help your application stand out. For a listing of test-optional schools, visit fairtest.org
Ready to register for the ACT? See ACT Testing Updates for test dates and registration deadlines and start making your ACT prep plan. Good luck!