The duration of the ACT occupies 2 hours and 55 minutes with an optional 30 minute Writing Sample. Visit ACTstudent.org to learn more from the official ACT sponsors.
| Section | Length | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| English | 45 minutes | Usage/Mechanics, Rhetoric Skills, Grammar |
| Math | 60 minutes |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry
|
| Reading | 35 minutes |
Prose Fiction, Social Science, Natural Science & Humanities
|
| Science | 35 minutes | Science-based passages presented with graphs, charts, tables and research summaries |
| Writing | 40 Minutes |
Write a response with your position on a given issue
|
Here is what each student can expect from each section. English is comprised of 75 multiple-choice questions. Over the course of 45 minutes, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and rhetorical skills will be tested with a diverse variety of questions. Next, the Math section will cover algebra I, algebra II, geometry, and trigonometry through 60 multiple-choice questions. Additionally, the Reading portion offers the student 4 passages the student must read, comprehend, and then answer 40 multiple-choice questions. Finally, the last mandatory section, Science, gives the student various passages, charts, and graphs related to science, which the student must utilize to effectively answer 40 multiple-choice questions. If the student chooses to take the Writing section, they will have 40 minutes to write one essay on a given topic. The student should analyze the topic, give their own perspective, and explain the relationship between their perspective and other potential opinions.