US Students
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ACT Exam Sections, Structure & Timing:
The Complete Official Guide
What Sections Are on
the ACT?
The ACT test consists of multiple-choice sections—English, mathematics and reading—with an optional science and writing section. Some colleges and universities require or accept ACT writing scores, so you may consider taking the writing section.
Exam Section Details
| Test | Questions | Minutes per Test | What it Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 50 (40 scored) | 35 | Grammar, usage, and rhetorical skills |
| Mathematics | 45 (41 scored) | 50 | Mathematical reasoning from pre-algebra through trigonometry |
| Reading | 36 (27 scored) | 40 | Comprehension and analysis of literary and informational texts |
| Science (Optional) | 40 (34 scored) | 40 | Data interpretation and scientific reasoning across biology, chemistry, earth sciences, and physics |
| Writing (Optional) | 1 essay | 40 | One essay evaluating your ability to develop and support a position on a complex issue |
What is on the English Section of the ACT Test?
The ACT English portion includes several passages, each followed by multiple-choice questions that assess your ability to revise and edit written text. Questions highlight specific parts of the passage, either underlined on paper tests or highlighted online, and ask you to choose the option that best improves clarity, effectiveness, and correctness.
Topics Covered on the ACT English Section
- Production of Writing (29–32 percent)
Focuses on understanding a passage's purpose, development, and organization, including how well ideas are introduced, supported, and connected. - Knowledge of Language (15–17 percent)
Measures effective language use, including precise and concise wording and consistent tone. - Conventions of Standard English (52–55 percent)
Covers grammar, usage, mechanics, sentence structure, punctuation, and overall adherence to standard English rules.
What’s on the Math Section of the ACT Test?
The ACT Math section measures skills typically learned through the beginning of grade 12. Questions focus on the math needed for entry-level college courses and are mostly self-contained, with some tied to shared graphs or charts. A calculator may be used on this section in accordance with ACT’s calculator policy.
Topics Covered on the ACT Math Section:
- Preparing for Higher Math (57–60%)
Algebra, functions, geometry, statistics & probability, and number & quantity - Integrating Essential Skills (40–43%)
Multi-step problems using rates, proportions, averages, and measurement in real-world contexts - Modeling (throughout)
Creating, interpreting, and refining mathematical models within problems
What’s on the Reading Section of the ACT Test?
The ACT Reading section measures how well you understand and analyze passages similar to those used in first-year college courses. You’ll answer multiple-choice questions about main ideas, details, relationships, and an author’s purpose or perspective, including questions that compare paired passages.
Topics Covered on the ACT Reading Section:
- Key Ideas and Details (52–60 percent)
Assesses your ability to identify central ideas and themes, summarize information accurately, understand cause-effect relationships, and draw logical inferences and conclusions.
- Craft and Structure (25–30 percent)
Focuses on interpreting word meanings, analyzing an author's choices, understanding text structure and purpose, and evaluating different perspectives within the passage.
- Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (13–23 percent)
Measures your ability to analyze claims, distinguish fact from opinion, evaluate reasoning and evidence, and make connections between passages on related topics.
What’s on the Science Section of the ACT Test?
The ACT Science section measures your ability to interpret data and analyze scientific information. You’ll answer multiple-choice questions based on passages from biology, chemistry, Earth and space sciences, and physics, focusing on relationships, trends, and predictions using provided data.
Topics Covered on the ACT Science Section:
- Interpretation of Data (40–50 percent)
Assesses your ability to read and analyze data in tables, graphs, and diagrams, identify trends, translate between formats, and apply basic mathematical reasoning.
- Scientific Investigation (20–30 percent)
Focuses on understanding experimental design, including variables and controls, and predicting or extending results from scientific experiments.
- Evaluation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results (25–35 percent)
Measures your ability to evaluate scientific explanations, draw conclusions, and determine which interpretations are supported by the data provided.
What’s on the Writing Section of the ACT Test?
The writing section is an optional 40-minute essay test that measures writing skills taught in high school English classes and entry-level college composition courses. Your writing score does not affect your composite score.
You will be given a prompt describing a complex issue and three different perspectives on it. You are asked to develop your own position and analyze its relationship to one or more of the other perspectives.
Essays are scored on a 2 to 12 scale across four domains:
- Ideas and Analysis — generating relevant ideas and engaging critically with multiple perspectives
- Development and Support — explaining ideas, discussing implications, and illustrating with examples
- Organization — arranging ideas clearly and guiding the reader through your argument
- Language Use and Conventions — using grammar, syntax, word choice, and mechanics to communicate effectively
Some colleges and universities require or accept ACT writing scores, so check the requirements for schools you are considering before deciding whether to take this section.
Tips for Taking the Multiple-Choice Sections
Pace yourself.
It is important that you have enough time to read the passages/questions and figure out your responses. For each section, subtract the number of minutes you estimate you will spend skimming the passages or reading the information provided, then divide the total number of remaining minutes allowed by the number of questions to determine the estimated time you should spend on each question. If possible, spend less time on each question and use the remaining time allowed for a section to review your work and return to the questions in that section that were most difficult for you.
The time limits set for each section give nearly everyone enough time to finish all questions. However, you will want to pace yourself to avoid spending too much time on one passage or puzzling over an answer to a specific problem. Go on to other questions and come back if there is time.
Read the directions carefully.
Before you begin each section, read the directions carefully.
- The English, reading, and science sections ask for the best answer. Read and consider all of the answer choices and choose the answer that best responds to the question.
- The mathematics section asks for the correct answer. You may want to work out the answer you feel is correct and look for it among the choices given. If your answer is not among the choices provided, reread the question and consider all the answer choices.
Read each question carefully.
You need to understand exactly what each question asks. Some questions will require you to go through several steps to
find the correct or best answer, while others can be answered more quickly.
Answer the easy questions first.
A good strategy is to answer the easy questions and skip the questions you find difficult. After answering the easy questions, go back and answer the more difficult questions if you have time.
Use logic on more difficult questions.
When you return to the more difficult questions, try to use logic to eliminate incorrect answers. Compare the answer choices to each other and note how they differ. Such differences may provide clues as to what the question requires. Eliminate as many incorrect answers as you can, then make an educated guess from the remaining answers.
Answer every question.
Your scores in the sections will be based only on the number of questions that you answer correctly; there is no penalty for guessing. Try to answer every question within the time allowed for each section.
Review your work.
If there is time left after you have answered every question in a section, go back and check your work. You will not be allowed to go back to any other section or mark responses to a section after time has been called in that section.