The ACT is composed of five sections:
- Four multiple-choice sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science
- One optional essay section: Writing
Total testing time is:
- 2 hours and 55 minutes for the ACT without Writing
- 3 hours and 35 minutes for the ACT with Writing
The breakdown of each section is as follows:
Section | Number of Questions & Time Limit | Content/Skills Covered | Question Types |
English | 75 questions in 45 min. | Grammar & usage, punctuation, sentence structure, strategy, organization, and style | Four-choice, multiple-choice usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills questions |
Math | 60 questions in 60 min. | Pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry | five-choice, multiple-choice questions |
Reading | 40 questions in 35 min. | Reading comprehension of what is directly stated or implied | Four-choice, multiple-choice referring and reasoning questions |
Science | 40 questions in 35 min. | Interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem solving | Four-choice, multiple-choice data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints questions |
Writing (Optional) | 01 essay in 40 min. | Writing skills | Essay prompt |