Last verified: September 18, 2026 against ACT, Inc. (act.org).
The ACT test has three required multiple-choice sections: English, math, and reading, plus optional science and writing add-ons. The core test takes about 2 hours 5 minutes; adding science and writing brings it to roughly 3 hours 25 minutes.
The exam is offered on paper or on a computer at national test centers. The ACT also offers an optional writing essay. The ACT is used by more than 3,600 colleges, universities, and scholarship agencies to make admission and financial aid decisions. As a result, the test takes the integrity of its scores very seriously. The organization conducts numerous internal and external review processes to ensure that examinees receive accurate, fair, and reliable scores. It also responds to inquiries from college admission officers, high school counselors, and other stakeholders who may have concerns about a score or an incorrect test center report.
Most of the ACT’s content areas focus on what students are likely to have learned in high school, with the exception of the reading and science sections. The ACT’s reading and science sections, which are skills-based, aim to assess students’ ability to read text critically and interpret data and information.
In the ACT’s reading section, test-takers will be asked to understand and interpret texts that cover a wide variety of topics, from humanities to natural sciences to social science. The ACT reading section includes passages that are similar to those students will encounter in first-year college courses.
The ACT has a built-in timer that shows how much time is left on each question. It’s important to use this tool to manage your time effectively. If you are not sure about the answer to a question, try not to linger over it. It’s better to move on and come back to it later than spend too much time on one question and end up missing the rest of the test.
Check out: Complete study guideline of free ACT Practice Test
Please refer to the table below for the complete format and structure of the ACT test:
| Subject Test | Time Allowed | Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| English Test | 35 minutes | 50 questions |
| Mathematics Test | 50 minutes | 45 questions |
| Reading Test | 40 minutes | 36 questions |
| Science Test (optional) | 40 minutes | 40 questions |
| Total (English, Math, Reading) | 125 mins (2 hrs & 5 mins) | 131 questions |
| Total with optional Science | 165 mins (2 hrs & 45 mins) | 171 questions |
Important Note: Science and the essay (Writing, 40 minutes) are both optional add-ons since 2025; only English, Math, and Reading count toward the composite. Try our GRE practice test.
The ACT scoring guide is your one-stop resource for everything you need to know about the test scoring process. It includes information about the different sections of the exam, how your scores are calculated and what you can do to improve your performance on future tests.
Your ACT score is based on how many questions you answer correctly. Unlike some other tests, the ACT doesn’t penalize you for incorrect answers, so it’s important to try to answer every question on each section. You’ll get a raw score for each section—the number of questions you answered correctly—and a scaled score that’s based on how you did relative to other students.
Your composite ACT score is the rounded average of your English, math, and reading section scores; if you take the optional Science section you also receive a STEM score (average of math and science). You’ll also get reporting-category breakdowns for each section. These subscores are based on how well you did in a smaller set of questions that offer more insight into your strengths and weaknesses. However, the subscores don’t add up to your composite ACT score or give you any extra points.
ACT writing is not included in your composite score, but you’ll receive a separate subject score for it. This score is based on the scores of two different readers who evaluate your essay in four categories, or domains: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organization, and Language Use and Conventions.
If you’re applying to colleges, the ACT scoring guide can help you plan your college list by finding the schools where your scores are most competitive. Begin by making a list of dream schools, target schools, and safety schools. Dream schools are where you’d love to go if your grades, test scores, and other qualifications were perfect.
Please refer to the table below:
Students taking community college placement exams can prepare with our free COMPASS college placement test practice — covering reading comprehension, writing skills, and pre-algebra through trigonometry.
Job seekers pursuing ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate can prepare with our free WorkKeys career readiness practice test — covering Applied Math, Workplace Documents, and Business Writing.
If you want more targeted practice, the june act pdf page covers the same material with additional questions and explanations.
| Section | Overall Score Range | Sub-Score Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| English | 1-36 | Usage/Mechanics (1-18) Rhetorical Skills (1-18) Essay (2-12) |
| Math | 1-36 | Pre/Elementary Algebra (1-18) Algebra/Coordinate Geometry (1-18) Plane Geometry/Trigonometry (1-18) |
| Reading | 1-36 | Social Sciences/Sciences (1-18) Arts/Literature (1-18) |
| Science (optional) | 1-36 | Not in the composite; reported in the STEM score (Math + Science) |
Prepare for the ACT - American College Testing exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
Try these questions from our free ACT practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.
Is the ACT Writing test required for all test takers?
Answer: B. No, it is optional
The ACT Writing test is optional, though some colleges require it.
On the ACT Reading test, a question asking for the 'main idea' of a passage is best answered by identifying what?
Answer: A. The central point the whole passage supports
Main-idea questions target the passage's overall central point.
On the ACT English test, the word "OMIT" in an answer choice means:
Answer: A. Delete the underlined portion entirely — it should not be included
When "OMIT the underlined portion" (or "DELETE the underlined portion") appears as an answer choice on ACT English, it means removing the text entirely is the best revision — often used for redundancy or unnecessary information.
The ACT Writing test is scored by how many human raters?
Answer: A. Two raters, each scoring 1–6 across four domains
Two trained raters each score the essay on four domains (Ideas & Analysis, Development & Support, Organization, Language Use & Conventions) on a 1–6 scale. Scores are combined for a total out of 12 per domain.
Disclaimer: This practice test is for educational and preparatory purposes only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ACT, Inc., the official administrator of the ACT exam. For official ACT registration, testing dates, and score reporting, please visit the official ACT website at act.org.