ACT Practice Test
Updated October 2026Facts verified Oct 18, 2026 against ACT, Inc.
- The ACT (English, math and reading Composite) costs $70.00 in the US. (ACT, Inc.)
- The ACT with the optional Science test costs $75.00 in the US. (ACT, Inc.)
Facts verified Oct 18, 2026 against ACT, Inc.. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
ACT Exam at a Glance
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee (EMR Composite) | $70.00 | ACT, Inc. |
| Exam fee (EMR + Science) | $75.00 | ACT, Inc. |
| Exam fee (EMR + Science + Writing) | $100.00 | ACT, Inc. |
| Exam fee (EMR + Writing) | $95.00 | ACT, Inc. |
Facts verified Oct 18, 2026 against ACT, Inc.. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
ACT Test Format
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:
ACT Exam Format & Structure
| 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. Practice with the free ACT practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (500+ questions with answer explanations).
ACT Scoring Guide
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) |
Free ACT Study Tools
Interactive ACT resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
- ACT Science Question and Answers 1 — 21 questions with instant scoring and answer explanations
- ACT flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
- ACT study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
- ACT cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review
ACT Practice Test Questions
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.
ACT English: Punctuation for Clauses and P...
Free ACT Practice Test featuring English: Punctuation for Clauses and Phrases. Improve your ACT Exam score with mock test prep.
ACT English: Rhetorical Strategy
ACT Mock Exam on English: Rhetorical Strategy. ACT Study Guide questions to pass on your first try.
ACT Math: Algebra
ACT Mock Test covering Math: Algebra. Online ACT Test practice with instant feedback.
ACT Math: Functions
Free ACT Quiz on Math: Functions. ACT Exam prep questions with detailed explanations.
ACT Math Practice Test Pool
ACT Practice Questions for Math Practice Test Pool. Build confidence for your ACT certification exam.
ACT Math: Trigonometry
ACT Test Online for Math: Trigonometry. Free practice with instant results and feedback.
ACT Reading: Author's Purpose
Free ACT Test covering Reading: Author's Purpose. Practice and track your ACT exam readiness.
- ✓Review the official ACT exam content outline
- ✓Take a diagnostic practice test to identify weak areas
- ✓Create a study schedule (4-8 weeks recommended)
- ✓Focus on your weakest domains first
- ✓Complete at least 3 full-length practice exams
- ✓Review all incorrect answers with detailed explanations
- ✓Take a final practice test 1 week before exam day
- +Industry-recognized credential boosts your resume
- +Higher earning potential (10-20% salary increase on average)
- +Demonstrates commitment to professional development
- +Opens doors to advanced career opportunities
- −Exam preparation requires significant time investment (4-8 weeks)
- −Certification fees can be $100-$400+
- −May require continuing education to maintain
- −Some employers may not require certification
Sample ACT Practice Questions
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?
- A. Yes, always
- B. No, it is optional
- C. Only for juniors
- D. Only on retakes
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?
- A. The central point the whole passage supports
- B. A single supporting detail
- C. The author's name
- D. The hardest vocabulary word
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:
- A. Delete the underlined portion entirely — it should not be included
- B. Replace the underlined portion with nothing written out
- C. Keep the original underlined text unchanged
- D. Insert a comma at the underlined position
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?
- A. Two raters, each scoring 1–6 across four domains
- B. One rater giving a single holistic score
- C. Three raters averaging their scores
- D. A computer algorithm scoring grammar only
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.
📘 What is the ACT test used for?
The ACT is a standardized college admissions exam accepted by nearly all four-year U.S. colleges and universities. It measures academic readiness in English, Mathematics, and Reading, with optional Science and Writing sections. Scores help colleges compare applicants on a common scale.
START ACT PRACTICE TEST🔢 How many questions are on the ACT?
The core ACT has 131 multiple-choice questions: English (50), Mathematics (45), and Reading (36). The optional Science section adds 40 questions, and the optional Writing test adds one essay. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should answer every question.
START ACT GENERAL TEST📈 What is a good ACT score?
The ACT composite runs from 1 to 36, the rounded average of English, Math, and Reading. The national average was about 19.4 for the 2024 class. A 24 or higher is competitive for most four-year colleges, and 30+ is typical for highly selective schools.
START ACT PRACTICE TEST📝 How is the ACT English section tested?
ACT English gives you 50 questions in 35 minutes covering punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills within passages. You correct errors and improve clarity, organization, and style. Mastering comma rules, clauses, and author strategy is the fastest way to raise your English subscore.
START ACT ENGLISH TEST➗ What math is on the ACT?
ACT Math has 45 questions in 50 minutes covering pre-algebra, elementary and intermediate algebra, coordinate and plane geometry, trigonometry, and functions. A calculator is permitted throughout. Practising algebra, functions, and trigonometry problems builds the speed you need to finish the section in time.
START ACT MATH TEST📖 How does ACT Reading work?
ACT Reading gives you 36 questions in 40 minutes across passages in prose fiction, social science, humanities, and natural science. Questions test main ideas, details, inferences, and author’s purpose. Skimming for structure first, then locating evidence, helps you answer accurately under the tight time limit.
START ACT READING TEST🔬 Is the ACT Science section optional?
Yes. Under the enhanced ACT, Science is an optional 40-question section testing data interpretation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints rather than memorized facts. If you take it, Science combines with Math into a STEM score. Many STEM-focused programs still value a strong Science result.
START ACT SCIENCE TEST✍️ What is the ACT Writing test?
The ACT Writing test is one optional essay completed in 40 minutes. You analyze multiple perspectives on an issue and develop your own argument with evidence. It is scored from 2 to 12 and reported separately from your composite. Check whether your target colleges require or recommend it.
START ACT WRITING TEST🔁 How many times can you take the ACT?
You can take the ACT as often as you like, though ACT Inc. recommends no more than 12 times. Most students test two to three times. ACT automatically builds a Superscore from your highest English, Math, and Reading scores across dates, so retaking can lift your reported composite.
START ACT PRACTICE TEST⚖️ Should I take the ACT or the SAT?
Both exams are accepted everywhere, so choose the format that fits your strengths. The ACT offers an optional Science section and rewards speed and content recall, while the SAT emphasizes evidence-based reading and reasoning. Taking a full-length practice test of each is the best way to decide.
START ACT PRACTICE TESTACT Questions and Answers
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.
Official Resources
- ACT (act.org) — the official website of ACT Inc., the nonprofit that develops and administers the ACT exam, where you register and view your scores.
- About the ACT Test — the official overview of the exam’s sections, format, and testing options.
- Understanding Your ACT Scores — the official guide to how the 1–36 composite and section scores are calculated and reported.
How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy
Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- act.org — Fees · verified Oct 2026