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ACT® Sections and Test Format

The ACT® is a standardized test that colleges and universities use for college admissions in the United States. Here’s a comprehensive guide about the ACT format, sections, duration, question types, and more.

Before you begin your ACT preparation, it’s crucial to understand how the test is structured. The ACT consists of 3 main sections: English, Math, and Reading, followed by 2 optional sections: Science and Writing. Each section assesses specific academic skills you’ll need for college success. In this guide, we’ll go through how these sections are structured, the format, and the question types you can expect to help you build a solid foundation.

How is the ACT Structured?

The Enhanced ACT test lasts about 2 hours and 5 minutes (125 minutes) without the optional Science or Writing sections. Including either of the optional sections adds 40 minutes each, resulting in a total time of 2 hours and 45 minutes (165 minutes) with one optional section and 3 hours and 25 minutes (205 minutes) with both. All the questions on the ACT are multiple-choice, and the optional writing section comprises 1 long essay question.

Section	Questions	Duration
English	50	35 mins
Mathematics	45	50 mins
Reading	36	40 mins
Total	131	125 mins
Science (Student Choice)	40	40 mins
Writing Test (Student Choice)	1 essay question	40 mins
Total	172	205 mins

When Does the ACT End? (ACT Time Breakdown by Section)

If you take the ACT online, you will be able to finish the test (no science or writing) by 11:15 a.m. However, if you take either Science or Writing, you’ll finish around 12:15 p.m. If you’ve opted for both Science and Writing, you’ll finish around 1:00 p.m. Taking ACT mock tests is advisable to manage your time on the exam day.

How is each section scored on the ACT?

With the Enhanced ACT, students testing in the U.S. who choose to take the ACT Online from April 2025 will see an updated format that’s shorter and includes the optional science section. Each section of the ACT — English, Math, and Reading — is graded separately. 1 point is awarded for each correct answer; you don’t lose points for wrong answers or unanswered questions. Once the entire test is scored, the 3 section scores are averaged to create your ACT final score, ranging from 1-36.

Note that science scores will be reported separately for those who take it. The writing section highlights your critical and analytical thinking skills, but does not contribute to your final ACT score in any way.

To learn in detail about how the ACT sections are scored, read our ACT scoring guide.

How many versions of the ACT test are there?

The ACT test is available in two versions: paper and online/digital. While U.S. students can choose either version, the online test, known as the ACT Computer-Based Test (CBT), is the only version available for international students. The paper ACT and the CBT are exactly the same test, with the same sections, duration, question types, number of questions, and scoring system. The only difference between the two versions is how these tests are administered. Note that you cannot take the CBT from home on your computer. It must be taken at school or a testing center.

ACT English Format

The ACT English test is worth 33.33% of the total test score. It contains a total of 50 questions from 6 passages to be answered in 35 minutes. The questions in this section evaluate your usage and/or mechanics and rhetorical skills and check your knowledge of grammar rules, punctuation, and sentence construction.

Below is the list of question types you can expect on the English Test:

Production of Writing
- Topic Development
- Organization, Unity, and Cohesion
Knowledge of Language
Convention of Standard English
- Sentence Structure and Formation
- Punctuation
- Usage

ACT Math Format

The ACT Math section accounts for 33.33% of the total score. It consists of 45 questions to be answered in 50 minutes. This section checks the math knowledge required for a first-year college program. You do not need to know all the advanced math concepts to solve the math questions, but you should be proficient in basic formulas and computational skills. Note that you are allowed to use a calculator on the math test.

The following are the math categories that you will find in this section:

Preparing for Higher Math
- Number & Quantity
- Algebra
- Functions
- Geometry
- Statistics & Probability
Integrating Essential Skills
Modeling

ACT Reading Format

The ACT Reading test makes up 33.33% of the total ACT score. It includes 36 questions from 4 passages to be answered in 40 minutes. These 4 passages include 3 standalone passages and 1 paired set that needs to be read together. This ACT section evaluates your reading and reasoning skills and provides the kind of text you will find in entry-level college courses.

The questions on this test measure your understanding of the following:

Key Ideas and Details
Craft and Structure
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

ACT Science Format

The ACT Science test no longer contributes to the total ACT score and has been marked as optional in the Enhanced ACT. The scores are reported separately for those who take it. It has 40 questions that come from 7 passages, and you have 40 minutes to answer them. In this section, you will find problems related to natural sciences like physics, biology, chemistry, geology, astronomy, and meteorology. The questions test your analytical, reasoning, and comprehension skills and require you to interpret data from the graphs, charts, and figures given in the passages.

The 3 types of questions that you will see in the science section are:

Interpretation of Data
Scientific Investigation
Evaluation of Models, inferences, and experimental results

ACT Writing Format

The ACT Writing section does not affect your total ACT score. It is scored separately by 2 graders on a scale of 2–12. In this section, you will be given a passage to read and asked to write an essay to express your opinions on the central theme in 40 minutes. You will be assessed on your understanding of the author’s viewpoints and opinions and your ability to build your essay around them.

Your essay will be scored on the following domains:

Idea and Analysis
Development and Support
Organization
Language Use and Conventions

By using UWorld’s ACT practice test, you will be able to find thousands of exam-like questions and detailed answer explanations. Our practice test also provides performance tracking tools, which will help you improve your weak areas and achieve your target score. Take this free ACT practice test to check where you stand.

References

ACT. (n.d.). Description of the ACT reading test. ACT. Retrieved from https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/description-of-reading-test.html
ACT. (n.d.). Description of the ACT writing test. ACT. Retrieved from https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/description-of-writing-test.html
ACT. (n.d.). Description of the ACT English test. ACT. Retrieved from https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/description-of-english-test.html
ACT. (n.d.). Description of the ACT math test. ACT. Retrieved from https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/description-of-math-test.html
ACT. (n.d.). Description of the ACT science test. ACT. Retrieved from https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation/description-of-science-test.html
ACT. (2023). Preparing for the ACT Test [PDF]. ACT. https://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/Preparing-for-the-ACT.pdf
College Board. (n.d.). What colleges require SAT scores? BigFuture. Retrieved from https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/find-your-fit/what-colleges-require-SAT
Morse, R. (2023, November 20). Top colleges that still require test scores. U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/top-colleges-that-still-require-test-scores

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the ACT a paper-and-pencil or computer-based test?

The ACT is available in both paper and computer-based versions. While U.S. students can choose to take the ACT either on paper or digitally, international students are required to take the computer-based version.

How to choose between the online and paper ACT

U.S. students will be able to choose whether to take the ACT online or on paper, depending on what’s available at their local test center. Both versions are identical in content, structure, and timing, so students should simply select the format that feels most comfortable to them.

Is the ACT all multiple-choice?

The English, math, reading, and science sections on the ACT test consist of multiple-choice questions, whereas the optional writing section requires you to write a long essay on the given prompt.

Is the ACT writing section required by colleges?

It depends on the college to which you are applying. Make sure to read the admission requirements of your prospective colleges before sending in your application.

Do you need to take the ACT for top college admissions?

Many top colleges, including Harvard, Yale, MIT, Brown, UPenn, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth, and Georgetown, require ACT or SAT scores for admission. However, many other competitive schools remain test-optional, so it’s important to check each college’s current policy.

How long is the ACT test without the optional writing and science sections?

If you take the ACT test without the writing and science sections, you will have 2 hours and 5 minutes to complete it.

What happens if you don't finish or skip a section on the ACT?

Not finishing a section may affect your score for that section; however, skipping a section can prevent your test from being graded.