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ACT guide

What is the ACT? A guide to the enhanced ACT

The ACT changed in 2025: it is shorter, it has fewer questions, and Science is now optional. Here is how the current test works, what each section measures, and how to prepare for it.

By CollegePrepRoom Publication Series · Updated

What is the ACT?

The ACT is a standardized college admissions test written and administered by ACT, Inc. It measures the English, reading, and math skills that high school courses build and that college coursework relies on. U.S. colleges that accept admissions test scores accept the ACT and the SAT on equal terms, so the choice between them depends on which test suits you. (Our SAT vs ACT comparison sets out the differences.)

Students usually take the ACT for the first time in the spring of junior year. Many states and districts also give it free during the school day.

What changed in 2025: the enhanced ACT

ACT introduced the enhanced ACT for online testing in spring 2025, then for paper testing at national test centers from September 2025, followed by school-day testing. It is now the standard ACT. The main changes:

  • Shorter test. The core test is 2 hours 5 minutes, down from about 2 hours 55 minutes for the four required sections of the old test.
  • Fewer questions. 131 core questions, down from 215. English dropped from 75 to 50 questions, Math from 60 to 45, and Reading from 40 to 36.
  • More time per question. Math now gives you over a minute per question, and English passages are shorter.
  • Science is optional and no longer counts toward the composite.
  • Four answer choices in Math, down from five.
  • New composite. The 1–36 composite is now the average of English, Math, and Reading only.

Prep books printed before 2025 give out-of-date timing, question counts, and composite rules. Their methods for pacing and for eliminating wrong answers still apply.

ACT format and timing

SectionQuestionsTimeTime per questionRequired?
English5035 minutesAbout 42 secondsYes
Math4550 minutesAbout 67 secondsYes
Reading3640 minutesAbout 67 secondsYes
Core total1312 hours 5 minutes
Science4040 minutes60 secondsOptional
Writing (essay)1 prompt40 minutes—Optional

The ACT is not adaptive. Everyone in a session answers the same questions in the same order. Within a section, you can move between questions and change answers until time is called. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so answer each question. Each section includes a few unscored field-test questions that you cannot tell apart from scored ones.

What each ACT section tests

English

You read several short essays with underlined or numbered portions and choose the best revision. Questions fall into three groups. Conventions of Standard English covers sentence structure, punctuation, verb tense, agreement, and usage. Production of Writing covers whether a sentence belongs, how a paragraph is organized, and whether the essay meets its stated goal. Knowledge of Language covers concision, precise word choice, and consistent style and tone. The pace is fast, so knowing the punctuation and grammar rules cold is what frees up time for the rhetorical questions.

Math

Math covers what most students learn through Algebra II and some precalculus. ACT groups it into Preparing for Higher Math (number and quantity, algebra, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability), Integrating Essential Skills (rates, percentages, proportions, area, averages, and multi-step problems), and Modeling, which is reported across the other categories. Compared with SAT Math, the ACT tests a wider range of topics, including matrices, vectors, logarithms, conic sections, the unit circle, and sequences, although the less common ones usually appear only once or twice per test. A formula sheet is not provided, so you need to know the key formulas.

Reading

You read several long passages, including a pair of shorter related passages, drawn from literary narrative, social science, humanities, and natural science. Questions test Key Ideas and Details (main ideas, details, and inferences), Craft and Structure (word meaning, author’s purpose, and point of view), and Integration of Knowledge and Ideas (arguments, evidence, and connections between texts). With about a minute per question including reading time, efficient passage reading is the core skill.

Science (optional)

Despite its name, Science mostly tests reasoning with data: reading graphs and tables, understanding experimental design, and comparing competing hypotheses. It requires some outside science knowledge, though less than the passages suggest. Consider taking it if you plan to apply to engineering or science programs, or to colleges that ask for it; otherwise it is your choice. CollegePrepRoom does not currently offer an ACT Science course.

Writing (optional)

The essay asks you to take and support a position on an issue and to engage with given perspectives. It is scored separately and is required by very few colleges today.

How ACT scores work

Each multiple-choice section is scored from 1 to 36. Your composite is the average of English, Math, and Reading, rounded to the nearest whole number. If you take Science, you also receive a Science score and a STEM score that combines Math and Science. If you take Writing, you receive a Writing score and an English Language Arts score. ACT also reports a superscore when you have tested more than once, combining your best section scores, and many colleges accept it. Score release times vary by test format and date, so check ACT.org for current timelines.

Colleges use ACT scores for admissions, merit scholarships, and placement in the same ways as SAT scores. Many colleges are test-optional, while a growing number of selective colleges have reinstated testing requirements. Check each college’s admissions page for its current policy and its middle-50% score range.

When to take the ACT

In the United States, the ACT is usually offered on national dates in February, April, June, July, September, October, and December, with registration deadlines about five weeks before each date. Dates, deadlines, and fees change, so check ACT.org for current dates. A sensible plan is to take your first ACT in the spring of junior year, after 8 to 12 weeks of preparation, and leave the summer and early fall for a retake before application deadlines.

How to prepare for the ACT

  1. Take a timed diagnostic. Find your starting scores and your weakest topics before you plan anything.
  2. Learn the English rules. A limited set of punctuation and grammar rules covers a large share of English questions. Learn them early.
  3. Cover Math broadly, then deeply. Because ACT Math samples so many topics, make sure no topic is completely unfamiliar, then go deep on algebra, functions, and geometry, which carry the most questions.
  4. Train your reading pace. Practice one passage at a time with a timer until about nine minutes per passage feels comfortable.
  5. Review each miss. Keep an error log of why you missed each question, and look for patterns.
  6. Take full-length timed tests. At least two, under real conditions, on paper or on screen to match your test format.

What you’ll learn on CollegePrepRoom

CollegePrepRoom has two ACT courses, from the CollegePrepRoom Publication Series, written for the enhanced test. Both courses explain each course question in full. Each course includes the complete study guide in a protected online reader. All courses are free while CollegePrepRoom launches, and subscriptions at $3.99 per month for each course will begin later. The free practice questions will stay free.

ACT Math

ACT Math is organized in parts that mirror the test’s reporting categories: number and quantity, algebra, functions, geometry and trigonometry, statistics and probability, and the integrating-essential-skills topics, each closing with a review set. Method units cover calculator routes, backsolving and pacing. The course ends with a full-length benchmark test and additional practice tests in the enhanced 45-question format. You can try the free ACT Math questions before you start the course.

Lessons and skill units

  1. How to Use This CourseThe ACT Math format, the six reporting categories, the recognition sheet, method choice, and a step-by-step routine for working through each chapter.
  2. Diagnostic TestA 45-question diagnostic sampling all six ACT Math categories, with full explanations and a skills map that tells you which chapters to study first.
  3. Real and Complex NumbersClassify rational and irrational numbers, cycle through powers of i, and add, multiply, and divide complex numbers, including when a quadratic has complex roots.
  4. Exponents and RadicalsApply the exponent rules, simplify and combine radicals, rationalize denominators, and solve radical and exponential equations while checking for extraneous roots.
  5. Vectors and MatricesAdd vectors and find magnitudes, then work with matrices: sums, scalar multiples, determinants, products, dimensions, and systems written as matrix equations.
  6. Part I ReviewA mixed review of Number and Quantity: complex numbers, exponents and radicals, vectors, and matrices, with no chapter labels.
  7. Linear Equations and SystemsSolve linear equations, inequalities, compound inequalities, and systems by substitution or elimination, and rearrange formulas.
  8. Quadratic EquationsSolve quadratics by factoring and the quadratic formula, use the discriminant, and find vertices and the sum and product of roots.
  9. Other Types of EquationsSolve polynomial equations by factoring, use the factor theorem, solve exponential equations with a common base, and check radical equations for extraneous roots.
  10. Absolute ValueSolve absolute value equations and inequalities, check extraneous solutions when a variable is outside the bars, and model tolerances.
  11. Part II ReviewA mixed review of Part II Algebra: linear equations and systems, quadratics, polynomial, exponential and radical equations, and absolute value.
  12. Function Notation and CompositionEvaluate functions, compose them in the right order, and find domain and range, including restrictions from roots, denominators, logarithms, and real-world context.
  13. Polynomial FunctionsFind rates of change, zeros, and end behavior of polynomials, and use the arithmetic-sequence formula to work with non-adjacent terms.
  14. Other Function FamiliesWork with rational functions and their asymptotes, evaluate logarithms, and model growth, decay, and geometric sequences with exponentials.
  15. Transformations and Piecewise FunctionsShift, reflect, and scale graphs by reading what happens inside and outside a function, build equations from descriptions, and evaluate piecewise functions.
  16. Inverse FunctionsUndo a function by swapping x and y, use domain and range swaps, and handle restricted domains and compositions with inverses.
  17. Sequences and SeriesSum arithmetic and geometric series with the right formula, read sigma notation, and avoid off-by-one errors in counting terms.
  18. LogarithmsCombine and split logarithms with the product, quotient and power rules, solve log and exponential equations, and reject invalid solutions.
  19. Part III ReviewA mixed review of the Functions topics in Part III, plus extra practice on series, logarithms, and basic trigonometry.
  20. Lines, Angles, and TrianglesUse angle relationships for parallel lines, triangles, exterior angles, and isosceles triangles, and apply the triangle inequality.
  21. Congruence and SimilarityTell similar from congruent figures, apply scale factors to lengths, perimeters, and areas, and choose the right congruence criterion.
  22. Right Triangles and TrigonometryUse the Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles, sine, cosine, tangent, and exact unit-circle values.
  23. Circles and Conic SectionsWork with circle equations, arcs, and tangents, then identify ellipses, hyperbolas, and parabolas and find their key features.
  24. Area and VolumeCompute areas and volumes of common shapes, build composite figures by adding and subtracting, and scale volumes of similar solids.
  25. Coordinate GeometryUse the distance and midpoint formulas, slope relationships, and grid-aligned bases to solve problems about points, lines, and triangles in the coordinate plane.
  26. Trigonometry Beyond Right TrianglesRewrite trig expressions with identities and solve non-right triangles with the Law of Sines and Law of Cosines.
  27. Geometric TransformationsApply the coordinate rules for reflections, rotations, translations, and dilations, and track area under a scale factor.
  28. Circle TheoremsUse inscribed and central angles, tangents, chords, and secants, and match each figure to the right circle relationship.
  29. Geometric Reasoning and ConstructionsWork with converses, inverses, contrapositives, counterexamples, two-column proofs, and compass-and-straightedge constructions.
  30. Part IV ReviewMixed Geometry review across all ten Part IV chapters, plus extra practice on transformations, trigonometry, circles, and reasoning.
  31. Center and SpreadMean, median, mode, range, IQR, standard deviation, weighted means, and how skew and outliers change them.
  32. Study Design and SamplingSampling methods and bias, observational studies versus experiments, and reading two-way tables with joint, marginal, and conditional proportions.
  33. Two-Variable Data and ModelsLines of best fit, residuals, slope and intercept in context, correlation versus causation, and judging whether a model fits.
  34. ProbabilityCount outcomes, choose between the addition and multiplication rules, handle conditional probability, combinations, permutations, and expected value.
  35. Normal Distributions and Z-ScoresUse the 68-95-99.7 rule and z-scores to place values in a normal distribution and to compare scores from different tests.
  36. Statistical InferenceInterpret margins of error, check whether a claimed value is plausible, and understand sample size, sampling variability, and simulation.
  37. Part V ReviewA mixed review of all of Part V: center and spread, sampling, two-variable data, probability, normal distributions, and inference.
  38. Rates, Percentages, and ProportionsUnit rates, percent change versus percentage points, reversing a percent change, and direct and inverse proportions in word problems.
  39. Measurement and Unit ConversionConvert lengths, areas, volumes, and compound rates without dropping a factor, including squared and cubed units.
  40. Averages in ContextMissing-value averages, weighted averages, combined groups, and average speed as total distance over total time.
  41. Multi-Step ProblemsChain percent changes, scaling, rates, averages, and unit conversions, and carry each problem through to its final step.
  42. Part VI ReviewA mixed, unlabeled review of rates and percents, unit conversion, averages, and multi-step problems from Part VI.
  43. Calculator Routes and BacksolvingChoose between hand, handheld, Desmos, and hybrid routes, and use backsolving, plugging in, and estimating to beat the four answer choices.
  44. Archetypes and the Error LedgerA field guide to recurring ACT Math question forms and the specific mistakes each answer choice is built to catch.
  45. Practice: Choosing a RouteForty quick drills on picking hand, handheld, Desmos, or hybrid as the fastest reliable way to attack each kind of ACT Math situation.
  46. Mixed Challenge PracticeSixty mixed ACT Math problems that blend algebra, functions, geometry, statistics, and everyday quantitative skills without telling you which method to use.
  47. Final Skills CheckFourteen questions, each built to isolate one failure mechanism such as the wrong requested object, a sign flip, a unit slip, or an extraneous root.
  48. PacingDiagnose where ACT Math time leaks, decide when to leave a question, and review a timed section with a 10-question, 12-minute drill.
  49. Test Day and ReferencePlan your calculator, Desmos, scratch work, and checklists for ACT Math test day, then review the key relationships in one compact reference.
  50. Geometry and Trigonometry Timed PracticeA 20-question, 22-minute timed set weighted toward similarity, trigonometry, circles, transformations, and measurement, with a method for diagnosing each missed question.
  51. Statistics and Probability Timed PracticeA 20-question, 22-minute timed set on center and spread, normal distributions, study design, margin of error, probability, bivariate models, and percent chains.

Full practice tests

  1. Full-Length Benchmark TestA 45-question, 50-minute full-length ACT Math benchmark covering all reporting categories, with full solutions.
  2. Additional Practice Test 1A second 45-question, 50-minute full-length ACT Math form that rises in difficulty, with worked solutions.
  3. Additional Practice Test 2A 45-question, 50-minute ACT Math stress drill that practices recovery from expensive early items, with extra geometry, trigonometry, and visual interpretation.
Try free ACT Math questionsPricing: free during the launch

ACT English & Reading

ACT English and Reading is built around the questions the test asks. Does this sentence work? What is this punctuation doing? Which version says it best? What does the evidence prove? Units on timing and test day follow, then full practice tests, each with a 50-question English section and a 36-question Reading section. The free English and Reading questions follow the format of the course questions, so you can try them before you begin.

Lessons and skill units

  1. What ACT English and Reading Actually Ask You to DoSee each ACT English and Reading question as a decision with a specific source of evidence, and learn to identify the task before you compare the answer choices.
  2. Does This Sentence Actually Work?Learn to find the real subject and verb, tell fragments from complete clauses, fix splices and run-ons, and keep modifiers, tenses, pronouns, and series in order.
  3. What Is This Punctuation Doing?Name the job each comma, semicolon, colon, dash, and apostrophe must do, then choose pronouns, comparisons, and modifiers by their role in the sentence.
  4. Which Version Says It Best?Cut redundancy without losing meaning, pick the exact word, match the passage's tone, and name the logic before choosing a connector.
  5. Does This Sentence Help the Passage Do Its Job?Judge relevance, purpose, order, transitions, and argument support in ACT English: what a sentence is doing, where it belongs, and whether the evidence actually answers the claim.
  6. What Did the Passage Actually Tell Us?Master Key Ideas and Details on ACT Reading: state central ideas, match details, track causes and sequences, and make only the inferences the passage supports.
  7. Why Did the Writer Say It That Way?Learn to judge word choice, function, structure, purpose, and perspective so you can explain what a passage says, how it says it, and why.
  8. What Can the Evidence Really Prove?Identify who owns a claim, test whether evidence is enough for it, compare paired sources and literary passages, and connect charts and tables to the exact claim they support.
  9. When a Familiar Word Means Something Different HereBuild the working vocabulary of ACT prose: familiar words with academic senses, claim-strength words, research and argument terms, tone words, and transitions.
  10. Why Two Answers Can Both Look RightFind the one hidden dimension (scope, degree, source, relationship, or purpose) that separates two choices that both sound right, and learn the twelve ways wrong answers get built.
  11. Where the Time Actually GoesLearn to classify each question as one pass, one specific second look, or mark-and-return, and build a pacing system from your own data.
  12. ACT Test Day: What to Prepare and What to ExpectWhat to pack, what the morning looks like, how to handle imperfect rooms, and what to do when time or the administration goes wrong.
  13. English and Reading Quick ReferenceA compact set of decision tables for English and Reading: boundaries, punctuation, agreement, wording, evidence, paired texts, visuals, and vocabulary.

Full practice tests

  1. Practice Test 1: EnglishFull-length ACT English practice test: five passages, 50 questions, 35 minutes, with an answer key and explanations.
  2. Practice Test 1: ReadingFull-length ACT Reading practice test: four passages, 36 questions, 40 minutes, with an answer key and explanations.
  3. Practice Test 2: EnglishFull-length timed ACT English section: five passages and fifty questions in thirty-five minutes, with full explanations.
  4. Practice Test 2: ReadingFull-length timed ACT Reading section: four passages and thirty-six questions in forty minutes, with full explanations.
Try free ACT English & Reading questionsPricing: free during the launch

ACT questions, answered

How long is the ACT now?

The core enhanced ACT (English, Math, and Reading) takes 2 hours and 5 minutes of testing time. Adding the optional Science section brings it to 2 hours 45 minutes, and the optional Writing essay adds another 40 minutes. Breaks and check-in add to the time you spend at the test site.

Is Science still on the ACT?

Science is optional on the enhanced ACT. It is no longer part of the 1–36 composite score, which is now the average of English, Math, and Reading. If you take Science, you receive a separate Science score and a STEM score. Some STEM programs may want to see it, so check the colleges on your list.

How many questions are on the ACT?

The core test has 131 questions: 50 in English, 45 in Math, and 36 in Reading. The optional Science section adds 40 questions. Each section includes a small number of unscored field-test questions that look like all the others.

How is the ACT composite score calculated?

Each section is scored from 1 to 36. On the enhanced ACT, the composite is the average of your English, Math, and Reading scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. Science and Writing are reported separately and do not affect the composite.

Can I use a calculator on the ACT?

Yes. A permitted calculator may be used on the entire Math section. ACT publishes a list of prohibited models and features, so check its current calculator policy before test day.

Is the ACT on paper or online?

Both, depending on where you test. Many test centers offer the ACT online on a computer, and paper testing is still available at many sites and for school-day testing. The content and timing of the enhanced test are the same in either format.

How long should I prepare for the ACT?

Many students plan for 8 to 12 weeks of steady preparation, a few hours a week, built around a diagnostic, targeted skill work, and at least two timed full-length practice tests. Pacing practice matters especially on the ACT, because the sections are fast.