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ACT

Information adapted from Gruber's Complete ACT Guide 2011.

Test Information

There are four sections on the ACT test: English, math, reading, and science, in addition to an optional writing section. All questions on the ACT are multiple choice except the student-produced essay in the optional writing section.

testanswersheet pencil

You can use a scientific, graphing, or four-function calculator. Check the ACT website for the complete list of calculator guidelines for the ACT.

Scoring Information

For each of the four main sections of the ACT, the number of questions you answered correctly is converted to a scaled score from 1–36. You will receive four sub-scores: English, math, reading, and science. You’ll also get a composite score, which is the average of the four sub-scores. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should always guess if you're not sure of the answer.

The results of the optional writing test will not affect your other sub-scores or your composite score. If you take the writing test, you will receive two additional scores: a combined English and writing score on a scale of 1–36 and a sub-score in writing on a scale of 0–12. An image of your essay will be sent to your high school and to the college(s) that receive your score reports.

Total time:
     ACT only: 2 hours 55 minutes, plus one 10-minute break
     ACT plus writing: 3 hours 25 minutes, plus one 10- and one 5-minute break
Section
Time
Type of Questions
Math

60 questions

60 minutes

Elementary/Pre-Algebra—24 questions

Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry—18 questions

Plane Geometry/Trigonometry—18 questions

Reading

40 questions (4 passages)

35 minutes

Prose fiction passage—10 questions

Humanities passage—10 questions

Social studies passage—10 questions

Natural science passage—10 questions

English

75 questions (5 passages)

45 minutes

Usage/Mechanics—40 questions

Rhetorical skills—35 questions

Science

40 questions (7 data sets)

35 minutes

Interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and

problem-solving skills required for natural sciences

Writing

(optional)

1 prompt

30 minutes

Presentation of a point of view in a student-produced essay

ACT Test Prep

Gruber's 5 strategies for taking the ACT

Should I take the SAT or the ACT?

SAT/ACT score conversion chart

How many times should I take the ACT?

When should I take the ACT?

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