ACT Test
The ACT test is a college admissions exam with English, Math and Reading in 2 hours 5 minutes, plus optional Science and Writing. The enhanced ACT is scored 1–36. This guide covers the format and timing, how the composite score works, registration and fees, test day and a study plan.
ACT at a Glance
Verified October 15, 2026| Official body | ACT |
|---|---|
| Exam fee | $70 (Science add-on $5, Writing add-on $25; $100 with both) National ACT registration, US, 2026–27 · act.org, October 2026 · Late registration fee $42. Fee waivers cover up to two tests including add-ons. |
| Duration | 2 hours 5 minutes (2 hours 45 minutes with Science) Enhanced ACT, English + Math + Reading, standard timing · act.org, October 2026 · Optional Science adds 40 minutes. Optional Writing time not included. |
| Format | Multiple choice; Math now has 4 answer choices; Science and Writing optional Enhanced ACT (national tests from 2025, state and district from spring 2026) · studentblog.act.org, October 2026 |
| Sections | English · Math · Reading · Science (optional) · Writing (optional) |
| Questions | 131 questions (171 with Science) Enhanced ACT, including unscored field-test questions · act.org, October 2026 |
| Score range | 1–36 composite Enhanced ACT composite and section scores · act.org, October 2026 · Composite is the rounded average of English, Math and Reading; Science counts toward a separate STEM score. |
| Pass mark | Not published by the exam body |
| Validity | Not published by the exam body |
| Registration | Register with ACT |
Primary source: ACT (act.org) Source date: October 2026 Last verified:
What Is the ACT Test and What Is It For?
The ACT test is a standardized college admissions exam run by ACT and accepted by colleges across the United States. It measures the English, math and reading skills taught in high school, and colleges use the score alongside grades for admission, placement and scholarships.
If you are asking what the ACT exam is for, the short answer is college admission. Many states also give the ACT free to juniors during the school day, so for some students it doubles as a state assessment.
Start by taking our ACT practice test to see which sections need work, then use this guide to plan the rest.
The Enhanced ACT (2025 Changes)
The enhanced ACT is the current version of the test, used for national test dates from 2025 and for state and district testing from spring 2026. The main changes are:
- Shorter test: English, Math and Reading take 2 hours 5 minutes, with 131 questions.
- Optional Science: Science is now an add-on and no longer counts toward the composite.
- Four answer choices in Math: Math questions now have four options instead of five.
- New composite: the composite is the rounded average of English, Math and Reading.
An enhanced ACT practice test should follow this format. Older practice tests are still useful for skills, but their timing and question counts no longer match.
Digital ACT vs Paper ACT
On national test dates, the ACT is offered both on paper and online at participating test centers. The content and scoring are the same, so choose the format you are more comfortable with. If you choose the digital ACT, do a digital ACT practice test on screen, and if you choose paper, practise with printed questions and a pencil.
ACT Format: Is the ACT a Timed Test?
Yes, the ACT is a timed test. Each section has its own time limit, and you cannot go back to a section once its time is over. The core test takes 2 hours 5 minutes, or 2 hours 45 minutes with Science.
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| English | 50 (40 scored) | 35 minutes |
| Math | 45 (41 scored) | 50 minutes |
| Reading | 36 (27 scored) | 40 minutes |
| Science (optional) | 40 (34 scored) | 40 minutes |
| Writing (optional) | 1 essay | 40 minutes |
Each section includes some unscored field-test questions, which you cannot identify, so answer every question as if it counts.
ACT English
ACT English tests production of writing, knowledge of language and the conventions of standard English. You read passages with underlined portions and choose the best revision, including “NO CHANGE”. At 35 minutes for 50 questions, it is the fastest-paced section.
ACT Math
ACT Math covers preparing for higher math (number, algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability) and integrating essential skills. Each question has four answer choices, and a calculator is allowed. You get 50 minutes for 45 questions.
ACT Reading
ACT Reading tests key ideas and details, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge across passages. You get 40 minutes for 36 questions, so practise reading actively and moving on from a question that is taking too long.
ACT Science (Optional)
ACT Science tests interpretation of data, scientific investigation and evaluation of models across biology, chemistry, Earth and space science, and physics. It is about reading graphs and experiments, not memorizing facts. Some colleges and scholarship programs may ask for it, so check before you skip it.
ACT Writing (Optional)
ACT Writing is one argumentative essay written in 40 minutes and scored from 2 to 12, separately from the composite. Few colleges require it now, so check the requirements of the colleges on your list before adding it.
ACT Scoring: How to Score an ACT Practice Test
Each ACT section is scored from 1 to 36. Your composite score is the average of English, Math and Reading, rounded to the nearest whole number. Science counts toward a separate STEM score, and Writing is reported on its own. There is no pass mark, and wrong answers are not penalized.
To score an ACT practice test, count the correct answers in each section, convert each raw score with the conversion table for that test form, then average English, Math and Reading. Conversion tables vary slightly by form, which is why practice-test scores are estimates.
ACT Practice Test Score Calculator
Our ACT score calculator works as an ACT practice test score calculator. Enter your section scores to get the composite and STEM score, or enter correct answers for an estimated scaled score.
What Is a Good ACT Score?
A good ACT score is one at or above the middle of the range at the colleges you apply to; nationally, a composite of 24 beats about 80% of test takers and a 27 beats 89%. ACT publishes national ranks, the percentage of recent graduates who scored at or below each composite:
| ACT composite | National rank |
|---|---|
| 36 | 100 |
| 33 | 98 |
| 31 | 96 |
| 30 | 94 |
| 28 | 91 |
| 27 | 89 |
| 24 | 80 |
| 21 | 68 |
| 19 | 58 |
| 16 | 41 |
These ranks are based on ACT-tested high school graduates from 2024 to 2026 and apply to tests taken from September 2026 through August 2027. Compare your score with each college’s published middle 50% range, not with a single national cutoff.
ACT Registration and Fees: Can the ACT Test Be Taken Online?
You register online through your MyACT account, but the test itself is taken at a test center or at school, not at home. For national registration in the US in 2026–27, the ACT costs $70. Science adds $5 and Writing adds $25, or $100 with both. Late registration costs $42, changing your test date or center costs $49, and each additional score report costs $20.
To register:
- Create or sign in to your MyACT account.
- Choose a test date, a test center and any add-ons.
- Upload a photo for your admission ticket.
- Pay the fee or apply a fee waiver.
Fee waivers cover up to two tests including add-ons for eligible students, so ask your school counselor. See the ACT registration page for current dates.
Where to Take an ACT Practice Test
You can take an ACT practice test at home with official ACT materials, at school if your counselor runs practice days, or online with free question sets like ours. Online practice is quickest for daily work, and official tests are best for full-length checkpoints.
How to Prepare for the ACT: How Many Practice Tests to Take
Most students benefit from four to six full ACT practice tests, spread over eight to twelve weeks, with short section practice in between. The review after each test matters more than the number of tests. For general study methods, read our guide on how to prepare for an exam.
| Weeks | Focus | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baseline | One full practice test, decide on Science and Writing |
| 2–4 | Weakest section | Daily section sets and an error log |
| 5–7 | Other sections and pacing | Timed sets, one full test every two weeks |
| 8–10 | Test conditions | Two full timed tests, review only the misses |
Plan the weeks with the study planner for exams, set an exam countdown timer for your test date and make flashcards online for grammar rules and math formulas. An ACT practice test for juniors in the fall leaves time for a spring and a summer attempt.
ACT Practice Test Book
The Official ACT Prep Guide is the standard ACT practice test book, with full-length tests and explanations. Choose an edition that covers the enhanced ACT from 2025, because older editions have five-option Math questions and longer sections.
New ACT Practice Test
A new ACT practice test should have 131 questions across English, Math and Reading in 2 hours 5 minutes, with Science as a separate add-on. Check this before you buy or download materials.
ACT Practice Test 2026
An ACT practice test for 2026 should follow the enhanced format, because it now applies to national tests and to state and district testing. Older questions are still good skill practice, but use enhanced-format tests to check pacing.
ACT Practice Test 2025
An ACT practice test from 2025 is current if it follows the enhanced format. Materials released before the change still have useful questions, but their section lengths and Science scoring no longer match the real test.
ACT Test Day Checklist: Paper or Online
Prepare everything the night before, whether you test on paper or online. Use this checklist:
- Print your admission ticket with your photo.
- Bring an acceptable photo ID with a name that matches your registration.
- Bring sharpened No. 2 pencils for paper testing.
- Bring a permitted calculator for Math with fresh batteries.
- Wear a watch without an alarm or internet connection to keep track of time.
- Leave your phone off and stored as instructed.
- Bring a snack and water for the break.
If you test online, practise on screen beforehand, and if you take an ACT practice test on paper, time each section strictly.
SAT vs ACT: Which Test to Take
Most US colleges accept the ACT and the SAT equally, so pick the test that suits your strengths. The ACT moves faster and has an optional Science section, while the SAT test is digital, adaptive and gives more time per question.
| ACT | SAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Testing time | 2 hours 5 minutes (2 hours 45 minutes with Science) | 2 hours 14 minutes |
| Questions | 131 (171 with Science) | 98 |
| Score range | 1–36 composite | 400–1600 |
| Format | Paper or online, not adaptive | Digital, section-adaptive |
| Fee (US, 2026–27) | $70 | $68 |
Take one ACT and one SAT practice test and compare your percentiles. Our ACT and SAT practice test hub lists both, so the SAT vs ACT practice test comparison takes only a weekend.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Which ACT Test Is the Easiest?
No ACT test date is reliably easier than another. ACT equates its test forms, so a slightly harder form needs fewer correct answers for the same scaled score. Pick a date that gives you enough preparation time and does not clash with exams or sports, rather than chasing an easy test.
Which ACT Test Is the Hardest?
No date or form is officially the hardest, because scaling evens out small differences between forms. Students tend to find Math and Reading the most demanding sections: Math because of the pace and range of topics, Reading because of the time per passage. Practice tests show which section is hardest for you.
Will the ACT Be Online?
The ACT is already offered online at many test centers on national test dates, alongside paper testing. It is not an at-home test: you still sit it at a test center or at school with a proctor. Practice, however, can be done online anywhere, including our free ACT practice test.
Do ACT Practice Tests Help?
Yes. Practice tests help you learn the pacing, spot weak topics and get used to the question styles, which usually raises scores more than reading about the test. They help most when you review every miss and take some under real timing. One full test a week plus short section sets is a good rhythm.
Are ACT Practice Tests Easier?
Official ACT practice tests are built like the real test, so they are not designed to be easier. Some students score a little lower on test day because of nerves and the full-length setting. Third-party tests vary in difficulty, so treat their scores as estimates and use official tests for score predictions.
Does ACT Have Practice Tests?
Yes. ACT publishes free official practice material on its website and sells The Official ACT Prep Guide with full-length tests. Make sure what you use reflects the enhanced ACT format introduced in 2025. Our ACT practice test adds unlimited random question sets with explanations.