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ACT Questions
- What is the ACT?
- What is the format of the test?
- How long is the test?
- When is the ACT given?
- How do I register for the ACT?
- How much does it cost to register for the ACT?
- How can I get extended time on the ACT?
- How is the ACT scored?
- How is the ACT essay scored?
- What is the average ACT score?
- When will I get my scores back?
- What should I bring to the test?
- What should I NOT bring to the test?
What is the ACT?
The ACT is a national college entrance exam accepted by every four-year college and university in the U.S., alongside (or instead of) the SAT. It’s a curriculum-based test, meaning it leans more on material students have covered in class than the SAT does — which is part of why some students score noticeably better on one test than the other.
What is the format of the test?
The ACT now has three required, multiple-choice sections given in this order: English, Math, and Reading. Science and Writing (essay) are both optional add-on sections at the end. It also includes a paper-and-pencil path and a computer-based path in many locations, though the content tested is the same either way.
How long is the test?
The three required sections (English, Math, and Reading) take about 2 hours and 45 minutes total. Adding the optional Science section adds about 40 more minutes, and adding the optional Writing section adds another 40 minutes on top of that. Students approved for extended time receive additional time on each section.
When is the ACT given?
The ACT is offered several times a year — typically in the fall, winter, spring, and summer — with exact dates and registration deadlines published on the ACT’s website.
How do I register for the ACT?
Registration is done online through the ACT’s official website and takes about 30–40 minutes, including uploading a photo. Students who need a fee waiver should register through their school counselor instead of registering directly.
How much does it cost to register for the ACT?
There’s a base fee for the ACT, plus separate optional add-on fees if you choose to add the Science section and/or the Writing section. Registering after the regular deadline adds a late fee. Fee waivers are available for eligible students — ask a school counselor.
How can I get extended time on the ACT?
Extended time and other accommodations are arranged through the ACT’s accommodations request process, usually started with help from a school counselor. Documentation of the need for accommodations is required, so it’s worth starting well before a test date.
How is the ACT scored?
Each multiple-choice section is scored from 1 to 36. Your Composite score is the average (rounded) of just the three required sections — English, Math, and Reading — also on a 1–36 scale. If you take the optional Science section, it gets its own 1–36 score (plus a STEM score averaging Math and Science) but does not factor into your Composite. There’s no penalty for guessing, so it’s always worth answering every question.
How is the ACT essay scored?
The optional Writing test is scored separately from the multiple-choice composite, on a scale of 2 to 12, and doesn’t affect your composite score. Two graders each score the essay across four domains, and those are combined into the final Writing score.
What is the average ACT score?
The national average Composite score was 19.4 in 2025, the first year under the new scoring formula that averages only English, Math, and Reading — it shifts a bit from year to year, so your score report will show exactly how your results compare.
When will I get my scores back?
Scores are generally available online within 10 days to 8 weeks after your test date, with most students seeing results in 2–4 weeks; online (computer-based) tests tend to post faster than paper tests. Writing (essay) scores can take a bit longer to post than the multiple-choice scores.
What should I bring to the test?
Bring your printed admission ticket, an original, hard-plastic photo ID (issued by a city, state, federal agency, or your school) with a name matching your registration exactly, a couple of sharpened No. 2 pencils with a good eraser, and an approved calculator for the Math section. A watch without an alarm is also a good idea for pacing, since phones aren’t allowed.
What should I NOT bring to the test?
Phones and other electronic devices need to be off and put away for the entire testing period — even having one visible can be treated as a testing violation. Mechanical pencils and pens aren’t accepted for the answer sheet either.