The ACT

  • English

    75 questions | 45 minutes

    (36 seconds per question)

    The English section of the ACT tests primarily grammatical conventions. There are five passages, and 15 questions in each passage. There are a few questions per passage that deal with stylistic choices dealing with the passage as a whole.

    Very similar in context to the old SAT Writing section. You must work fast, as you have less than 10 minutes per passage. This section is generally not one of the most challenging for native English speakers. For second-language learners, this section may well need a little extra dedication to master.

  • Math

    60 question | 60 mintes

    (1 minute per question)

    The English section transition directly into the Math section without a break. Unlike the SAT, which divides the modules up so that a student is not required to focus for longer than around 30 minutes at a time, the ACT Math section is a feat of speed, concentration, and stamina.

    Each question, particularly the ones in the beginning, does not require complex problem solving, but the key is to work quickly and accurately without tiring for the whole 60 minutes. There are no divisions, so if you are behind on time, you will be behind for the whole test.

    The difficulty level will increase dramatically throughout the test, with the last 5–10 questions designed to be particularly challenging for test-takers.

  • Reading

    40 questions | 35 minutes

    (53 seconds per question)

    Nearly a minute per question, but not quite. With the advent of the Digital SAT, long passages are now a thing of the past. They still exist on the ACT. While ACT Reading passages will be less convoluted than the SAT’s infamous (now defunct) long-style Reading passage, these passages will still require quick comprehension and a sharp attention to detail.

    There are 4 passages, and 10 questions to answer after each. Students will be well-advised to first focus on the questions they can spot evidence for quickly, then work through the rest as time permits.

  • Science

    40 questions | 35 minutes

    (36 seconds per question)

    Here is the biggest difference between the SAT and ACT, if you are still on the fence. The Science section of the ACT (despite the name) tests not as much scientific information as much as it does tabular and graphical analysis skills. The answers to 98% of the questions on this test will be directly in the passage.

    The key is to work quickly. This section of the ACT (the final section too) is the most time-limited section of the exam. With 6 passages to go through and just 35 minutes to get through them all, students will have to practice answer each passage in just under 6 minutes. There is no great complexity or strategy to getting a high score on the Science section—just a lot of practice.

(Still) a Paper Test

As of this writing, the ACT is the only undergraduate admissions test that is still offered in paper format. While the ACT will be offering a digital version of the test (with the test content remaining identical), the paper ACT will still be offered.

For students who are more comfortable working in a physical environment with pencil and paper, the ACT is a valuable option to consider. The SAT has now become fully digital, and there is no longer an option to take the SAT in a paper format.

For students who do not have compelling reasons to take the ACT, the new Digital SAT format offers shorter testing for shorter periods at a time (2 hours total compared to nearly 3 hours for the ACT), and greater calculator capabilities with the Ti-Nspire CX CAS II allowed on the exam.

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