Here’s a clear, complete guide to the ACT exam — sections, pattern, timing, and scoring.

What is the ACT?

The ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized undergraduate admissions test used mainly by US universities (and some outside the US).
It tests school-level knowledge + speed + reasoning.

ACT Sections & Pattern

1. English
Questions : 75
Time : 45 minutes

What it tests :

• Grammar & usage
• Sentence structure
• Punctuation
• Rhetorical skills (organization, tone)
• Passages with underlined portions → choose best correction.

2. Mathematics
Questions : 60
Time : 60 minutes
Calculator : Allowed (but not all types)

Topics :

• Pre-Algebra (20–25%)
• Elementary Algebra (15–20%)
• Intermediate Algebra (15–20%)
• Coordinate Geometry (15–20%)
• Plane Geometry (20–25%)
• Trigonometry (5–10%)
• Difficulty increases as you move forward.

3. READING
Questions: 40
Time: 35 minutes
Passages: 4


Passage types :

• Literary Narrative
• Social Science
• Humanities
• Natural Science
• Tests reading speed + comprehension, not vocabulary depth.

4. SCIENCE
Questions : 40
Time : 35 minutes

What it really tests :

• Data interpretation
• Graphs, charts, tables
• Scientific reasoning
• You don’t need prior science knowledge — it’s about analyzing data fast.

5. WRITING (OPTIONAL ESSAY)
Time: 40 minutes
Score: Separate (1–12)
Many colleges do NOT require the essay anymore.
Total Test Duration Without Writing : ~2 hours 55 minutes
With Writing : ~3 hours 35 minutes

ACT SCORING SYSTEM

Each of the 4 main sections is scored on a scale of 1–36:
English: 1–36
Math: 1–36
Reading: 1–36
Science: 1–36
Composite Score (Most Important)
Composite Score = Average of 4 section scores
Rounded to the nearest whole number
Scale: 1–36
Colleges mainly look at the Composite score.

Score Benchmarks (Approximate) 34–36 Top 1% (Ivy-level)
30–33 Excellent
24–29 Competitive
20–23 Average
Below 20 Needs improvement

RAW → SCALED SCORE ACT uses equating (difficulty adjustment)
No negative marking
You are not penalized for wrong answers
Always attempt every question.

ACT vs SAT (Quick Comparison)

No.	Feature	ACT	SAT
1	Sections	4 (+ optional essay)	2
2	Science section	✅ Yes ❌ No	-
3	Math	Faster, broader	More reasoning
4	Scoring	1–36	400–1600
5	Guessing penalty	None	None

ACT IN INDIA

• Available in computer-based format
• Conducted at authorized test centers
• Accepted by US, Canada, some UK & Asian universities

KEY TIPS

• Speed is critical (especially Reading & Science)
• ACT favors direct answers, less trickery than SAT

Strong choice if you’re:

• Comfortable with time pressure
• Good at interpreting charts/graphs
• Strong in school-level math

If you want, I can:

• Share a free ACT sample test
• Compare ACT vs SAT for your profile
• Explain ACT Math or Science strategies
• Tell you what score top US colleges expect