Hi there! I'm planning to take a practice ACT soon, and I'm wondering how long the test is? I want to make sure I've set aside enough time to complete it without rushing. Thanks for any info!
Hi! It's a great idea to set aside enough time for a practice ACT test to mimic the real test-taking experience. The ACT test consists of four main sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. The time allotment for each section is as follows:
1. English: 45 minutes for 75 questions
2. Math: 60 minutes for 60 questions
3. Reading: 35 minutes for 40 questions
4. Science: 35 minutes for 40 questions
In total, the ACT without the optional essay takes 175 minutes or 2 hours and 55 minutes. If you choose to work on the optional writing section, you'll have an additional 40 minutes, bringing the entire test time to 3 hours and 35 minutes.
In addition to the testing time, you should account for breaks: there is a 10-minute break after the Math section and another 5-minute break before the optional writing section if you're tackling that as well. In total, the test with breaks will take around 3 hours and 5 minutes (185 minutes) without the essay and 3 hours and 50 minutes (230 minutes) with the essay.
Make sure to set aside a quiet space to take the practice test and give yourself enough time to simulate the actual test conditions. Good luck with your practice ACT, and remember that consistency and practice are key to improving your score!
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