Act Length

On my way to take the ACT soon. Can someone tell me how long does the ACT test actually last? I've heard different things from different people and, honestly, I'm a bit confused. Any first-hand experiences would be appreciated!

The ACT is made up of four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. They are each timed as follows:

- English: 45 minutes

- Math: 60 minutes

- Reading: 35 minutes

- Science: 35 minutes

So for the basic portions of the exam, you're looking at a total of 175 minutes of testing time, or just under three hours.

However, there are also breaks between sections. After the Math section, there is a scheduled 15-minute break. In addition, many test centers also incorporate short breaks between the other sections for administrative tasks, like collecting and redistributing materials. So when factoring in breaks, the exam is closer to around 3.5 hours.

If you opt to take the ACT Plus Writing (which includes a writing component), you’ll have an additional 40 minutes for the optional Writing Essay, with a brief break before it begins. Including this section, the total testing time (without accounting for breaks) would be 215 minutes making the length of the test roughly four hours including breaks.

Ultimately the actual length will depend on various factors such as the efficiency of the testing center's process, onset of the test, etc so it might vary slightly from the aforementioned time, but it's a good estimation to go by. Make sure to be well-rested and nourished before the test as it can be quite a marathon! Good luck with your test!