Hello all, I'm planning to sit for the ACT soon and I want to make sure I manage my time well on test day. Can anyone help me out with information on how long an ACT test usually lasts?
Sure, I can help with that. The total duration of the ACT test without the writing section is 2 hours and 55 minutes, while with the writing section it comes up to 3 hours and 35 minutes. Here's a breakdown to help you manage your time:
1. English Section: You have 45 minutes to answer 75 questions. That's about 36 seconds per question. This section tests your understanding of English, grammar, and writing.
2. Math Section: You have 60 minutes to answer 60 questions. This boils down to one minute per question. This section primarily covers algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
3. Reading Section: 35 minutes for 40 questions, which amounts to about 53 seconds per question. The questions test your reading comprehension skills, and you'll be answering queries about passages included within the test.
4. Science Section: Similar to the reading section, the science section gives you 35 minutes to answer 40 questions - about 53 seconds per question. Here, you'll be interpreting data, evaluating experiments, and making inferences from scientific content.
If you choose to take the writing section also known as the ACT Plus Writing, you have an additional 40 minutes to compose an essay.
Remember, this doesn't include the breaks between sections. There's a 10-minute break after the Math section, and if you're taking the Writing section, there's a 5-minute break before that.
It's quite a rigorous examination, so pacing yourself effectively can significantly impact your performance on the test. Best of luck with your preparation!
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