Understanding the ACT Structure

Hello everyone, I'm prepping for the ACT coming up soon. I'm a bit unsure about the structure of the exam. Can anyone explain what the sections are and how much time I get on each?

Sure, I'd be happy to help break it down for you.

The ACT is divided into 4 main sections, followed by an optional writing section. Here are the details:

1. English: This is a 45-minute section with 75 questions, which gives you around 36 seconds per question. The English section primarily tests your grammatical knowledge and rhetorical skills.

2. Math: This section consists of 60 questions and you have 60 minutes to complete it, so it averages out to about 1 minute per question. This portion tests your quantitative skills and covers various areas such as algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.

3. Reading: This section has 40 questions and is designed to be completed in 35 minutes, providing you with a bit less than a minute per question. During this part, you'll be asked to read and analyze passages and answer questions based on them.

4. Science: The Science section, similar to the Reading section, is designed to be completed in 35 minutes but has 10 fewer questions, allowing for a bit more than a minute per question. This section doesn't necessarily test your recall of scientific facts. Instead, it gauges your reasoning skills based on the scientific data provided in the form of graphs, charts, experiments, etc.

5. Writing (optional): If you choose to do the writing section, you will be given 40 minutes to write an essay. This part of the exam evaluates your writing skills, especially your abilities to develop ideas, utilize language effectively, and cogently argue a point.

So counting all of these parts together, if you aren't taking the Writing component, the test lasts about 2 hours and 55 minutes. With the Writing section, the duration comes to 3 hours and 35 minutes.

Good luck with your preparation!