ACT Profile - Profile of the ACT

What's Being Tested?: The ACT has four required sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. There is also now an optional essay that is used to calculate a Writing score.

Test Format: Unlike the SAT, where each subject area is divided into three sections, the ACT uses just one section for each subject tested. The first section is English, which is 45 minutes. Then Math (60 minutes), Reading (35 minutes), and Science (35 minutes). The optional essay, administered at the end of the ACT, takes 30 minutes.

Scoring the Test: Students are given a 1-36 score on each of the four required sections. The average of these scores, rounded to the nearest whole number, constitutes the "composite ACT score." The essay is not factored into the composite score, but is graded and combined with the English score to create a Writing score.

ACT English: The multiple-choice English section tests punctuation, grammar, usage, mechanics, and rhetorical skills.

ACT Math: Math questions on the ACT cover primarily arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Unlike on the SAT, there are also a few trigonometry questions.

ACT Reading: This section is comprised of four reading passages in the categories of fiction, humanities, social science, and natural science. Students are asked to answer 10 questions about each passage.

ACT Science: The Science section consists of seven passages, each with 5-7 questions. The questions ask students to intepret graphs/charts/tables, understand experiments, and comprehend scientific discussions. The Science section does not presuppose a significant science background in any area.

Offered Six Times a Year: The ACT is typically administered three times in the fall, once in the winter, and twice in the spring.

Many Students Take the ACT More Than Once: There is no limit to how many times someone can take the ACT. Additionally, unlike with the SAT, students can choose to send colleges ACT scores only from specific administrations. Poor scores can remain confidential.