ACT test dates, fees and format
The exam itself, in one place: when it runs and when to register, how it is built and scored, what it costs, what is changing, and the tools and guides for it. Practice lives in the ACT library.
Upcoming ACT dates
No upcoming dates are listed yet. Registration and test dates are published by the exam maker; the official site is linked below.
ACT at a glance
- Delivery
- Linear, computer or paper
- Sections
- English — 50 q · 35 min · Math — 45 q · 50 min · Reading — 36 q · 40 min · Science (optional) — 40 q · 40 min · Writing (optional essay) — 40 min
- Score range
- 1–36
What is the ACT?
The ACT is a standardized admissions exam taken by high-school students applying to US colleges and universities. It tests English, Math, Reading, and Science, each scored 1–36, and your composite is the average of the four section scores rounded to the nearest whole number.
What is the ACT test format?
The test runs about three hours with breaks; the optional Writing essay adds 40 minutes and is scored separately from 2 to 12 without affecting your composite.
| Section | Time | Content |
|---|---|---|
| English | 45 min | 75 questions on grammar, usage, rhetoric |
| Math | 60 min | 60 questions on algebra, geometry, trig |
| Reading | 35 min | 40 questions across 4 passages |
| Science | 35 min | 40 questions on data and experiments |
| Writing (optional) | 40 min | 1 essay, scored 2–12 separately |
What is a good ACT score?
A composite of 24 sits around the 57th percentile and a 30 is roughly the 90th. Top-tier universities report middle-50% composites of about 33–36, so aim for the upper half of your target school’s range. Average your section scores and see your percentile with our ACT score calculator.
How should I practice for the ACT?
Start with a full-length mock to get a baseline, then use section practice and drills to work on the section dragging your composite down. The ACT is fast-paced, so timed practice in the real format — as you do here — builds the pacing the test rewards most.