Cracking the ACT exam pattern
Updated on 21 February, 2023
Mrinal Mandal
Study Abroad Expert
The ACT is a widely accepted and standardized examination in the U.S. and several other countries. It is used majorly for undergraduate admissions into several colleges and universities. Learning about the ACT exam pattern is important since many foreign institutions ask for SAT/ACT scores as a part of the application package. All universities in the U.S. accept the same with only a few exceptions. The examination is run by a non-profit organization by the same name, i.e. ACT. It is a computer-based examination and comprises four primary portions, i.e. Math, English, Science, and Reading. It also comes with an optional Writing (Essay) section.
The ACT exam structure offers passages which evaluate punctuation, grammar, persuasive abilities, and sentence structure. The reading test has four passages from social studies, prose fiction, natural sciences, and humanities. Major math test topics include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis and Trigonometry. The science test evaluates data interpretation and comprehension based on science passages. No prior knowledge of science is needed for this test. The examination takes 3 hours and if the optional writing section is chosen, then it will take up to 4 hours. The score range is 1-36 for all four skills and the optional writing section is called the ACT Plus Writing section with multiple choice questions. There is no negative marking and a total of 215 questions are present in the test.
Table of Contents
ACT Exam Pattern, Duration & Crucial Aspects
Here is a brief look at the ACT exam format
Total Time- 2 hours and 55 minutes | |
| ACT Test 2021 Format | Two formats- ACT (no writing) |
| ACT (with writing) | |
| Number of Questions | 215 or 216 (One extra essay question for ACT with writing) |
| Type of Questions | Multiple-choice questions (MCQ) |
| Subjects asked in ACT® Test | English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science |
| Additional time | Additional 40 minutes is given to those choosing ACT(with optional essay writing) |
Here is a closer look at the ACT Exam Pattern
Subjects | Time (minutes) | Number of Questions | Answer Options |
| Mathematics | 60 | 60 | Multiple-choice questions with four or five choices |
| Reading | 35 | 40 | Multiple-choice referring and reasoning questions with four or five choices |
| Science | 35 | 40 | Four-choices for one question, multiple-choice data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints questions |
| English | 45 | 75 | Four-choice, multiple-choice usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills questions |
| Writing (optional essay) | 40 | 1 | One writing prompt |
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Scoring Pattern and Other Aspects
Number of Answer Choices (Reading, Science, English) | 4 |
| Number of Answer Choices (Math) | 5 |
Odd-Numbered Questions | A-D/E Labeling |
| Even-Numbered Questions | F-J/K (I is excluded) |
Correct Answer Marking | Raw point for each correct answer without negative marking/penalties |
| Score Range for Every Test | 1-36 |
Composite Score Generation | Averaging English + Math + Reading + Science Scores |
| Writing Test Scores | 2-12 without impacting Composite Score |
Essay Scores | 4 Writing Domain Scores (Development and Support, Ideas and Analysis, Language Use and Conventions and Organization). Each one is scored on a 2-12 scale. Writing domain scores ranging from 2-12 are sums of scores given by two readers on the 1-6 scale for every domain. The essay score is combined with the Reading and English score to generate separate ELA (English Language Arts) score between 1-36. |
| STEM Score | Provided by ACT Test and sub-score range for each of the four subject-based scores |
Components of Subjects
English | Math | Reading | Writing (Optional) | Science |
| Pre-Algebra (14 questions) | Prose Fiction Passage (10 questions) | 3 Perspectives on any Debatable Topic/Issue | 2-3 Charts and Graphs Passages (5-7 questions) |
a. Punctuation (10 questions) | Elementary Algebra (10 questions) | Humanities Passage (10 questions) | 2-3 Science Experiment Passages (5-7 questions) | |
| b. Grammar & Usage (12 questions) | Intermediate Algebra (9 questions) | Social Sciences Passage (10 questions) | 1/2 Fighting Scientists Passages (5-7 questions | |
c. Sentence Structure (18 questions) | Coordinate Geometry (9 questions) | Natural Sciences Passage (10 questions) | ||
| Rhetorical Skills- 35 Questions | Plane Geometry (14 questions) | |||
a. Strategy (12 questions) | Trigonometry (4 questions) | |||
| b. Organization (11 questions) | ||||
c. Style (12 questions) |
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