About the ACT

The ACT is offered in both digital and paper formats and consists of four sections: English, Math, Reading, and an optional Science section. The test takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes (including Science) and is scored on a scale of 1–36. All U.S. colleges and universities accept either the ACT or the SAT for admission. Choosing between the ACT and SAT is one of the most important decisions in the testing process. The best choice depends on a student's individual strengths, testing style, and academic background.

Test Structure

English

The English section contains 50 questions completed in 35 minutes. Students answer questions that assess grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, organization, style, and rhetorical skills through passages they revise and edit.

Math

The Math section contains 45 questions completed in 50 minutes. Questions cover arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, probability, statistics, and functions. Students may use an approved calculator throughout the Math section.

Reading

The Reading section contains 36 questions completed in 40 minutes. Students read passages from a variety of subject areas and answer questions that assess reading comprehension, interpretation, and reasoning.

Science (optional)

The Science section contains 40 questions completed in 40 minutes. Rather than testing scientific knowledge, this section assesses a student's ability to interpret graphs, tables, experiments, and scientific data.

Scoring and Superscoring

Students receive a score from 1 to 36 on each required section: English, Math, and Reading. Students who choose to take the optional Science section also receive a Science score. The Composite ACT score is the average of the required section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. The national average Composite score is approximately 19, while a perfect score of 36 places a student in roughly the 99th percentile.

Many colleges superscore the ACT by combining a student's highest section scores from multiple test dates. As a result, students often benefit from taking the exam more than once.

Should I Take the Science Section?

While some colleges require or recommend the optional Science section, many do not. We generally recommend making this decision after completing an ACT diagnostic exam. The diagnostic results provide valuable insight into whether the Science section is likely to strengthen a student's overall testing profile.

Optional Writing Test

The ACT offers an optional 40-minute Writing Test (essay), scored separately from the Composite ACT score on a scale of 2–12. Because very few colleges require or recommend the essay, nearly all students do not need to take it.

Who is the ACT Best Suited For?

Although the best way to determine whether the SAT or ACT is a better fit is through diagnostic testing, students with the following characteristics often perform well on the ACT:

Students who read quickly and work efficiently under time pressure.
Students who are comfortable interpreting charts, graphs, and scientific data.
Students who prefer a fixed-format exam rather than an adaptive exam.

When Should I Take the ACT?

Most students take their first ACT during their junior year. The appropriate time to begin preparation depends on a student's testing timeline, academic schedule, and college goals. In general, we recommend beginning preparation approximately three months before a student's first official exam. Many students ultimately take the ACT two or three times before earning their desired score.

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At Odyssey, ACT preparation combines individualized instruction, strategy, homework review, and official ACT practice tests. Every student's preparation plan is tailored to his or her strengths, goals, and testing timeline. To learn more about our approach, visit our SAT & ACT Preparation page or contact us to learn more.