ACT Test Facts
by Carlene Kaiser
To better prepare you for test day, learn all you can about the ACT exam. ACT is made up of four multiple choice tests and an optional written test that assess your high school general education and your ability to take college level courses. The multiple choice section of the exam includes questions cover English, math, science and reading.
ACT English Test
The ACT English test is comprised of 75 questions that measure your
written English skills including punctuation grammar and usage and
sentence structure. Also tested are your rhetorical skills that
include strategy, organization and style. There are 5 prose
passages each followed by multiple choice questions.
ACT Mathematics Test
The Math portion of the test has 60 questions and is 60 minutes
long. This test focuses on your knowledge of basic formulas and
computational skills. An approved calculator is allowed for this
portion of the ACT.
ACT Reading Test
This part of the exam is 35-minutes long and is comprised of 40
questions. You will be tested on reading comprehension and your
ability to understand both direct statements and statements with
implied meanings. Four prose passages will be presented to you that
cover college freshman courses including social studies, natural
sciences, fiction, and humanities.
ACT Science Test
The Science Test is 35-minutes long and lists 40 questions that
test your knowledge and skills in four specific areas of natural
sciences. Assessment is made on your interpretation, analysis,
evaluation, reasoning and problem-solving. You will be presented
with seven sets of scientific information that you will have to
select the correct answer for. Calculators are not permitted for
this portion of the exam.
ACT Writing Test
For the 30-minute Writing portion of the exam, you will have to
write an essay that assesses your writing skills learned in high
school English classes and entry-level college composition courses.
You will be presented with a writing prompt that describes an issue
and two viewpoints on that issue. You must state your position on
the issue whether you select one viewpoint over another or write
your own viewpoint. Your point of view that you choose to write
will not affect the final essay score.
