American College Testing ACT exam

Originally an acronym for American College Testing, the ACT is a standardized test that is largely utilized in the US and Canada for undergraduate college admissions and scholarship decisions. The for-profit company ACT, Inc. is in charge of administering it.

The ACT focusses on secondary education skills rather than natural talent in order to assess high school students' overall educational growth and their capacity to finish college-level work. Both computer-based and paper-based versions of the test are accessible.

Content and Structure of the Test

The ACT typically has two optional portions in addition to four multiple-choice questions. The needed element has been divided into three portions since 2024/2025: reading, maths and English.

Each multiple-choice part has a score range of 1 to 36. Crucially, a student's raw score is determined exclusively by the quantity of right answers; bad responses do not result in negative marking.

Core Mandatory Sections

Section	Time (Minutes)	Number of Questions (approx. pre-2025)	Content Focus
English	35	50 (new format) / 75 (older format)	Usage/Mechanics (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure) and Rhetorical Skills (strategy, style, organization)
Mathematics	50	45 (new format) / 60 (older format)	Pre-algebra, elementary and intermediate algebra, coordinate and plane geometry, and elementary trigonometry
Reading	40	36 (new format) / 40 (older format)	Reading comprehension, locating and interpreting details, deriving meaning from texts, assessing key ideas, craft and structure, and integration of knowledge

Optional Sections

Section	Time (Minutes)	Number of Questions	Content Focus
Science	40	40	Interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in natural sciences (biology, chemistry, Earth/space sciences, physics)
Writing (Essay)	40	1 prompt	Measures writing skills by asking students to analyze three different perspectives on a social issue and develop their own perspective

Math Note: Calculators are only allowed in the math area. Complex computer algebra systems (CAS) like the TI-89 are typically forbidden, although standard graphing calculators (like the TI-83 and TI-84) are permitted.

Details of the Scoring

• Section Scores: A score ranging from 1 to 36 is assigned to each of the four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science.
• Composite Score: The rounded whole number average of the English, Reading, and Math scores is the Composite score, which also varies from 1 to 36. The Composite score does not include the Science score.
• Optional Writing Score: Instead of the prior range of 1 to 36, the essay now receives a supplemental Writing Score that ranges from 2 to 12. The composite score is unaffected by this score, which is the total of two readers' subscores (1–6 in four categories: Ideas and Analysis, Development and Support, Organisation, Language Use and Conventions).
• Other Scores: The ACT further offers two combined scores: the STEM score, which is an average of math and science scores, and the ELA score, which is an average of English, reading, and writing scores.
• Test Takers and Averages: More than 1.37 million high school graduates took the ACT in 2024. In 2024, the average composite score was 19.4.

New Developments (ACT Improvements for 2025)

The ACT has been changing to become more effective and flexible. Significant changes that take effect in 2025 include:

• Shorter Test Duration: There has been a considerable reduction in the total testing time. With the exception of optional portions, students can now obtain a college-reportable Composite score in roughly 125 minutes, as opposed to 195 minutes previously.
• Optional Science Section: Similar to the writing test, the science portion that was formerly required is now optional. A student receives both a STEM score and a separate Science score if they decide to take the Science test.
• Fewer Questions: Students now have more time for each question and are able to exercise greater critical thinking because there are fewer questions overall.
• Math Section Change: There will now be four instead of five possible answers for each question in the math section.
• Online Testing: Nationally, online testing will begin in the spring of 2025, with school-day testing to follow in the spring of 2026. The advantage of online testing is that findings are available instantly, frequently in a matter of days. The test must often be taken online by test-takers from other countries.

Cost and Availability

Around the world, the ACT is offered several times a year.

• Availability in the United States and Canada: September, October, December, February, April, June, and July (except July in New York State).
• Other Countries: Available five times annually.
• Price (updated as of 2025): The cost of the test without optional sections is $65.00 USD. The cost of the Science and Writing add-ons is US$4.00 and US$25.00, respectively. US residents in the eleventh or twelfth grades who qualify can have their fees waived.

Fee Component	US and Canada Fee	International Fee
Core Test (English, Math, Reading)	US$65.00 (some sources cite $68.00)	US$65.00 + $125.50 surcharge = $190.50 (approx.)
Science Add-on (Optional)	US$4.00	US$4.00 + $6.00 surcharge = $10.00 (approx.)
Writing Add-on (Optional)	US$25.00	US$25.00

Use in College Admissions

All four-year US schools and universities accept the ACT, and the majority of them do not favor it over the SAT.

In order to help admissions officers put local data (grades, coursework) in a national context, ACT scores are added to the secondary school record. ACT scores are typically only one consideration in the admissions process for colleges.

Colleges typically accept the following ranges of composite scores:

• 32–36: Ivy Caliber (highly competitive).
• 27–31: Highly selective.
• 24–26: Selective.
• 18–20: Liberal acceptance.

Consider the ACT as a high-speed driving test to understand the significance of time management: although the questions may be a little simpler than those on some other standardized tests, the short time allotted for each section necessitates intense concentration and steady pacing to ensure all questions are answered, especially since guessing carries no penalty.

Availability, deadlines

Scheduled tests

ACTs are offered several times a year:

• The exam is provided 7 times a year in the US and Canada: September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. Not available in New York State in July.
• ACT is provided 5 times a year in other countries. For security and logistical reasons, international exam-takers must take the test online.

How to Register for the ACT

• Make an account with ACT first.
  • Make an account as a student by visiting the official ACT website at act.org.
• Start the Registration Form.
• Upon login in :
  • Select Register for the ACT.
  • Choose the ACT with or without writing.
• Select the Date and Location of Your Test
• Add the course and school information.
• Place a photo here
• Get the registration fee paid.
• Waivers: Financially needy 11th and 12th grade US nationals testing in the US or US territories can receive fee waivers. These waivers cover four test registration fees. Ask for cost waivers via the ACT’s account-based ordering portal.
• Take a printout of your pass.
• Print and keep your entrance ticket after registering.
• Late Registration: An extra cost may be charged for missed deadlines.

Important tip: Register by the regular date, five weeks before the test, to avoid late fees.