A Breakdown of the ACT
Colleges use ACT and SAT scores alongside grades, extracurriculars, and interviews to evaluate applicants and determine admissions. Scoring well on the ACT can broaden your student’s horizons, allowing them admittance to additional schools and, in some cases, access to additional scholarships.
To maximize the opportunity the ACT presents, students need to have a clear understanding of the structure of the exam and a prior knowledge of what types of questions to expect. Test Prep Chicago is a Licensed Provider of Official ACT® Content, and our material includes Officially Licensed ACT® Questions. Thanks to this, we are in a uniquely strong position to offer insights into this exam.
Here is an overview of the sections you can expect to see on the ACT:
English (50 questions. 35 minutes. 42 seconds per question)
The English test includes six to seven personal and informational essays of varying lengths. Longer passages of ~340 words will be accompanied by 10 questions, and shorter passages of ~185 words will be accompanied by 5 questions. You will be tested on a variety of topics, including grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, style, tone, topic development, organization and cohesion.
Math (45 questions. 50 minutes. ~67 seconds per question)
The math test includes questions that require you to solve practical math problems using logical reasoning. Approximately 80% of the math questions test high school level concepts, with the remaining 20% focusing on complex, multi-step problems and applicable knowledge of those concepts. At least 20% of all problems in the math section utilize mathematical models, such as graphs, diagrams, charts, matrices, etc. Note that an approved calculator is allowed for the math section.
Reading (36 questions. 40 minutes. ~67 seconds per question)
The reading test consists of three long passages and a pair of short passages. Passages will include both literary narratives and informational texts from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Each passage will have approximately 9 corresponding questions involving main ideas, details, point of view, and analysis of the author’s word choice and purpose.
Science* (40 questions. 40 minutes. 60 seconds per question)
The science test consists of six or seven passages that present scientific information from the natural sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and astronomy. The information is presented in reading passages and graphic representations. Most questions in the science section will not test outside scientific knowledge but will instead rely more heavily on reading comprehension and interpretation of data. The answer to each question will typically be in the corresponding passage.
Writing* (1 prompt. 40 minutes.)
The writing test is a 40-minute essay designed to measure your writing skills. The prompt will present three different perspectives on a contemporary issue. You will be tasked with writing an essay in which you develop your own perspective on the issue and explore how it relates to at least one of the other perspectives. Essays are graded based on ideas and analysis, development and support, organization, and language use and conventions.
You can view upcoming ACT test dates and register your student for the exam at act.org. Test Prep Chicago offers 8-week ACT courses and one-day workshops throughout the city. We have many courses that begin the weekend of January 31st, that line up perfectly with the April 11th ACT testing date. You can register for one of our ACT courses here, and sign up for one of our one-day ACT Palooza workshops here. Want a more personalized approach that works with your schedule? Click here to see our individual tutoring options.
*The science and writing tests are optional for students testing privately. However, in Illinois public schools, students in grade 11 will take the ACT with writing, which includes tests in English, mathematics, reading, science, and writing.