What is the ACT?
The ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized exam that was introduced as an alternative to the SAT used for college admission. The ACT consists of four sections: English, Reading, Math, and Science. There is also an optional Writing portion of the exam.
ACT Format
The ACT is a 3 hour and 30 minute exam consisting of four multiple-choice tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and a writing section. The breakdown of each section is as follows:
| ACT Test Section | # of Questions | Content | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
English |
75 questions | Punctuation Grammar and usage Sentence structure Rhetorical skills |
45 minutes |
Mathematics |
60 questions | Pre-Algebra/Elementary Algebra Intermediate Algebra/Coordinate Geometry Plane Geometry/Trigonometry |
60 minutes |
Reading |
40 questions | Social Studies Natural Sciences Prose Fiction Humanities |
35 minutes |
Science |
40 questions | Data Representation Research Summaries Conflicting Viewpoints |
35 minutes |
Optional Writing Test |
1 prompt | Ideas & Analysis Development & Support Organization Language Use & Conventions |
40 minutes |
ACT Test Dates
The ACT is offered 7 times annually in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. It is always given on a Saturday. Students with credible religious obligations on a test date can request an alternate testing date. To view ACT’s official release of 2019-2020 test dates, please reference this link.
| 2019-2020 Test Dates | Registration Deadline | Online Late Registration Deadline | Online Score Release |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2019 | August 16, 2019 | August 30, 2019 | September 24, 2019 |
| October 26, 2019 | September 20, 2019 | October 4, 2019 | November 14, 2019 |
| December 14, 2019 | November 8, 2019 | November 22, 2019 | December 24, 2019 |
| February 8, 2020 | January 10, 2020 | January 17, 2020 | February 19, 2020 |
| April 4, 2020 | February 28, 2020 | March 13, 2020 | April 14, 2020 |
| June 13, 2020 | May 8, 2020 | May 22, 2020 | June 23, 2020 |
| July 18, 2020* | June 19, 2020 | June 26, 2020 | July 28, 2020 |
*July test date not available in New York or California.
Additional Resources
Don’t stop here! Check out our blog for new posts about preparing for the ACT. Below are a few posts you may find useful.
HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR TARGET SCORE
Though it’s tempting to simply say you want to score “as high as possible” on your college admissions exam, a target score will help you determine how much of your limited time and energy you devote to test preparations. So how should you determine you target score? There are several factors to consider… READ MORE
HOW TO GET A PERFECT SCORE ON THE ACT!
Over one million students take the ACT every year. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of these students earn a perfect score on the exam. So how can you score a 36 on the ACT? It’s not impossible to get a perfect score, but it does require hard work… READ MORE
FIVE TEST-TAKING SECRETS FOR THE ACT
So you’ve taken a class, or even had a private tutor help you prepare for your test. Is there anything else you can do? While private tutoring remains the most efficient way to improve your score… READ MORE