The ACT consists of four multiple-choice sections that measure the applicant’s skills in four different areas: English, mathematics, reading and science. There is also an optional Writing test that is intended to determine planning and essay writing skills.
The English section of the test covers usage and mechanics, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills. Taken over a 45-minute period, this section consists of 75 questions divided between five passages. Parts of these passages are underlined, and the applicant is required to correct them on the opposite side of the page.
The Math portion of the test consists of 60 questions, with an hour allotted to the entire section. The questions usually cover pre-algebra, elementary and intermediate algebra, plane and coordinate geometry, and elementary trigonometry.
With the other sections of the ACT, there are four answer choices for every question. In the Math test, there are five answer choices for every question.
The Reading section of the test consists of 40 questions spread out over four sections. Three of these sections consist of a long prose passage. The fourth consists of two shorter prose passages. These passages are similar to the text that college students typically encounter during their first semester.
Reading test questions usually require students to determine the meaning of the provided texts. Students will have to derive the meaning of the text via explicit statements or by employing reasoning.
Students will also have to be able to compare different statements, display an understanding of cause-and-effect, and determine the meaning of words, phrases, and statements based on context.
The Science portion of the test consists of 40 questions, which should be answered in 35 minutes. The 40 questions are divided between six passages, each of which is presented in three formats: Data Representation, Research Summary, and Conflicting Viewpoints.
Scores earned in the Writing section do not contribute to the composite score.
Students may opt not to take the Writing section of the ACT if they wish. However, approximately 50% of all colleges that require essay scores will use it as a part of determining the eligibility of a student for admission.
Essays should be written in response to prompts on a wide range of social issues. Given three perspectives on a particular issue, students will have to analyze the different perspectives and provide their own opinion on them.