The ACT Comprises Four Sections 

English, Math, Reading, and Science, always in that order.

Get to know a bit about each section or compare ACT with SAT below.

Meet the ACT English Section

The ACT English section specifically assesses your skills in grammar, usage, punctuation, and sentence structure. It consists of 75 questions that you need to answer within a 45-minute time frame. The questions are divided into five passages, each followed by a set of multiple-choice questions. The passages are typically excerpts from essays, articles, or other types of prose.

Key features of the ACT English section include:

1. Usage/Mechanics: This part focuses on grammar and punctuation. Questions may cover topics such as punctuation, grammar rules, verb tense, pronoun agreement, and sentence structure.

2. Rhetorical Skills: This part assesses your ability to improve the overall effectiveness of a passage. It includes questions related to organization, style, and strategy. You may be asked to revise sentences for clarity and coherence, and to identify the most appropriate information for a specific purpose.

3. Passages: The English section includes a variety of passages, such as those related to humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and fiction. Each passage is typically accompanied by a set of 15 questions.

Tips for tackling the ACT English section:

1. Time Management: Since you have a limited amount of time for a considerable number of questions, practice time management. Aim to spend roughly 9 minutes on each passage.

2. Read Actively: Engage with the passages actively. Understand the main ideas and the author's tone. SKIP NOTHING. The non-underlined portions contain clues for what the underlined portions should say. Pay attention to details that might be crucial for answering questions.

3. Focus on Common Grammar Rules: Brush up on common grammar rules and punctuation usage. Being familiar with these rules will help you answer questions accurately and efficiently.

4. Practice Regularly: Familiarize yourself with the format of the ACT English section by practicing with sample questions and full-length practice tests. This will help you become more comfortable with the types of questions asked and improve your pacing. (And we'll walk you through SO MANY tests. Let us show you how!)

Meet the ACT Math Section

The ACT Math section is one of the four main sections of the ACT test, alongside English, Reading, and Science. It is designed to assess your mathematical skills and your understanding of key mathematical concepts typically covered in high school coursework. The ACT Math section consists of 60 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within a 60-minute time frame.

Key features of the ACT Math section include:

1. Content Areas: The Math section of the ACT covers a range of content areas, including pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. It's important to have a solid understanding of these topics to perform well on the test.

2. Question Types: The questions in the Math section can be categorized into three main types:

   • Pre-Algebra and Elementary Algebra: Questions related to basic operations, ratios, proportions, integers, percents, linear equations, and inequalities.

   • Intermediate Algebra and Coordinate Geometry: Questions involving quadratic equations, polynomials, rational expressions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and plane geometry concepts.

   • Plane Geometry and Trigonometry: Questions covering geometry concepts such as angles, circles, triangles, and trigonometric functions.

3. Calculator Usage: You can use your calculator on the whole test, but be sure that you're very comfortable with whatever calculator you're using--and that it's allowed on the test! (Most are; some aren't. Visit ACT.org for more info.)

4. Problem Solving: The Math section assesses your problem-solving skills, mathematical reasoning, and ability to apply mathematical concepts to real-world situations. You will encounter a variety of problem types that may require you to analyze information, interpret data, and make calculations.

5. Time Management: Managing your time effectively is crucial in the ACT Math section. With 60 questions to answer in 60 minutes, it's important to pace yourself and allocate time wisely. Practice time management strategies during your preparation.

Tips for tackling the ACT Math section:

1. Review Key Concepts: Make sure you have a solid understanding of the fundamental math concepts covered in the test, especially those related to algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. (But there are also sometimes ways to straight up BEAT the test--let us tell you all about them!)

2. Practice Regularly: Familiarize yourself with the format of the ACT Math section by practicing with sample questions and full-length practice tests. This will help you become accustomed to the types of problems you'll encounter and improve your speed and accuracy. (And we'll help you out by walking through full-length tests, uncovering ALL the dirty little secrets they're hiding.)

3. Use Your Calculator Wisely: Some people need to use it every single time there is calculating to be done; others' brains just ARE calculators--know thyself, and act accordingly!

4. Read Carefully: A LOT of the math errors on the ACT Math Test aren't really math errors at all--they're reading errors. And they know how students misread questions, and they WILL have trap answers waiting. Don't fall for them!

By preparing thoroughly and practicing consistently, you can increase your confidence and performance in the ACT Math section.

Meet the ACT Reading Section

The ACT Reading section is designed to evaluate your ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret written texts. This section assesses your reading skills and your capacity to understand and answer questions based on information presented in various passages. The ACT Reading section consists of 40 questions and must be completed within a 35-minute time frame.

Key features of the ACT Reading section include:

1. Passage Types: The Reading section includes four passages, each from a different content area. The passages cover topics from  prose fiction, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences--always those four, always in that order. The goal is to assess your ability to understand and analyze diverse types of texts.

2. Question Types: The questions in the Reading section can be categorized into several types:

   • "Forest" Questions: Questions that ask about the main idea, central theme, or primary purpose of a passage, or, more rarely, the author's perspective or overall tone.

   • "Tree" Questions: Questions that inquire about specific details, facts, or information mentioned in the passage. These may include questions about what the passage says, or, more commonly, what it implies or suggests. Most passages also have a vocab-in-context question or two (but don't worry--you know the words. It's not that kind of vocab question.)

3. Timing and Pacing: With 40 questions to answer in 35 minutes, time management is crucial. It's important to pace yourself and allocate time wisely for each passage and set of questions.

4. To Read or Not To Read: We are the only people out there that seem to recognize that that there is NOT a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Let us help you figure out what strategy is best for you!

5. No Outside Knowledge Required: The ACT Reading section is designed to be independent of prior knowledge or outside information. All the information needed to answer the questions is provided in the passages.

Tips for tackling the ACT Reading section:

1. Practice Regularly: Familiarize yourself with the format of the ACT Reading section by practicing with sample passages and questions. Regular practice will improve your reading comprehension skills and speed.

2. Work on Time Management: Develop a strategy for managing your time effectively during the test. Practice allocating a specific amount of time to each passage and set of questions.

3. P.O.E.!: If you're unsure about an answer, try to eliminate obviously incorrect choices. This increases your chances of selecting the correct answer even if you're uncertain. (And we'll tell you all about predictably wrong answer choices!)

By practicing consistently and employing effective reading strategies, you can improve your performance on the ACT Reading section.

Meet the ACT Science Section

The ACT Science section assesses your ability to interpret, analyze, and reason through information presented in the context of scientific data and experiments. This section is not necessarily a test of your specific scientific knowledge but rather your skill in understanding and applying scientific concepts. The ACT Science section consists of 40 questions and must be completed within a 35-minute time frame.

Key features of the ACT Science section include:

1. Data Representation (two passages, six questions each) This type of passage requires you to interpret information presented in graphs, tables, charts, or other visual formats. You'll need to understand the relationships between variables and draw conclusions based on the provided data.

2. Research Summaries (three passages, seven questions each) In this type of passage, you'll be presented with several short texts describing scientific experiments or studies. You need to analyze the experimental design, hypotheses, and results to answer questions related to the research.

3. Conflicting Viewpoints (one passage, seven questions): This passage type presents differing perspectives on a scientific issue. You must compare and contrast these viewpoints to answer questions about the interpretations and implications of the presented information.

4. Question Types: Questions in the Science section may cover various topics, including biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth/space sciences. However, the focus is on your ability to analyze and interpret scientific information rather than your memorization of specific scientific facts.

5. No (or very little) Outside Knowledge Required: Similar to the Reading section, the Science section is designed to be independent of prior knowledge or outside information. Most of the information needed to answer the questions is provided in the passages and data representations. That said, in recent years, the test has begun inserting A FEW (as in like three per test) "outside-knowledge" questions. Nothing to freak out about for several reasons, and we'll talk you through all of that!

6. Timing and Pacing: With 40 questions to answer in 35 minutes, time management is crucial in the Science section. It's essential to pace yourself and allocate time wisely for each passage and set of questions.

Tips for tackling the ACT Science section:

1. Understand the Format: Familiarize yourself with the format of the Science section, including the different question types. Practice with sample questions and passages to get a sense of the kinds of tasks you'll encounter.

2. Focus on Data Interpretation: The primary emphasis is on your ability to interpret and analyze scientific data. Practice understanding the relationships and patterns presented in graphs, charts, and tables.

3. Don't Get Bogged Down in Details: While understanding details is important, avoid getting overwhelmed by minutiae. Focus on the main trends, relationships, and overall conclusions drawn from the scientific data.

4. Practice Time Management: Develop a strategy for managing your time effectively during the test. Since the Science section includes multiple passages, allocate time wisely to ensure you have enough time to answer all questions.

5. Use Process of Elimination: If you're unsure about an answer, try to eliminate obviously incorrect choices. This increases your chances of selecting the correct answer even if you're uncertain.

By practicing regularly and familiarizing yourself with the specific skills required for the Science section, you can enhance your performance on this part of the ACT.

ACT/SAT Comparison Chart