A Comprehensive Guide to the ACT

If you’re applying to college, you must have a lot of questions about the ACT.

You must be wondering; how many sections are on the ACT? Is the ACT going digital this year? 

Read this article to answer all your questions about the ACT’s test format, duration, recent changes, and more!

What is the ACT?

The ACT is a standardized test used in college applications, much like the SAT. It is a multiple-choice exam scored on a 1-36 point scale. 

According to the Princeton Review, the purpose of the ACT is to “measure a high school student's readiness for college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants.” Generally, a higher score will open more opportunities in college admissions and financial aid. 

Have There Been Any Recent Changes to the ACT?

Much to the public’s awareness, the SAT went digital in March 2023…and the ACT has followed! In February 2024, online testing was offered for the ACT in select locations. However, unlike the SAT, students can choose whether they want to take an online or paper-and-pencil test. ACT gave students the option to choose so they could “maximize their performance and confidence by taking the ACT in the way that feels best for them.” 

And, guess what, there’s more! 

The ACT will be implementing additional changes in the coming years to make the exam more flexible and convenient. In April 2025, online tests will be shorter, and students will have more time to answer each question. In September 2025, all students (online and paper) will get these testing benefits. If you are an international student, some of the logistics are different, so be sure to read over ACT’s list of FAQs for more information.

Learn more about the new ACT enhancements. 

What Does the Digital ACT Look Like?

The digital ACT follows a similar format to the digital SAT. However, it won’t be administered through Bluebook. Instead, the digital ACT will be administered through TestNav. The exam still needs to be taken at an approved test center and cannot be done remotely. If you are unsure which test format you should take, ACT has a comparison chart to help you make your decision.

The screen will only present one question at a time for all sections. Additionally, TestNav will have a wide array of tools, including answer choice eliminations, magnifier, and line reader, available to you at any time during the exam. 

This is a sample image of the ACT digital exam screen.

As you can see on the top of the image, there is a dropdown of all the tools available for the exam. There is also a timer in the top right corner.

Familiarize yourself with TestNav’s tools and features.

How is the ACT Structured?

The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. 

There is also an optional writing section. The time duration of the ACT is 2 hours and 55 minutes without writing and 3 hours and 35 minutes with writing. Here is a breakdown of the entire exam, including the number of questions and the time limit for each section.

How is the ACT Scored?

Each section (English, Math, Reading, Science) is scored on a scale of 1-36. The scores for each section are averaged to get the composite score, also on a scale of 1-36. The writing section is scored separately. There are 4 domains scored on a scale of 2-12. The domains are averaged to get the writing subject-level score on a scale of 1-6. If you take the ACT more than once, ACT will take the highest score from each section amongst all your exams and average them to get the super-score. The superscore will always be higher than the composite scores.

This is an example of what a student’s ACT profile could look like. 

There is an individual score for each subject and a composite score for each exam.

The Math and Reading section was highest in April 2021, but the Science section was highest in December 2020, and the English section was highest in February 2021. As you can see, the highest scores are scattered throughout all the exams. Nonetheless, the super-score, displayed at the very top of the image, takes the highest scores from each section no matter which tests it’s from.

How Can I Prepare for the ACT?

The ACT has a plethora of free resources for students to use, and they can be used to prepare for any test format, digital or paper. They offer testing tips for each subject, online test prep classes for those who want guided learning, and practice tests with actual questions from the ACT! These resources are great for learning expert tips and tricks on taking the ACT, getting high-quality practice, and setting a strong foundation to effectively prepare for the exam.

Check out the full list of resources offered by the ACT.

Conclusion

For a quick recap of the ACT, watch this 3-minute video from Khan Academy!

Standardized exams, including the ACT, are no easy task. They can play a significant role in showcasing your academic strength in college applications. However, each school has different ACT requirements and cutoffs. Even then, there is no singular score that will guarantee admission acceptance. Hence, it is important to understand your score in comparison to the colleges you’re applying to. 

If you are unsure whether your ACT score is a good fit for certain schools, check out Kollegio, an AI-powered college counseling app! Kollegio identifies your safety, target, and reach schools based on your profile. Kollegio’s platform also considers factors such as your GPA, personal preferences, and standardized test scores to craft your perfect college list. Additionally, Kollegio has other game-changing features like expert AI reviews on college essays, personalized assistance to build your activity list, and deadline trackers for all your applications. Do you want to know the best part? It’s all free! 

So what are you waiting for? Sign up now to leverage your college applications this season!

By Annabel Chou