Basic Information about the ACT Test

Part of the The ACT For Dummies Cheat Sheet

The ACT, like other college entrance exams, consists of several different tests that aim to pick your brain on a variety of subjects from math to English to science. The following table tells you about each test, how long you have to complete it, how many questions it presents, and the knowledge it tests.

The ACT in a Nutshell
Test	Minutes	Questions	Topics
English	45	75	Run-ons, fragments, grammar, usage, punctuation, organization, style, and strategy.
Mathematics	60	60	Geometry, algebra, mathematics, and only four questions on trigonometry. The test does not cover calculus.
Reading	35	40	Humanities, social studies, natural sciences, and prose fiction.
Science Reasoning	35	40	Science reasoning; all questions may be answered by reading the information stated or implied in the passages, graphs, or tables; no specific background knowledge is required.