Cracking the ACT exam pattern

The ACT is a widely accepted and standardized examination in the U.S. and several other countries. It is used majorly for undergraduate admissions into several colleges and universities. Learning about the ACT exam pattern is important since many foreign institutions ask for SAT/ACT scores as a part of the application package. All universities in the U.S. accept the same with only a few exceptions. The examination is run by a non-profit organization by the same name, i.e. ACT. It is a computer-based examination and comprises four primary portions, i.e. Math, English, Science, and Reading. It also comes with an optional Writing (Essay) section. 

The ACT exam structure offers passages which evaluate punctuation, grammar, persuasive abilities, and sentence structure. The reading test has four passages from social studies, prose fiction, natural sciences, and humanities. Major math test topics include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Data Analysis and Trigonometry. The science test evaluates data interpretation and comprehension based on science passages. No prior knowledge of science is needed for this test. The examination takes 3 hours and if the optional writing section is chosen, then it will take up to 4 hours. The score range is 1-36 for all four skills and the optional writing section is called the ACT Plus Writing section with multiple choice questions. There is no negative marking and a total of 215 questions are present in the test.

ACT Exam Pattern, Duration & Crucial Aspects 

Here is a brief look at the ACT exam format

Total Time- 2 hours and 55 minutes
ACT Test 2021 Format	Two formats- ACT (no writing)
	ACT (with writing)
Number of Questions	215 or 216 (One extra essay question for ACT with writing)
Type of Questions	Multiple-choice questions (MCQ)
Subjects asked in ACT Test	English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science
Additional time	Additional 40 minutes is given to those choosing ACT(with optional essay writing)

 

Here is a closer look at the ACT Exam Pattern

Subjects	Time (minutes)	Number of Questions	Answer Options
Mathematics	60	60	Multiple-choice questions with four or five choices
Reading	35	40	Multiple-choice referring and reasoning questions with four or five choices
Science	35	40	Four-choices for one question, multiple-choice data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints questions
English	45	75	Four-choice, multiple-choice usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills questions
Writing (optional essay)	40	1	One writing prompt

Scoring Pattern and Other Aspects

Number of Answer Choices (Reading, Science, English)	4
Number of Answer Choices (Math)	5
Odd-Numbered Questions	A-D/E Labeling
Even-Numbered Questions	F-J/K (I is excluded)
Correct Answer Marking	Raw point for each correct answer without negative marking/penalties
Score Range for Every Test	1-36
Composite Score Generation	Averaging English + Math + Reading + Science Scores
Writing Test Scores	2-12 without impacting Composite Score
Essay Scores	4 Writing Domain Scores (Development and Support, Ideas and Analysis, Language Use and Conventions and Organization). Each one is scored on a 2-12 scale. Writing domain scores ranging from 2-12 are sums of scores given by two readers on the 1-6 scale for every domain. The essay score is combined with the Reading and English score to generate separate ELA (English Language Arts) score between 1-36.
STEM Score	Provided by ACT Test and sub-score range for each of the four subject-based scores

 

Components of Subjects

English	Math	Reading	Writing (Optional)	Science
Usage Mechanics- 40 Questions	Pre-Algebra (14 questions)	Prose Fiction Passage (10 questions)	3 Perspectives on any Debatable Topic/Issue	2-3 Charts and Graphs Passages (5-7 questions)
a. Punctuation (10 questions)	Elementary Algebra (10 questions)	Humanities Passage (10 questions)		2-3 Science Experiment Passages (5-7 questions)
b. Grammar & Usage (12 questions)	Intermediate Algebra (9 questions)	Social Sciences Passage (10 questions)		1/2 Fighting Scientists Passages (5-7 questions
c. Sentence Structure (18 questions)	Coordinate Geometry (9 questions)	Natural Sciences Passage (10 questions)
Rhetorical Skills- 35 Questions	Plane Geometry (14 questions)
a. Strategy (12 questions)	Trigonometry (4 questions)
b. Organization (11 questions)
c. Style (12 questions)

Know More About:

• ACT Writing Test
• ACT Reading Test
• ACT English Test

 

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