ACT Study Guide
Your area-by-area roadmap
The ACT is a fast, content-driven college-admission test. These practice tests cover the three print sections — English (50 questions, 35 min), Mathematics (45 questions, 50 min), and Reading (36 questions, 40 min) — for a composite scored on the 1–36 scale. English and Reading are passage-based, so read the passage first and let its context decide each answer; Math rewards clean setup and steady pacing. Science is provided separately on the companion platform.
English
Section 1 · 50 questions · 35 minutes
Short passages with embedded revision questions covering Sentence Structure, Grammar and Usage, Punctuation, Knowledge of Language, and Production of Writing.
Conventions of Standard English
- Fix run-ons, fragments, and comma splices by testing each clause for a subject and finite verb.
- Apply subject-verb and pronoun agreement, ignoring words between subject and verb.
- Use commas, semicolons, colons, and apostrophes by their specific rule, not by ear.
Production of writing & language
- Pick transitions that match the logical relationship (cause, contrast, sequence).
- Choose the most concise option that keeps the meaning; delete redundancy.
- Match word choice and tone to the passage's purpose and audience.
High-yield takeaways
- Sentence-boundary and punctuation questions are the most frequent English item.
- When two choices seem correct, the shorter, clearer one usually wins.
Mathematics
Section 2 · 45 questions · 50 minutes
Discrete multiple-choice questions spanning Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability. A calculator is permitted.
Algebra & functions
- Solve linear and quadratic equations and systems; simplify expressions and exponents.
- Work with functions, sequences, and complex numbers in standard form.
- Translate word problems into equations before computing.
Geometry, statistics & number
- Apply area, volume, angle, triangle, and coordinate-geometry relationships.
- Handle ratios, percentages, averages, and probability from tables and diagrams.
- Respect order of operations and unit conversions to avoid careless errors.
High-yield takeaways
- Questions rise in difficulty through the section — bank the early points quickly.
- Plug in answer choices or estimate when an algebraic path is slow.
Reading
Section 3 · 36 questions · 40 minutes
Four passages — Literary Narrative, Social Science, Humanities, and Natural Science — each followed by questions on main idea, detail, inference, and vocabulary in context.
Key ideas & details
- Identify the main idea and the author's purpose before the detail questions.
- Answer every question from the passage; avoid outside knowledge.
- For inference questions, choose the option the text most directly supports.
Craft, structure & integration
- Use surrounding sentences to define words in context.
- Track sequence, cause, and comparison within and across paragraphs.
- Locate the line or detail that proves each answer.
High-yield takeaways
- Read the passage first, then let each answer be defended by a specific line.
- Manage pace: roughly ten minutes per passage keeps all four in reach.
Ready to practice?
Reinforce what you reviewed with flashcards or a timed test.