ACT: Structure, Timing and Dates

Facts teachers need about ACT: how it is built, how long it takes, how it is scored and when it happens.

Run by: ACT
Who takes it: Usually taken in grades 11–12 (our note; no official grade rule).
Delivery: Online or paper
Questions: 131
Testing time: 2 h 5 min
Last checked: 2026-10-20

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College admission test. English, math and reading are required and make up the Composite; science and writing are optional add-ons.

Enhanced ACT: national online from April 2025, national paper from September 2025, state and district testing from spring 2026.

Sections, questions and timing

Section	Questions	Time	Notes	Content (share of questions)
English	50 (40 scored)	35 min	Multiple-choice questions on editing and revising passages.	Production of Writing 38–43%; Knowledge of Language 18–23%; Conventions of Standard English 38–43%
Mathematics	45 (41 scored)	50 min	Calculator allowed. Multiple-choice math with four answer options (down from five before the enhancements).	Preparing for Higher Mathematics 80%; Integrating Essential Skills 20%; Modeling
Reading	36 (27 scored)	40 min	Multiple-choice questions on reading passages.	Key Ideas and Details 44–52%; Craft and Structure 26–33%; Integration of Knowledge and Ideas 19–26%
Science (optional)	40 (34 scored)	40 min	Not in composite. Optional. Gives a separate science score and, with math, a STEM score; not part of the Composite. For state and district testing the contract decides.	Interpretation of Data 38–50%; Scientific Investigation 18–32%; Evaluating Scientific Arguments and Models with Evidence 25–35%
Writing (optional)	1	40 min	Score 2–12. Not in composite. Optional essay scored 2–12 across four domains; does not change the Composite.

Breaks: not stated after core.

Scores and results

Scores: Composite rule: Average of English, math and reading, rounded to nearest whole number (halves round up). Used for all ACT tests from September 2025.; Stem: Average of math and science (only if science taken); Ela: Average of English, reading and writing (if writing taken); No guessing penalty: Yes

Dates for 2026 to 2027

Year	What	Date	Registration deadline	Late deadline	Score release
2026-27	national	Sat, 19 September 2026	Fri, 14 August 2026	Tue, 1 September 2026	Tue, 6 October 2026
2026-27	national	Sat, 17 October 2026	Fri, 11 September 2026	Tue, 29 September 2026	Tue, 27 October 2026
2026-27	national	Sat, 12 December 2026	Fri, 6 November 2026	Sun, 29 November 2026	Tue, 22 December 2026
2026-27	national	Sat, 27 February 2027	Fri, 22 January 2027	Tue, 9 February 2027	Tue, 16 March 2027
2026-27	national	Sat, 10 April 2027	Fri, 5 March 2027	Tue, 23 March 2027	Tue, 20 April 2027
2026-27	national	Sat, 12 June 2027	Fri, 7 May 2027	Tue, 25 May 2027	Wed, 23 June 2027
2026-27	national	Sat, 10 July 2027	Fri, 4 June 2027	Tue, 22 June 2027	Tue, 20 July 2027

National test dates. Deadlines 11:59 p.m. US Central. score_release = first paper score release.

Dates from act.org. Dates can change: check before you plan.

Not yet confirmed by us: The scores page is inconsistent on how the 2–12 writing score is built (sum of two domain scores vs. rounded average of four).; Current legal owner name for the ACT trademark (ACT, Inc. / ACT Education Corp.) – check act.org terms before launch.. Check the official documents.

Official pages

Facts checked against: act.org, act.org, counselorblog.act.org, act.org, act.org, act.org.

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Test details checked against ACT on 2026-10-20. Always check the official page. We show facts only (sections, question counts, timings, score scales, dates) with summaries in our own words; no test questions, passages or practice tests are reproduced.

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