ACT Syllabus and Format

ACT is divided into five sections: English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing. Unlike other exams, the ACT is a subject-oriented test that evaluates students based on the content they have learned in high school and how well they can retain it. The syllabus used can be generalized into concepts taught in school. Given the extensive information, summarizing and learning everything can be overwhelming. Therefore, here are the narrowed-down topics that cannot be avoided.

Over the years, the ACT has brought about numerous changes. The new ACT has enhanced flexibility and choices, reduced test duration, and fewer questions. The enhancements are currently applied to the national ACT. Educational institutions and districts will have access to these options beginning in the spring of 2026.

ACT Test Format

The ACT is offered in paper-based and computer-based formats, both at the national level and the district level. Students should verify with the testing center or the institution administering the test to confirm.

The national ACT consists of 3 mandatory sections and 2 optional sections. The composite score is composed of English, Mathematics, and Reading scores, while the Science and Writing sections are optional and their scores are reported separately.

The district ACT testing follows a different format in that the Science section will be mandatory and a part of the composite score until the Spring of 2026, after which time both testing methods will align with each other.

Understanding the breakdown of the time is important in learning pacing since the availability of time is less in ACT when compared to other competitive exams like SAT.

The following lists each section's question count and time allotment:

Section	Number of Questions	Reporting Categories	Time Allocation per section
English	50 Questions	Production of Writing (38-43%) Knowledge of Language (18-23%) Conventions of Standard English (38-43%) Field test, embedded (20%)	35 minutes
Mathematics	45 Questions	Preparing for higher math (80%) Integrating essential skills (20%) Modeling (>=20%) Field test, embedded (9%)	50 minutes
Reading	36 Questions	Key ideas and details (44-52%) Craft and structure (26-33%) Integration of knowledge and ideas (19-26%) Field test, embedded (25%)	40 minutes
Science (if opted)	40 Questions	Interpretation of data (36-47%) Scientific investigation (17-31%) Evaluation of Models, inferences, and experimental results (22-36%) Field test, embedded (15%)	40 minutes
Writing (if opted)	1 Essay	-	40 minutes

English

In this section, the candidate’s language use, along with rhetorical skills, is assessed. The questions are generally always related to the passages given. They might include questions that assess the candidate's observational skills, as well as their understanding of the language and its grammar. They also try to assess the candidate’s eye to comprehend the passages given, for which the five different passages provided will be from five different fields. The main concepts that are questioned within language use are:

• Punctuation- includes the understanding and sense the candidate has in using comma, semicolon, colon, apostrophe, period, etc.
• Grammar- consists of concepts like subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, adverbs, verbs, verb formation, etc.
• Sentence structure- includes topics like clauses, modifiers, types of sentences, phrases, etc.
• Vocabulary- is included amongst the passages in questions, like placing a word in the proper context. Unlike the other aspects of the English section, this does not have a specific list of topics to cover. One can only learn as many words and meanings as possible by reviewing words that are usually asked for in the ACT. This can be prepared using flashcards.

Candidates will get 35 minutes to attempt 50 multiple-choice questions, with each question offering four possible answers. Calculating roughly, one will be required to answer a question in around 42 seconds. A common strategy for answering such questions is to read the first sentence of each paragraph, then read the question, and revisit the necessary paragraph to find the answer, rather than meticulously reading the passage and then moving on to the questions.

Mathematics

This test section allows the use of calculators. The ACT follows a strict policy for the use of calculators, all of which should be reviewed in advance. The topics that are covered here are high-school specific and are listed below:

• Algebra- resolve, plot, and simulate various expression kinds. Numerous equations, including exponential, polynomial, radical, and linear relationships, can be interpreted and used to solve systems of equations, even if they can only be expressed as a straightforward matrix equation, and apply the answers to practical situations. This section is divided into the following three parts:
  • Pre-Algebra-This would include concepts like variables. expressions, integers, solving equations, rational numbers, ratios, proportions, probability, percentages, area/volume, real numbers, and linear equations.
  • Elementary Algebra-This focuses on topics like real and complex numbers, variables, and other algebraic quantities, along with concepts like their rules of operation and geometric representations. It involves problems for simplifying expressions, solving linear and quadratic equations, and multiplying binomials.
  • Intermediate Algebra-This includes topics like systems of equations, complex numbers, sequences and patterns, inequalities, functions, matrices, and logarithms. It is considered an advanced algebra level, and hence, most grid-in questions come from this part of the syllabus.
• Number and Quantity- show understanding of both simple and complex number systems, as well as how to reason with numerical quantities in a variety of expression formats, such as vectors, matrices, and expressions with both integer and rational exponents.
• Geometry- be familiar with concepts like surface area, volume measurements, congruence, and similarity relationships, and use trigonometric ratios and equations of conic sections to find the missing values in triangles, circles, and other figures.
• Functions- exhibit understanding of function, including its definition, notation, representation, and use, make use of exponential, logarithmic, polynomial, piecewise, linear, and radical, modify and translate functions, as well as decipher and apply crucial graph features.
• Statistics & Probability- describe the distribution's center and spread, utilize and evaluate data collection techniques, recognize and simulate relationships in two-variable data, and determine the probability by identifying the relevant sample spaces.
• Trigonometry- consists of topics like solving triangles, trigonometric identities, graphs, graphing trigonometric functions, and trigonometric equations. It mostly appears in the critical thinking part of the paper.

There are 50 minutes allotted for 45 questions. The ideal divide would be to complete one question in one minute. The questions will all be in the multiple-choice format, with four choices for each question. Strategic learning and shortcuts will be the only methods that can help utilize time efficiently, since solving every equation step by step would take over a minute and leave no extra time to revise questions candidates are unsure about.

Reading

The Reading section assesses a candidate's ability to read closely, integrate information from various sources, and reason logically about texts using evidence. The questions center on the complementary abilities that readers must possess to study written materials across multiple subject areas effectively. When determining ACT score for the Reading section, the reporting categories listed below are used:

• Key Ideas & Details- must read texts to identify key themes and ideas; accurately summarize information and ideas; demonstrate a grasp of relationships; and draw logical inferences and conclusions, including knowledge of cause-and-effect, sequential, and comparative relationships.
• Craft & Structure- ascertain the meanings of words and phrases in these questions, examine the rhetorical choices made by the author and the organization of the text, comprehend the goals and viewpoints of the author, evaluate the points of view of the characters, evaluate the rhetorical choices made by the author, distinguish between different perspectives and information sources.
• Integration of Knowledge & Ideas- comprehend the claims made by authors, distinguish between facts and opinions, and connect disparate texts that are connected by a standard topic by using evidence. For some of the questions, they will need to assess the logic and supporting details from multiple sources and analyze how writers put their points across.
• Visual and Quantitative Information- recognize or analyze data from the graphic or combine data from the passage and the graphic from an element such as a graph, figure, or table that provides information pertinent to the reading task may be included with one passage and get the best response.

This section has 40 minutes for answering 36 questions, which seems comparatively manageable compared to the English section. Both of these sections contain passage-based questions with a difference in the skills assessed. The questions are multiple-choice, with four choices each, and have referring and reasoning-based questions.

Science (Optional)

The Science section, if opted, assesses the ability to interpret, analyze, evaluate, reason, and solve problems necessary in the natural sciences. Multiple-choice questions follow each of the several real scientific scenarios presented in this section. The subjects covered are earth and space sciences (such as geology, astronomy, and meteorology), biology, chemistry, and physics. Three formats are used to present information in the science section:

• Data Representation- identifying the connections between data in tables and graphs, performing interpolation and extrapolation, and converting tabular data into a graph. Information is shown using graphics and tables that resemble content from science books and journals.
• Research Summaries- answering questions that center on how the experiments were planned and how the findings were interpreted. The information in this format includes descriptions and findings from one or more connected studies.
• Opposing Points of View- comprehension, evaluation, and comparison of opposing ideas or theories. Questions have two or more accounts for the same scientific phenomenon that are incompatible with one another due to their different premises or inadequate data.

It comprises 40 questions that must be completed in 40 minutes. This gives the candidate 1 minute to answer each question, on average. There are multiple-choice questions with 4 choices each. The questions generally contain data representation, research summaries, and questions with conflicting perspectives, where students should exhibit skills in interpretation, analysis, reasoning, and problem-solving.

Writing (Optional)

The writing section, if opted for, requires carefully crafting a compelling essay containing multiple perspectives and content associated with the prompt or topic provided. Based on the prompt, the essay has to be written in under 40 minutes. They used to focus on multiple perspectives in the answers, but now require a minimum of just one perspective and a maximum of three perspectives.