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ACT FAQs

The ACT changed in 2025. Everything below reflects the current enhanced ACT.

1. What is the ACT?
2. What is the format of the ACT?
3. Who creates the ACT?
4. When is the ACT given?
5. When should I register for the ACT?
6. How do I register?
7. How much does it cost to take the ACT?
8. How long does it take to get my scores back?
9. What if I take the ACT and mess up?
10. How many times can I take the ACT?
11. What is a good score on the ACT?
12. What is the difference between the SAT and ACT?
13. Why is TestMasters the best choice for ACT preparation?
14. When should I start preparing for the ACT?
15. How much high school math do I need before I can start preparing for the ACT?
16. Should I use an educational consultant?
17. How do I find out about scholarships?
18. Does having a summer job help or hurt me?
19. Should I go to a public or private college?
20. What are Dual Degree Programs?
21. Why should I consider a Dual Degree Program?

The ACT is a college admissions test accepted by every four-year college in the United States. In 2025, ACT introduced the enhanced ACT: a shorter test with fewer questions and more time per question. The three core tests, English, Math, and Reading, make up your composite score. Science and Writing are now optional.

• English: 50 questions, 35 minutes
• Math: 45 questions, 50 minutes (four answer choices per question; calculators are permitted)
• Reading: 36 questions, 40 minutes
• Science (optional): 40 questions, 40 minutes
• Writing (optional): one essay, 40 minutes

The core test (English, Math, and Reading) has 131 questions and takes 2 hours and 5 minutes. Adding Science brings it to 2 hours and 45 minutes, and Writing adds another 40 minutes. The ACT is offered on paper and, at many test centers, online.

The ACT is written and administered by ACT, Inc., a nonprofit organization headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa.

In the United States, the ACT is offered on national test dates in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. Many states and districts also give the ACT free of charge during the school day, usually to juniors. See act.org for this year’s test dates.

There is no set time to take the ACT. Students usually take the exam in the spring semester of 11th grade, because the exam content covers class materials up to that time. Most students find it helpful to have their ACT scores in hand when they begin the application process. In addition, taking the exam during 11th grade leaves ample time for preparation and retakes if your first score is unsatisfactory.

Register online through a MyACT account at act.org. Registration deadlines are usually about five weeks before each test date, and late registration is available for an additional fee.

ACT sets its fees each year. The price depends on which optional tests you add, and late registration, test-date changes, and additional score reports cost extra. Fee waivers are available for eligible students. See act.org for current fees.

Multiple-choice scores are usually available online in your MyACT account about two weeks after the test, although some take longer. Writing scores are typically released a couple of weeks after the multiple-choice scores.

You decide which test dates’ scores are sent to colleges, so a bad day does not have to follow you. ACT also lets you request that a test record be deleted. If you have taken the ACT more than once, ACT automatically calculates a superscore: your best English, Math, and Reading scores from different test dates. Many colleges accept superscores.

ACT allows up to 12 attempts. Most students take the ACT two or three times, typically starting in the spring of junior year. With superscoring, a retake that improves even one section can raise the score colleges see.

English, Math, and Reading are each scored from 1 to 36, and your composite score is the average of those three. Science is scored separately from 1 to 36; if you take it, you also receive a STEM score. The optional Writing test is scored from 2 to 12.

The national average composite is about 19 to 20. A good score is one that makes you competitive at the colleges on your list: the most selective universities typically see middle-50% ranges of 33 to 35, while strong state universities are often in the mid-20s to low 30s. A growing number of selective colleges, including MIT, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and UT Austin, once again require SAT or ACT scores, which makes a strong score matter more.

Every U.S. college accepts both tests equally. The main differences:

• Length: the core ACT takes 2 hours 5 minutes (2 hours 45 minutes with Science); the digital SAT takes 2 hours 14 minutes.
• Format: the ACT is a fixed (linear) test on paper or online; the SAT is fully digital and adaptive by module.
• Scoring: the ACT composite is 1 to 36; the SAT total is 400 to 1600.
• Math: the ACT covers somewhat more advanced topics, including more trigonometry; the SAT includes a built-in Desmos calculator.
• Pace: the ACT gives less time per question, which rewards speed; the SAT’s short passages reward precision.
• Science: optional on the ACT; the SAT has no science section.

We recommend taking a full-length practice test of each and preparing for the one that fits you better.

• TestMasters ACT Courses offer an intensive program with 12 classes of 3 hours each over 4 – 5 weeks. TestMasters Courses offer unique and extremely effective strategies not taught anywhere else, by highly experienced, dynamic instructors.
• Highest Score Increase Guarantee – if you do not improve by at least 4 points, we will provide you with an extra-help course free of charge.
• All exams administered in class are official ACT Practice Exams. The answers are run through our computer systems to analyze your strengths and weaknesses on the ACT.
• Course materials include our TestMasters ACT Manual with tricks and tips to do well on the ACT and a copy of The Official ACT Prep Guide.
• Tutoring help (in-person or on the phone) is available for students during and after their TestMasters course at a very competitive fee.
• Tens of thousands of Students have taken TestMasters Courses from all across the country.

Because the ACT is an important test for college admissions, it is always best to start preparing as early as possible. This allows more preparation time to achieve score goals. A student should start by the summer before 11th grade, to maximize the effectiveness of our program because there are no distractions such as school homework, projects, exams, or any other school activities. Students should start preparing for the ACT no later than the summer before 12th grade.

The ACT Math test has 45 questions covering pre-algebra, algebra, functions, geometry, statistics and probability, and some trigonometry. Students who have completed Algebra I and Geometry, and are taking or have taken Algebra II, are well positioned to start; our course teaches any remaining topics.

Educational consultants counsel students and their families in the selection of educational programs based on the student’s individual needs and talents. The need for an educational consultant can vary based on the student; we recommend starting with arranging a meeting with your counselor as a research base, as they can give you some general information as a starting point for your research. If your school counselors spend many hours counseling the students through the admission process and they have received special training through workshops or if you have access to information through a college career center, then you may not need an educational consultant. If you are completely new to the college admissions process, you might consider signing up for one of our College Admissions Workshop.

To find out more about scholarships, their availability and requirements, click here. For information on financial aid, click here. You should also ask the companies that your parents are employed at for any scholarship opportunities.

Summer jobs are a great way to earn some money, and they also provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience. Work experience demonstrates your abilities such as time management, responsibility level, character, and leadership potential. Work experience can be anything from paid or volunteer work, after-school or summer program participation, to internships. You should inquire with your parent’s employers for any internships or summer job opportunities. Internships, whether paid or not, give you a first-hand look at specific careers as a way to identify career interests. In whatever programs you participate in, whether if it’s a job, an internship, or helping out at home, your experience is an important way to demonstrate key qualities. The participation in the various activities may even help you find a topic for your college essays. Whatever qualities that you develop by this experience will help you build your resume and enhance your college applications. The summer before your 12th grade is the best time for summer employment, which is why we recommend TestMasters after 10th grade, if possible. You may want to start looking for a summer job in the spring of your 11th grade, which is when most employers start hiring for the summer. Remember, the quality of your experience is much more important than the number of dollars you can earn at any job!

State and community colleges, also known as public colleges, are generally less expensive than private colleges. Public colleges receive funding from their respective states in order to make the cost of education affordable to the greatest number of people. Most states offer in-state residents a significantly lower tuition price. At community colleges, your tuition rate is based on your district. If you live within a particular community college district, you can take courses for a lower price than students who live outside of the district.

Private colleges, on the other hand, do not receive the same type of funding, so they rely more heavily on tuition, endowments, and other private sources of revenue. Private colleges are usually more expensive than public colleges, but may offer smaller class sizes or additional scholarships and grants that are not available at public schools.

Your decision on which school to attend or even to narrow down your search to generally depends on the following two criteria: money (scholarships and financial aid) and your choice of major(s). If you know your major then you should apply to the best school for that major that you can get into. If you are unsure of your major, then you should apply to a very well-rounded school, where you can explore different career options and fields of study. Only you can decide which institutions are right for you, based on your specifications and the programs that you are interested in. Remember to do as much research as possible to make a well-informed choice.

Dual Degree Programs differ from university to university. In general, universities may offer a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in your field of study in a shorter amount of time than if you pursued the two degrees independently (varies by university). They may also offer different variations such as offering an Associate Degree and Bachelor’s Degree or two different Master’s Degrees.

Students who successfully complete the program earn two degrees: Associate and Bachelor’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s, or Master’s and Master’s (depending on which degrees you pursue and what options the school offers). With the Dual Degree Program, one year of school and its financial costs are saved; also, having two degrees will give you an edge in the interview process when applying for employment over other candidates.

View TestMasters ACT Prep Course Schedules and Register Online.