2025l 2026
Preparing for
the ACT® Test
What’s Inside
y Full-length practice ACT test,
including the optional Science and Writing test
y Information about the multiple-choice and
writing sections
y Test-taking strategies
y What to expect on test day
Esta publicación también se puede ver o
descargar en español
www.act.org
, A Message to Students
This document is an important first step as you get ready for college and your
career.
The information here is intended to help you do your best on the ACT to gain
admission to colleges and universities. Included are helpful hints and test-
taking strategies, as well as a complete practice ACT, with “retired” questions
from earlier test subjects given on previous test dates at ACT test centers. Also
featured are a practice writing test, a sample answer document, answer keys,
and self-scoring instructions.
Read this document carefully and take the practice tests well before test day.
That way, you will be familiar with the test format, test subjects and what they
measure, and strategies you can use to do your best on test day.
You may also want to consider The Official ACT® Self-Paced Course, Powered by
Kaplan® to learn test content and strategies in a virtual classroom. To view all of
our test preparation options, go to www.act.org/the-act/testprep.
Overview of the ACT
Contents
The ACT test consists of three multiple-choice
A Message to Students 2 sections—English, mathematics, and reading.
Students may opt to take an optional multiple-
Overview of the ACT 2 choice science section and/or an optional
writing section. Some colleges and universities
Test-Taking Strategies 3 require or accept ACT science or writing scores,
so you may consider taking the science and
Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center 6 writing sections.
Content of the ACT Sections 6 Test Questions Minutes per Test
Taking the Practice Tests 12 English 50 (40 scored) 35
Mathematics 45 (41 scored) 50
Practice Multiple Choice Test 13 Reading 36 (27 scored) 40
Practice Writing Test 60 Science (optional) 40 (34 scored) 40
Writing (optional) 1 essay 40
Practice Answer Document 64
Each of the multiple-choice sections will
How to Score the Practice Multiple-Choice include some embedded field test items
Tests 72 that will not be included in your score. The
results of the embedded field test items help
Scoring the Practice Writing Test 78 develop future test questions. These items are
not labeled, so you will not know which items
Next Steps 81 contribute to your score. You should try your
best on all items.
©2025 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 82QU00002.CJ19373
,Test-Taking Strategies However, you will want to pace yourself to avoid
spending too much time on one passage or
puzzling over an answer to a specific problem.
Test Strategies for the ACT If you don’t know how to work toward an
answer to a question, it is a better strategy to
Each multiple-choice section contains guess, flag the question, and then move on to
questions with four answers from which you other questions that you know how to do. If
are to choose the correct or best answer. there is time, you can come back to the flagged
If you do not complete all your sections and questions.
want to test again, you will need to re-register
and pay for a new test date. Once you access
9 Read the directions carefully.
test content, you cannot request a Test Date Before you begin each section, read the
Change. directions carefully.This should occur before
you take the test so that you do not use testing
Strategies to help you prepare for the time.
ACT y The English, reading, and science sections
9 Get familiar with the content of the ask for the best answer. Read and consider
sections. all of the answer choices and choose the
Review the information in this document. answer that best responds to the question.
Note which content areas make up a large y The mathematics section asks for the
proportion of the sections. The topics included correct answer. You may want to work out
in each content area are examples of possible the answer you feel is correct and look for
topics; they do not include all possibilities. it among the choices given. If your answer
is not among the choices provided, reread
9 Update your knowledge and skills in the the question and consider all the answer
content areas. choices.
Review content areas that you have studied but
that are not fresh in your mind. Refresh your
9 Read each question carefully.
You need to understand exactly what each
knowledge in the content areas that make up
question asks. Some questions will require you
large portions of the test.
to go through several steps to find the correct
9 Study content areas you are not familiar with. or best answer, while others can be answered
If some content areas of the ACT are unfamiliar more quickly.
to you, consider taking coursework in those
areas before you take the test.
9 Answer the easy questions first.
A good strategy is to answer the easy questions
and skip the questions you find difficult. After
Tips for Taking the Multiple-Choice
answering the easy questions, go back and
Sections answer the more difficult questions if you have
9 Pace yourself. time.
It is important that you have enough time to
read the passages/questions and figure out
9 Use logic on more difficult questions.
your responses. For each section, subtract When you return to the more difficult
the number of minutes you estimate you will questions, try to use logic to eliminate incorrect
spend skimming the passages or reading the answers. Compare the answer choices to
information provided, then divide the total each other and note how they differ. Such
number of remaining minutes allowed by differences may provide clues as to what the
the number of questions to determine the question requires. Eliminate as many incorrect
estimated time you should spend on each answers as you can, then make an educated
question. If possible, spend less time on each guess from the remaining answers.
question and use the remaining time allowed
for a section to review your work and return to
9 Answer every question.
Your scores in the sections will be based only
the questions in that section that were most
on the number of questions that you answer
difficult for you.
correctly; there is no penalty for guessing. Try to
The time limits set for each section give answer every question within the time allowed
nearly everyone enough time to finish all the for each section.
questions.
©2025 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. Page 3 of 82QU00002.CJ19373
, 9 Review your work. What to Bring
If there is time left after you have answered every y A printed copy of your admission ticket. Your
question in a section, go back and check your ticket contains important information that
work. You will not be allowed to go back to any helps connect your answer document to the
other section or mark responses to a section registration on file. If you have lost your ticket,
after time has been called in that section. you can print another through your MyACT
account. If you do not bring your ticket on test
When testing on an answer day, your scores may be delayed.
document: y Acceptable photo identification. You will not
9 Be precise in choosing your responses. be permitted to test if your ID does not meet
ACT requirements. See ACT requirements for
If you are taking the ACT on paper, make sure
ID on your ticket or at www.act.org/the-act/id.
that you properly select the desired answer on
your answer document. Marks on your answer y If you have registered for the Bring Your
document that extend beyond the intended Own Device (BYOD) option at a participating
oval may be scored as incorrect. location, it is your responsibly to ensure you
have your testing device and have performed
9 Erase completely. the appropriate device readiness.
If you want to change a multiple-choice answer y Number 2 pencil. Bring sharpened No. 2
on paper, make sure you erase completely. Do pencils and good erasers (no mechanical
not cross out answers or use correction fluid or pencils or ink pens). Do not bring any other
tape; you must erase. Smudges or unintended writing instruments. You will not be allowed
marks may cause errors in scoring. to use them. Note: International test centers
provide approved whiteboards and erasable
markers.
Get Ready y Watch or other timing device. You may bring
Prepare well in advance for the ACT. a watch to pace yourself, but it may not have
an alarm. Your watch or other timing device
y Know what to expect on test day. Review must be removed and placed on your desk
this document and visit www.actstudent.org while in the test room, so that it remains
for more information, including an overview visible to staff during the test. If your alarm
of each test subject, multiple test prep sounds during testing, you’ll be dismissed
resources, and a comprehensive test day and your answers will not be scored.
checklist.
y Take the practice tests in the order they are y Calculator. If you wish to use a calculator
(use of a calculator is not required), it is your
shown in this booklet, time yourself, and
responsibility to ensure the calculator is
review your responses using the answer keys.
permitted according to the ACT Calculator
y Get plenty of rest the night before the tests. Policy.
Note: Most procedures in this document y Word-to-Word Bilingual Dictionary. If you are
refer to testing on a National test date at an English Learner student, you may bring a
an ACT test center (within the United States, word-to-word bilingual dictionary as long as
US territories, or Puerto Rico). Procedures it is listed in ACT-Approved Bilingual Word-
may differ slightly if you take a different to-Word Dictionaries list. If it is not on the
administration of the ACT test. approved list, you may not use it for the ACT
test. Doing so will void your testing scores.
On Test Day y Snacks. You may consume snacks and drinks
outside the test room during the break.
Report on Time
What NOT to Bring
y For National test dates, you must report to y Textbooks, notes, dictionaries (unless
your assigned test center by the time stated
on your admission ticket (usually 8:00 a.m.). If approved by the test administrator for
you are late, you will not be admitted to test. translations), or other aids
If your ticket does not list a specific test room, y Highlighter pens, colored pens or pencils, or
the test staff or posted signs will direct you. correction fluid/tape
If you are unfamiliar with the test center, you y Any electronic device other than a permitted
should allow extra time and try to arrive early testing device and calculator
to prevent the possibility of being late. y Reading material
©2025 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. Page 4 of 82QU00002.CJ19373
Preparing for
the ACT® Test
What’s Inside
y Full-length practice ACT test,
including the optional Science and Writing test
y Information about the multiple-choice and
writing sections
y Test-taking strategies
y What to expect on test day
Esta publicación también se puede ver o
descargar en español
www.act.org
, A Message to Students
This document is an important first step as you get ready for college and your
career.
The information here is intended to help you do your best on the ACT to gain
admission to colleges and universities. Included are helpful hints and test-
taking strategies, as well as a complete practice ACT, with “retired” questions
from earlier test subjects given on previous test dates at ACT test centers. Also
featured are a practice writing test, a sample answer document, answer keys,
and self-scoring instructions.
Read this document carefully and take the practice tests well before test day.
That way, you will be familiar with the test format, test subjects and what they
measure, and strategies you can use to do your best on test day.
You may also want to consider The Official ACT® Self-Paced Course, Powered by
Kaplan® to learn test content and strategies in a virtual classroom. To view all of
our test preparation options, go to www.act.org/the-act/testprep.
Overview of the ACT
Contents
The ACT test consists of three multiple-choice
A Message to Students 2 sections—English, mathematics, and reading.
Students may opt to take an optional multiple-
Overview of the ACT 2 choice science section and/or an optional
writing section. Some colleges and universities
Test-Taking Strategies 3 require or accept ACT science or writing scores,
so you may consider taking the science and
Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center 6 writing sections.
Content of the ACT Sections 6 Test Questions Minutes per Test
Taking the Practice Tests 12 English 50 (40 scored) 35
Mathematics 45 (41 scored) 50
Practice Multiple Choice Test 13 Reading 36 (27 scored) 40
Practice Writing Test 60 Science (optional) 40 (34 scored) 40
Writing (optional) 1 essay 40
Practice Answer Document 64
Each of the multiple-choice sections will
How to Score the Practice Multiple-Choice include some embedded field test items
Tests 72 that will not be included in your score. The
results of the embedded field test items help
Scoring the Practice Writing Test 78 develop future test questions. These items are
not labeled, so you will not know which items
Next Steps 81 contribute to your score. You should try your
best on all items.
©2025 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. Page 2 of 82QU00002.CJ19373
,Test-Taking Strategies However, you will want to pace yourself to avoid
spending too much time on one passage or
puzzling over an answer to a specific problem.
Test Strategies for the ACT If you don’t know how to work toward an
answer to a question, it is a better strategy to
Each multiple-choice section contains guess, flag the question, and then move on to
questions with four answers from which you other questions that you know how to do. If
are to choose the correct or best answer. there is time, you can come back to the flagged
If you do not complete all your sections and questions.
want to test again, you will need to re-register
and pay for a new test date. Once you access
9 Read the directions carefully.
test content, you cannot request a Test Date Before you begin each section, read the
Change. directions carefully.This should occur before
you take the test so that you do not use testing
Strategies to help you prepare for the time.
ACT y The English, reading, and science sections
9 Get familiar with the content of the ask for the best answer. Read and consider
sections. all of the answer choices and choose the
Review the information in this document. answer that best responds to the question.
Note which content areas make up a large y The mathematics section asks for the
proportion of the sections. The topics included correct answer. You may want to work out
in each content area are examples of possible the answer you feel is correct and look for
topics; they do not include all possibilities. it among the choices given. If your answer
is not among the choices provided, reread
9 Update your knowledge and skills in the the question and consider all the answer
content areas. choices.
Review content areas that you have studied but
that are not fresh in your mind. Refresh your
9 Read each question carefully.
You need to understand exactly what each
knowledge in the content areas that make up
question asks. Some questions will require you
large portions of the test.
to go through several steps to find the correct
9 Study content areas you are not familiar with. or best answer, while others can be answered
If some content areas of the ACT are unfamiliar more quickly.
to you, consider taking coursework in those
areas before you take the test.
9 Answer the easy questions first.
A good strategy is to answer the easy questions
and skip the questions you find difficult. After
Tips for Taking the Multiple-Choice
answering the easy questions, go back and
Sections answer the more difficult questions if you have
9 Pace yourself. time.
It is important that you have enough time to
read the passages/questions and figure out
9 Use logic on more difficult questions.
your responses. For each section, subtract When you return to the more difficult
the number of minutes you estimate you will questions, try to use logic to eliminate incorrect
spend skimming the passages or reading the answers. Compare the answer choices to
information provided, then divide the total each other and note how they differ. Such
number of remaining minutes allowed by differences may provide clues as to what the
the number of questions to determine the question requires. Eliminate as many incorrect
estimated time you should spend on each answers as you can, then make an educated
question. If possible, spend less time on each guess from the remaining answers.
question and use the remaining time allowed
for a section to review your work and return to
9 Answer every question.
Your scores in the sections will be based only
the questions in that section that were most
on the number of questions that you answer
difficult for you.
correctly; there is no penalty for guessing. Try to
The time limits set for each section give answer every question within the time allowed
nearly everyone enough time to finish all the for each section.
questions.
©2025 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. Page 3 of 82QU00002.CJ19373
, 9 Review your work. What to Bring
If there is time left after you have answered every y A printed copy of your admission ticket. Your
question in a section, go back and check your ticket contains important information that
work. You will not be allowed to go back to any helps connect your answer document to the
other section or mark responses to a section registration on file. If you have lost your ticket,
after time has been called in that section. you can print another through your MyACT
account. If you do not bring your ticket on test
When testing on an answer day, your scores may be delayed.
document: y Acceptable photo identification. You will not
9 Be precise in choosing your responses. be permitted to test if your ID does not meet
ACT requirements. See ACT requirements for
If you are taking the ACT on paper, make sure
ID on your ticket or at www.act.org/the-act/id.
that you properly select the desired answer on
your answer document. Marks on your answer y If you have registered for the Bring Your
document that extend beyond the intended Own Device (BYOD) option at a participating
oval may be scored as incorrect. location, it is your responsibly to ensure you
have your testing device and have performed
9 Erase completely. the appropriate device readiness.
If you want to change a multiple-choice answer y Number 2 pencil. Bring sharpened No. 2
on paper, make sure you erase completely. Do pencils and good erasers (no mechanical
not cross out answers or use correction fluid or pencils or ink pens). Do not bring any other
tape; you must erase. Smudges or unintended writing instruments. You will not be allowed
marks may cause errors in scoring. to use them. Note: International test centers
provide approved whiteboards and erasable
markers.
Get Ready y Watch or other timing device. You may bring
Prepare well in advance for the ACT. a watch to pace yourself, but it may not have
an alarm. Your watch or other timing device
y Know what to expect on test day. Review must be removed and placed on your desk
this document and visit www.actstudent.org while in the test room, so that it remains
for more information, including an overview visible to staff during the test. If your alarm
of each test subject, multiple test prep sounds during testing, you’ll be dismissed
resources, and a comprehensive test day and your answers will not be scored.
checklist.
y Take the practice tests in the order they are y Calculator. If you wish to use a calculator
(use of a calculator is not required), it is your
shown in this booklet, time yourself, and
responsibility to ensure the calculator is
review your responses using the answer keys.
permitted according to the ACT Calculator
y Get plenty of rest the night before the tests. Policy.
Note: Most procedures in this document y Word-to-Word Bilingual Dictionary. If you are
refer to testing on a National test date at an English Learner student, you may bring a
an ACT test center (within the United States, word-to-word bilingual dictionary as long as
US territories, or Puerto Rico). Procedures it is listed in ACT-Approved Bilingual Word-
may differ slightly if you take a different to-Word Dictionaries list. If it is not on the
administration of the ACT test. approved list, you may not use it for the ACT
test. Doing so will void your testing scores.
On Test Day y Snacks. You may consume snacks and drinks
outside the test room during the break.
Report on Time
What NOT to Bring
y For National test dates, you must report to y Textbooks, notes, dictionaries (unless
your assigned test center by the time stated
on your admission ticket (usually 8:00 a.m.). If approved by the test administrator for
you are late, you will not be admitted to test. translations), or other aids
If your ticket does not list a specific test room, y Highlighter pens, colored pens or pencils, or
the test staff or posted signs will direct you. correction fluid/tape
If you are unfamiliar with the test center, you y Any electronic device other than a permitted
should allow extra time and try to arrive early testing device and calculator
to prevent the possibility of being late. y Reading material
©2025 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. Page 4 of 82QU00002.CJ19373
