How many questions are on the ACT?
The ACT has 131 questions in its three required sections: 50 in English, 45 in Math and 36 in Reading. The optional Science section adds 40, for 171 in total. Writing, also optional, is one essay. If a guide says 215 questions, it describes the old ACT, which the enhanced ACT replaced in 2025.
Not every question counts. ACT lists the scored questions per section: 40 of the 50 in English, 41 of the 45 in Math, 27 of the 36 in Reading and 34 of the 40 in Science. So 108 of the 131 core questions are scored. You are not told which questions are unscored, so answer every one as if it counts.
The old ACT had 215 questions: 75 in English, 60 in Math, 40 in Reading and 40 in Science. The enhanced ACT cut that to 131 required questions, and Math questions now have four answer choices instead of five. Your Composite score from 1 to 36 is the average of English, Math and Reading only.
Fewer questions does not mean more time to spare. You get about 42 seconds per English question and about 67 seconds per Math or Reading question. Science gives you one minute per question. For the full timing of each section and the break, see how long the ACT is.
| Section | Questions | Scored | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 50 | 40 | 35 min |
| Math | 45 | 41 | 50 min |
| Reading | 36 | 27 | 40 min |
| Science (optional) | 40 | 34 | 40 min |
| Writing (optional) | 1 essay | - | 40 min |
| Total, required sections | 131 | 108 | 2 h 5 min |
| Total with Science | 171 | 142 | 2 h 45 min |
- 1Check whether your colleges want Science or Writing, so you know if you face 131 or 171 questions.
- 2Use practice material written for the enhanced ACT. Older books with 75 English and 60 Math questions train the wrong pace.
- 3Time one section at a time: about 42 seconds per English question and about a minute per Math, Reading and Science question.
- 4Answer every question. A blank never earns a point, so mark hard ones, guess and come back if time is left.
- 5Take at least one full timed practice test in test-day order before the real thing.