Study on the fly›ACT›How the ACT is scored
ACTFree
How the ACT is scored
The ACT reports a Composite score that runs from 1 to 36, drawn from the English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science sections. Each question has 4 answer choices, and a wrong answer does not cost extra points, so a blank and an incorrect mark are scored the same. Students should still work carefully, because the Composite reflects overall performance rather than any single subject. English allows 35 minutes for 50 questions, Mathematics 50 minutes for 45 questions, Reading 40 minutes for 36 questions, and Science 40 minutes for 40 questions.
- Composite 1–36
- 4 answer options per question
- Nothing is deducted for a wrong answer
What the paper is made of
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| English | 50 |
| Mathematics | 45 |
| Reading | 36 |
| Science | 40 |
What the app estimates
As you practise, the app keeps an estimate of your ability per section and maps it onto the Composite scale. It is the app's own estimate from your answers, not an official conversion table.
| Ability estimate | Composite |
|---|---|
| 250 | 17 |
| 350 | 19 |
| 450 | 22 |
| 550 | 25 |
| 650 | 27 |
| 750 | 30 |
More ACT topics
English
- Run-ons and comma splices
- Sentence fragments
- Subject–verb agreement
- Verb tense, form, and consistency
- Pronoun case, agreement, and clear reference
- Misplaced and dangling modifiers; adjective vs. adverb
- Idioms and standard usage
- Commas
- Semicolons and colons
- Apostrophes, dashes, and parentheses
- Author's purpose and focus
- Adding, deleting, and revising sentences (relevance)
- Logical organization and ordering
- Transitions
- Introductions and conclusions
- Word choice and precision (diction)
- Redundancy and wordiness (concision)
- Consistency of style and tone
Mathematics
- Real number system and number properties
- Integer and rational exponents
- Radicals and roots
- Complex numbers
- Vectors and matrices
- Fractions, decimals, and operations
- Percents and percent change
- Ratios, rates, and proportional relationships
- Linear equations and expressions in one variable
- Inequalities (linear and compound)
- Systems of equations
- Polynomial expressions and factoring
- Quadratic equations
- Radical and rational equations
- Exponential relationships
- Function notation and evaluating functions
- Linear functions and graphs
- Quadratic and polynomial functions
- Radical and rational functions
- Piecewise functions
- Exponential and logarithmic functions
- Key features and transformations of graphs
- Lines, angles, and polygons
- Triangles — congruence, similarity, Pythagorean theorem
- Circles — arcs, sectors, angles, equations
- Surface area and volume of solids
- Coordinate geometry — distance, midpoint, slope, line equations
- Conic sections
- Right-triangle trigonometry and trig functions
- Measures of center and spread
- Data collection methods and study design
- Bivariate data and relationships (scatterplots, correlation)
- Probability and sample spaces
- Counting, combinations, and permutations
Reading
- Central idea, theme, and main idea
- Locating and interpreting explicit details
- Summarizing information
- Inferences and logical conclusions
- Relationships — sequential, comparative, cause-effect
- Vocabulary in context (word and phrase meaning)
- Rhetorical word choice and tone
- Text structure
- Author's purpose and perspective
- Point of view
- Author's claims and arguments
- Fact vs. opinion
- Command of evidence and support
- Evaluating reasoning and argument construction
- Comparing paired passages
Science
- Reading values from tables, graphs, and diagrams
- Recognizing relationships and trends in data
- Interpolation and extrapolation
- Translating between tables and graphs
- Experimental design, tools, and procedures
- Identifying controls, variables, and hypotheses
- Comparing and interpreting results across experiments
- Predicting and extending experiments
- Summarizing competing hypotheses/theories
- Comparing and contrasting alternative viewpoints
- Evaluating support for each viewpoint
- Reasoning mathematically about data
- Judging validity / evaluating hypotheses
- Formulating evidence-supported conclusions
Study on the fly is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any testing organization, school, or government body.
ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT Education Corp., which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product.
All practice questions and passages are original works created for Study on the fly and are not reproduced from any official test.