The ACT takes 2 hours 5 minutes for English, math and reading. That is 131 questions. Science is optional and adds 40 minutes and 40 questions, so the ACT with science is 2 hours 45 minutes. The optional writing essay adds 40 more minutes. These are ACT's own numbers for the current, shorter ACT.
Short answer: plan on about 3 to 3.5 hours at the test center for the basic ACT, and up to about 5.5 hours if you add science and writing on paper. Those totals come from ACT's 8:00 a.m. arrival time and its published ending times, shown below.
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How long is each section of the ACT?
English is the fastest section. Math and reading give you the most time per question. Here are the official times and question counts from ACT's test-day page. We did the seconds-per-question math.
| Section | Minutes | Questions | Time per question | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 35 | 50 | 42 seconds | Yes |
| Math | 50 | 45 | about 67 seconds | Yes |
| Reading | 40 | 36 | about 67 seconds | Yes |
| Science | 40 | 40 | 60 seconds | No (optional) |
| Writing | 40 | 1 essay | 40 minutes for one essay | No (optional) |
Across English, math and reading you get about 57 seconds per question on average. You can use a calculator on math only. If you test online, ACT says the Desmos graphing calculator is built into the math section.
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Start 1-day free trial →How long is the ACT with science, with writing, or with both?
Each optional part adds 40 minutes of testing. The table adds up the timed minutes. The ending times are the ones ACT publishes for test day, with arrival by 8:00 a.m.
| What you take | Questions | Timed testing | Ends (online) | Ends (paper) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT (English, math, reading) | 131 | 2 h 5 min | 11:05 a.m. | 11:25 a.m. |
| ACT + science | 171 | 2 h 45 min | 11:55 a.m. | 12:15 p.m. |
| ACT + writing | 131 + essay | 2 h 45 min | 12:00 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. |
| ACT + science + writing | 171 + essay | 3 h 25 min | 1:00 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
If you signed up for science or writing and then decide to skip it, tell the staff. They will dismiss you at the right time. ACT says you will not get a refund for a part you registered for and did not take.
How long is the ACT without science?
Without science, the ACT is 2 hours 5 minutes and 131 questions. That is the full test for your Composite score.
ACT says on its main ACT page that science and writing "are optional and do not affect your Composite score." Your Composite is the average of English, math and reading. If you take science, you also get a STEM score, which is the average of math and science (ACT score guide).
Should you add science? Check each college on your list. For example, MIT says it does not require the ACT writing or science sections. Other schools may set their own rules, so read their testing pages before you register.
Are there breaks on the ACT?
Yes. ACT schedules a short break after the second test, which is math. If you take writing, you get five minutes to relax before the essay.
- You stay on site. You may not leave the supervised area, even to go to your car.
- No phones. Electronic devices are not allowed during breaks either.
- Snacks are fine. ACT allows snacks during breaks, outside the testing room.
ACT's current test-day page does not say how many minutes the break after math lasts. The older ACT listed a 15-minute break there. Do not plan around a set number. Plan around a quick snack and a restroom stop.
How long will you be at the test center?
Count on about 3 hours for the basic ACT online, and about 3.5 hours on paper. ACT says to be inside the test center by 8:00 a.m. Late arrivals are not admitted.
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From 8:00 a.m., the basic ACT ends at 11:05 a.m. online or 11:25 a.m. on paper. With science and writing on paper, it ends at 1:30 p.m. That is about 5.5 hours at the center. Eat breakfast, and pack a snack and water for the break.
Why do some sites still say the ACT is 2 hours 55 minutes?
Because that was the old ACT. An archived copy of ACT's test-day page from December 31, 2024 says the four multiple-choice tests "contain 215 questions and takes 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete," with a 15-minute break after math.
ACT then changed the test. It began removing science from the Composite score for online tests in April 2025. By September 2025, all ACT tests used the new Composite. ACT now calls it "the shorter, updated ACT test." But old numbers are still out there. When we checked on September 29, 2026, even College Board's SAT help center still said the ACT takes 2 hours and 55 minutes. This page used to show the old numbers too. We rebuilt it.
| Section | Old ACT (before 2025) | Current ACT |
|---|---|---|
| English | 75 questions, 45 min | 50 questions, 35 min |
| Math | 60 questions, 60 min | 45 questions, 50 min |
| Reading | 40 questions, 35 min | 36 questions, 40 min |
| Science | 40 questions, 35 min | 40 questions, 40 min (optional) |
| Total without writing | 215 questions, 2 h 55 min | 131 questions, 2 h 5 min (171 and 2 h 45 min with science) |
If a prep book or practice test shows 75 English questions in 45 minutes, it is the old format. Use it for skills, but time yourself with the new numbers.
Is the ACT longer than the SAT?
Not the basic ACT. Without science, the ACT is 9 minutes shorter than the SAT, but it moves faster. With science, the ACT is 31 minutes longer. The digital SAT is 2 hours 14 minutes for 98 questions, with a 10-minute break between its two sections, according to College Board.
| ACT (no science) | ACT with science | Digital SAT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timed testing | 2 h 5 min | 2 h 45 min | 2 h 14 min |
| Questions | 131 | 171 | 98 |
| Average time per question | about 57 seconds | about 58 seconds | about 82 seconds |
So the SAT gives you more time per question. The ACT asks you to keep a quicker pace, especially in English. For the full side-by-side, including scores, fees and dates, read our guide to ACT vs SAT for 2026-27. If you already have a score on one test, the SAT to ACT conversion chart shows the matching score on the other, using the official concordance tables.
How should you pace each ACT section?
Know your time per question, and check your place at the halfway mark. Here is how I coach students to do it.
- English (35 min, 50 questions). You get 42 seconds each. At about 17 minutes, you want to be near question 25. Many questions offer "NO CHANGE." Pick it only when nothing in the underlined (or, online, highlighted) part is wrong.
- Math (50 min, 45 questions). You get about a minute each, plus a little. At 25 minutes, aim to be past question 20. If a problem does not start to make sense in 30 seconds, mark it and move on.
- Reading (40 min, 36 questions). This time includes reading the passages. Read each passage once for the main idea. Then go to the questions and look back for proof.
- Science (40 min, 40 questions). One minute each. Start with the graphs and tables, not the long text. ACT says many questions ask you to read and compare data in tables and graphs. You may not use a calculator here.
- Writing (40 min, 1 essay). Spend about 5 minutes planning. Write for about 30. Save the last few minutes to fix clear mistakes.
Answer every question. ACT says your score is based only on the number you get right, and "there is no penalty for guessing." Before time is called, fill in every blank.
Watch out for double-checking. One student on r/ACT wrote, "I didn't finish any sections because I am a chronic double-checker." Checking is good, but only for the questions you marked. Do one pass through the whole section first.
Can you get extra time on the ACT?
Yes, if ACT approves an accommodation for you. ACT says you must work with a school official to ask. What you ask for should match the help you already get in school. It must be approved before test day.
One example ACT lists is "time and one-half single session testing." That can be given at a regular national test center. Some other supports are given in ACT's Special testing window instead. Start early. See ACT accommodations for deadlines.
Does the online ACT take the same time as the paper ACT?
The sections have the same time limits. But ACT's published ending times are 20 to 30 minutes earlier online than on paper (see the table above). In the US, you pick paper or computer when you register. Outside the US, the ACT is online only.
- The online ACT is taken at a test center, not at home.
- Online, the test site gives you scratch paper. On paper tests, you write in the test booklet instead.
- You can change format until the late registration deadline, for a fee. You cannot switch on test day.
Details are on ACT's online testing page.
Where can you practice with real timing?
Take at least one full practice test with a timer set to the table at the top of this page. ACT offers official practice tests that are "Digital or paper, always free" on its free test prep page.
The Test Advantage also has ACT English, Reading and Science practice tests in its practice test catalog. They are paid, and each test page lists its price. Some are older forms, so set your own timer to the current section times above.
Still choosing between the ACT and the SAT? Try both kinds of timing. On the SAT side, the June 2026 Reading and Writing Question Bank is free. You can try sample questions without an account, or make a free account to work the full bank. The SAT Question Bank hub groups every Digital SAT bank by test month.
You can also create a free account and take one full-length adaptive SAT section free, with a real Module 1 to Module 2 route and a scaled score. No card is needed. Then compare how the SAT's 82 seconds per question feels next to the ACT's 57.
How we built this page: every time, question count, break rule and ending time comes from ACT's own pages (act.org), fetched on September 29, 2026. The old-format numbers come from an archived copy of ACT's test-day page dated December 31, 2024. SAT figures come from College Board's SAT structure page. Seconds per question are our own math. This page replaces an older version that showed the pre-2025 ACT timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ACT with writing?
English, math and reading take 2 hours 5 minutes. The writing essay adds 40 minutes, for 2 hours 45 minutes of testing, plus a 5-minute break before the essay. With science and writing, testing time is 3 hours 25 minutes. ACT lists a 12:00 p.m. end time online and 12:30 p.m. on paper for the ACT plus writing.
How long is the ACT without science?
Without science, the ACT is 2 hours 5 minutes and 131 questions: English (35 minutes), math (50 minutes) and reading (40 minutes). Science is optional and does not count in the Composite score. Adding it brings the test to 2 hours 45 minutes.
How many questions are on the ACT?
The ACT has 131 questions in English, math and reading: 50, 45 and 36. Optional science adds 40 questions, for 171 in all. The optional writing test is one essay.
How much time do you get per question on the ACT?
English gives 42 seconds per question, math and reading about 67 seconds, and science 60 seconds. Across English, math and reading the average is about 57 seconds. The digital SAT gives about 82 seconds per question.
Does the ACT have breaks?
Yes. ACT schedules a short break after the second test, which is math, and a 5-minute break before the writing essay. You must stay in the supervised area, and phones are not allowed during breaks. Snacks are allowed outside the testing room.
Is the ACT longer than the SAT?
Not the basic ACT. English, math and reading take 2 hours 5 minutes, while the digital SAT takes 2 hours 14 minutes. With science, the ACT is 2 hours 45 minutes, which is longer. The ACT also moves faster, with more questions per minute.
Can you get extra time on the ACT?
Yes, if ACT approves an accommodation before test day. You request it with a school official, and it should match the support you get in school. ACT lists time and one-half single session testing as one option at national test centers.