The ACT exam, excluding the optional writing section, typically lasts about 2 hours and 55 minutes (175 minutes) with 215 questions. Including the optional writing section adds around 40 minutes, making the total time about 3 hours and 35 minutes. There is usually a 10-minute break after the Math section, and additional brief administrative time. The timing and number of questions vary slightly with recent changes being implemented in 2025 that shorten some sections and make the Science section optional, resulting in a slightly shorter total duration for some test versions, around 2 hours and 45 minutes to 3 hours and 5 minutes depending on the version taken and breaks included.
Breakdown of ACT Sections and Timing (Typical Core Test)
- English: 45 minutes for 75 questions
- Math: 60 minutes for 60 questions
- Reading: 35 minutes for 40 questions
- Science: 35 minutes for 40 questions (optional in the enhanced version)
- Optional Writing: 40 minutes for one essay
Total Time Notes
- Core Sections without writing plus break: About 3 hours and 5 minutes total
- Core Sections with writing: About 3 hours and 35 minutes total
- Enhanced ACT formats starting 2025 may be shorter (~2hr 45min to 2hr 55min)
Thus, expect roughly 3 hours if taking the traditional ACT without essay, and about 3.5 hours with the essay.
