The main ACT test is just under 3 hours of actual testing time, and a bit longer if you add the optional writing section. Including check‑in and breaks, you are usually at the test center for around 3½ to 4 hours total.
Standard ACT timing
The core ACT (English, Math, Reading, and Science, no essay) is 2 hours 55 minutes of testing time for 215 multiple‑choice questions. With check‑in, instructions, and the built‑in break, most students spend about 3½ hours at the test center for the no‑writing version.
With optional writing
If you take the optional ACT writing (essay), you get an extra 40 minutes of testing time. That makes the total testing time about 3 hours 35 minutes, and your total time at the test center is closer to 4 hours or a little more.
Section-by-section times
Typical section times on the traditional paper ACT are:
- English: 45 minutes
- Math: 60 minutes
- Reading: 35 minutes
- Science: 35 minutes
- Writing (optional): 40 minutes
Those section times add up to 175 minutes (2 hours 55 minutes) without writing and 215 minutes (3 hours 35 minutes) with writing.