ACT (originally American College Testing) (ACT)

What this exam is

The ACT is a standardised college admissions test administered by ACT Inc., a US-based non-profit organisation. Along with the SAT, the ACT is one of the two primary college entrance exams accepted by virtually all four-year colleges and universities in the United States. The ACT tests four academic areas — English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science — and offers an optional Writing section.

• Conducted by: ACT Inc.
• Eligibility: No formal restrictions — open to all students, typically taken in Class 11 or 12
• Mode: Paper-based at most international centres; computer-based testing available at select US locations
• Frequency: Offered approximately 7 times per year in the US (September, October, December, February, April, June, July); fewer international dates (typically 5 per year)

The ACT was first administered in 1959 as an alternative to the SAT. Unlike the SAT, which focuses on evidence-based reasoning in two sections, the ACT includes a dedicated Science section that tests the ability to interpret scientific data, evaluate experimental designs, and reconcile conflicting viewpoints — without requiring specific science content knowledge.

Dates, pattern, and cutoffs shown are based on the 2025–26 cycle and may change. Check the ACT official website for the latest notification.

The ACT is less commonly taken by Indian students than the SAT. The SAT has a larger network of international test centres and greater name recognition in India. However, the ACT is accepted interchangeably with the SAT by all US universities, and some students perform better on the ACT format, particularly those who are strong in science reasoning and prefer a faster-paced exam.

Who should take this exam

The ACT is relevant to the same broad population as the SAT — students applying to undergraduate programmes in the United States and, increasingly, at international institutions.

Students applying to US universities. All US colleges that accept the SAT also accept the ACT. There is no preference at the admissions level. Students should take whichever exam suits their strengths. The ACT is particularly well-suited to students who are comfortable with science data interpretation and prefer shorter, more direct questions across more sections.

Students who prefer a broader test format. The ACT covers four distinct sections rather than the SAT’s two. Some students find the variety of sections — English grammar, mathematics, reading comprehension, and science reasoning — less fatiguing than the SAT’s deeper focus on two areas. The ACT’s Science section does not test science knowledge; it tests the ability to read graphs, tables, and experimental descriptions accurately.

Students applying to Canadian, UK, or Australian universities. The University of Toronto, McGill University, University of British Columbia, and several UK universities accept ACT scores from international applicants. However, the ACT is less commonly cited by Indian private universities (such as Ashoka University or Plaksha University) compared to the SAT — students targeting these should verify acceptance before choosing the ACT.

The ACT is generally not required for Indian domestic admissions via CUET UG, JEE Main, or other Indian entrance exams. It serves a different purpose and applicant pool.

Choosing between SAT and ACT. Both tests are accepted equally by US universities. Key differences to consider:

• The ACT has a Science section; the SAT does not
• The ACT has more questions per section and less time per question
• The SAT Math section permits a built-in calculator throughout; the ACT has a calculator-allowed section but requires stronger mental math on the Science section
• The SAT is adaptive (digital); the ACT is largely linear (paper-based internationally)

Taking a diagnostic practice test for each exam is the most reliable way to determine which suits your test-taking style.

Exam pattern and structure

The ACT consists of four mandatory sections and one optional Writing section. All mandatory sections use multiple-choice questions with four answer choices.

Section	Questions	Duration	Content
English	75 questions	45 minutes	Grammar, usage, rhetorical skills
Mathematics	60 questions	60 minutes	Pre-algebra through trigonometry
Reading	40 questions	35 minutes	Comprehension of prose passages
Science	40 questions	35 minutes	Data interpretation, scientific reasoning
Writing (optional)	1 essay prompt	40 minutes	Analyse perspectives on an issue
Total (without Writing)	215 questions	175 minutes	—
Total (with Writing)	215 questions + 1 essay	215 minutes	—

There is a 10-minute break between the Mathematics and Reading sections.

Scoring

Component	Score Range	Increment
English	1–36	1-point
Mathematics	1–36	1-point
Reading	1–36	1-point
Science	1–36	1-point
Composite	1–36	Average of four sections
Writing (if taken)	2–12	1-point (reported separately)

The composite score is the average of the four section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number. The optional Writing score is reported separately and does not affect the composite.

No negative marking. There is no penalty for incorrect answers. Students should answer every question.

STEM and ELA scores. In addition to section and composite scores, ACT reports a STEM score (average of Math and Science) and an ELA score (average of English, Reading, and Writing if taken). Some universities and scholarship programmes consider these supplementary scores.

Syllabus overview

The ACT tests skills and knowledge typically acquired through standard high school coursework through the end of Class 11 / early Class 12.

English

The English section tests knowledge of standard written English and rhetorical skills through passages with underlined portions. Students choose the best revision or “NO CHANGE.”

Reporting Category	Key Topics	Approximate Share
Production of Writing	Topic development, organisation, unity and cohesion	~29%
Knowledge of Language	Word choice, style, tone, consistency	~13%
Conventions of Standard English	Sentence structure, grammar, usage, punctuation	~58%

Mathematics

The Math section covers six areas, with emphasis on preparing for higher-level mathematics.

Reporting Category	Key Topics	Approximate Share
Preparing for Higher Math — Number and Quantity	Real and complex numbers, vectors, matrices	~7%
Preparing for Higher Math — Algebra	Linear expressions, equations, inequalities	~12%
Preparing for Higher Math — Functions	Function definition, notation, representation, application	~12%
Preparing for Higher Math — Geometry	Shapes, solids, congruence, similarity, trigonometry	~12%
Preparing for Higher Math — Statistics and Probability	Data collection, probability, statistical measures	~12%
Integrating Essential Skills	Rates, percentages, proportional relationships, area, volume	~45%

A calculator is permitted for the entire Math section. Trigonometry is tested but at a basic level — primarily right triangle trigonometry and basic identities.

Reading

The Reading section contains four passages (or passage pairs) from different content areas. Students answer questions testing comprehension, inference, and analytical reading.

Passage Type	Description
Literary Narrative / Prose Fiction	Excerpt from a novel or short story
Social Science	Passage on anthropology, archaeology, economics, history, political science, psychology, or sociology
Humanities	Passage on architecture, art, dance, ethics, film, language, literary criticism, music, philosophy, or theatre
Natural Science	Passage on anatomy, astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry, ecology, geology, medicine, meteorology, microbiology, physics, or zoology

Science

The Science section does not require specific science knowledge. It tests scientific reasoning through data representation, research summaries, and conflicting viewpoints.

Format	Description	Approximate Share
Data Representation	Interpret graphs, tables, and diagrams from experiments	~30%
Research Summaries	Understand experimental design, variables, and procedures	~45%
Conflicting Viewpoints	Evaluate two or more hypotheses or interpretations	~25%

Eligibility and registration

Eligibility

ACT Inc. sets no age, nationality, or educational requirements for taking the ACT. Any student may register and sit the exam. The test is primarily taken by students in grades 11–12 (Class 11–12) applying to undergraduate programmes.

• Age: No minimum or maximum
• Education: No prescribed qualification
• Attempts: No limit on the number of ACT attempts; students may retake the exam on any available test date
• Superscoring: ACT offers a “superscore” option — ACT Inc. calculates the highest composite from the best section scores across multiple test dates. Many universities accept superscored ACT results.

Registration

Registration is online at act.org. International students should register early, as international test centre seats are limited.

1. Create an ACT web account
2. Select test date and test centre (with or without Writing)
3. Upload a recent photograph
4. Pay the registration fee
5. Print the admission ticket

Fees

Component	Fee
ACT (without Writing)	$68
ACT (with Writing)	$93
International testing surcharge	$86 additional
Late registration fee	$36 additional
Test date change	$42
Additional score reports (beyond 4 free)	$18 each

Test centres in India

The ACT is available at fewer international test centres than the SAT. In India, ACT test centres are typically located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Availability varies by test date, and popular centres fill quickly. The number of international ACT test dates is smaller than in the US — typically 5 per year rather than 7.

Cutoffs and score interpretation

The ACT does not publish universal cutoffs. Individual universities set their own expectations, and admissions are holistic.

Typical admitted-student composite ranges

Institution Type	Typical ACT Composite (Middle 50%)
Ivy League / MIT / Stanford / Caltech	34–36
Top 20 US universities	31–35
Top 50 US universities	28–33
University of Toronto / McGill / UBC	28–33
Large US state universities (in-state competitive)	25–30

Previous years’ cutoffs are indicative. Actual cutoffs vary by category, round, and year.

Score percentiles (approximate, based on ACT data)

ACT Composite	Approximate Percentile
36	99th
34	99th
32	96th
30	93rd
28	88th
26	82nd
24	74th
21	57th

The national mean composite for US test-takers is approximately 19.5–20.5.

ACT to SAT concordance

ACT Inc. and the College Board publish concordance tables that allow approximate comparison between ACT and SAT scores:

ACT Composite	Approximate SAT Equivalent
36	1570–1600
34	1500–1530
32	1420–1450
30	1340–1370
28	1260–1290

These concordances are approximate. Universities that accept both exams do not favour one over the other.

Colleges and programmes that accept this exam

The ACT is accepted by all four-year US colleges and universities, all Canadian universities that accept the SAT, and many international institutions.

US institutions (on this site)

• MIT: ACT accepted (requires all sections)
• Stanford University: ACT accepted
• Harvard University: ACT accepted (reinstated test requirements)
• Carnegie Mellon University: ACT accepted
• New York University: ACT accepted
• Columbia University: ACT accepted
• Boston University: ACT accepted

Canadian and international institutions

• University of Toronto: ACT accepted for international applicants
• McGill University: ACT accepted
• University of British Columbia: ACT accepted
• University of Edinburgh: ACT accepted as supplementary evidence

Indian private universities

Fewer Indian private universities explicitly list the ACT compared to the SAT. Students should verify directly with the admissions office of institutions such as Ashoka University, Plaksha University, or Krea University before relying on ACT scores for Indian admissions.

Relevant programmes

• BA Liberal Arts

• BA Economics

• BSc Computer Science

• BBA

• Arizona State University accepts ACT scores

• Bocconi University accepts ACT scores

• Erasmus University Rotterdam accepts ACT scores

• FLAME University accepts ACT scores

• HKUST Business School accepts ACT scores

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi accepts ACT scores

• Anna University accepts ACT scores

• Banaras Hindu University accepts ACT scores

• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi accepts ACT scores

• IISER Pune accepts ACT scores

• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad accepts ACT scores

• Indian Institute of Management Calcutta accepts ACT scores

• Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode accepts ACT scores

• Indian Statistical Institute accepts ACT scores

• Jamia Millia Islamia accepts ACT scores

• Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities (JSLH) accepts ACT scores

• Masters’ Union accepts ACT scores

• NALSAR University of Law accepts ACT scores

• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad accepts ACT scores

• National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi accepts ACT scores

• National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal accepts ACT scores

• O.P. Jindal Global University accepts ACT scores

• SAI University accepts ACT scores

• Shiv Nadar University accepts ACT scores

• BRAC University accepts ACT scores

• Bard College Berlin accepts ACT scores

• Hope College accepts ACT scores

• IE University accepts ACT scores

• NTU Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information accepts ACT scores

• NUS Business School accepts ACT scores

• NYU Abu Dhabi accepts ACT scores

• Nanyang Technological University accepts ACT scores

• National University of Singapore accepts ACT scores

• Northeastern University accepts ACT scores

• Penn State University accepts ACT scores

• Purdue University accepts ACT scores

• Singapore Management University accepts ACT scores

• TU Delft accepts ACT scores

• Technical University of Munich accepts ACT scores

• University of Cambridge accepts ACT scores

• University of Groningen accepts ACT scores

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts ACT scores

• University of Melbourne accepts ACT scores

• University of Queensland accepts ACT scores

• University of Washington accepts ACT scores

• University of Waterloo accepts ACT scores

• Wabash College accepts ACT scores

How to prepare

Official resources from ACT Inc.

ACT Inc. provides several official preparation resources:

• ACT Official Practice Test: Free full-length practice test available for download from act.org, with answer explanations
• ACT Academy: Free online preparation platform with practice questions aligned to ACT content areas
• The Official ACT Prep Guide: Published study guide containing multiple full-length practice tests with explanations
• ACT Online Prep: Paid preparation programme with additional practice tests and personalised study plans

Section-wise strategy

English. The English section is heavily weighted toward Conventions of Standard English (~58%). Review grammar rules: subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, comma rules, semicolons, and sentence structure. The remaining questions test rhetorical skills — ensuring passages flow logically, sentences are concise, and word choices are appropriate.

Mathematics. The ACT Math section covers a wider range of topics than the SAT but at a comparable or slightly lower depth. Focus on algebra, coordinate geometry, and trigonometry fundamentals. Integrating Essential Skills (basic arithmetic, ratios, percentages) accounts for ~45% of questions — do not neglect these. Work quickly: 60 questions in 60 minutes means one minute per question on average.

Reading. Four passages in 35 minutes is demanding. Practise reading academic passages quickly and identifying main ideas, supporting details, and implied meanings. Develop a consistent approach — some students read the passage fully before answering; others skim and then reference back. Find what works for you through timed practice.

Science. The Science section requires no science knowledge. It tests your ability to read data displays, understand experimental setups, and evaluate competing scientific claims. Practise interpreting graphs, identifying trends, and distinguishing between variables. Speed is critical — 40 questions in 35 minutes leaves under one minute per question.

Preparation timeline

Phase	Duration	Focus
Diagnostic	1 week	Take a full official practice test; identify baseline composite and section scores
Content review	3–4 weeks	Review grammar rules, math concepts, and reading strategies
Section practice	3–4 weeks	Timed section practice; focus on Science and Reading pacing
Full practice tests	2 weeks	2–3 full tests under timed conditions; review errors
Final review	1 week	Light review; test-day logistics

Key dates and timeline

The ACT is offered approximately 7 times per year in the US and 5 times per year internationally.

Test Date (2025–26)	US Registration Deadline	International Availability
September 2025	August 2025	Yes
October 2025	September 2025	Yes
December 2025	November 2025	Yes
February 2026	January 2026	No (US only)
April 2026	March 2026	Yes
June 2026	May 8, 2026	Yes
July 2026	June 5, 2026	Yes

Dates, pattern, and cutoffs shown are based on the 2025–26 cycle and may change. Check the ACT official website for the latest notification.

Score release: ACT scores are typically available within 2–6 weeks of the test date. Writing scores take longer (up to 8 weeks).

Planning for US applications. Regular Decision deadlines typically fall in January. Aim to complete the ACT by October–December of Class 12. Early Decision applicants should target September–October test dates.

Related exams

• SAT: The primary alternative to the ACT for US college admissions. Accepted interchangeably by all US universities. Two sections (Reading and Writing, Math) versus the ACT’s four.
• CUET UG: India’s centralised undergraduate entrance test. Different purpose and applicant pool — not interchangeable with the ACT.
• JEE Main: India’s engineering entrance exam. Some students applying to US engineering programmes take both JEE and ACT.

Sources Used

1. ACT — Official Website
2. ACT Test Preparation — ACT Inc.
3. ACT Registration — ACT Inc.
4. ACT Scores — ACT Inc.