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ACT timing by section
These are ACT's current section times and question counts (ACT test day; ACT test format). Time per question is simple division of minutes by questions.
| Section | Questions | Minutes | Time per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 50 | 35 | about 42 seconds |
| Math | 45 | 50 | about 67 seconds |
| Reading | 36 | 40 | about 67 seconds |
| Science (optional) | 40 | 40 | 60 seconds |
| Writing (optional) | 1 prompt | 40 | n/a |
English, Math and Reading add up to 125 minutes. ACT's comparison page lists the core test as "2 hrs 5 min," with Science and Writing each adding 40 minutes (ACT vs SAT).
How long you'll be at the test center
ACT asks you to be inside the test center by 8:00 a.m., and late arrivals aren't admitted (ACT test day). There's a short break after the second test, and Writing starts after a 5-minute break. ACT's published end times:
| What you take | Online test ends | Paper test ends |
|---|---|---|
| English, Math, Reading | 11:05 a.m. | 11:25 a.m. |
| + Science | 11:55 a.m. | 12:15 p.m. |
| + Writing | 12:00 p.m. | 12:30 p.m. |
| + Science and Writing | 1:00 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
Why other sites say it's longer
Some well-known pages still describe the legacy ACT. The Princeton Review still showed 175 minutes when we checked, and Albert.io showed 2 hours and 55 minutes. Those are the old four-section timings: Kaplan notes the core exam went from 175 minutes to 125 (Kaplan). The Enhanced ACT explainer covers everything else that changed.
Planning your test day
- Decide on add-ons before you register. Science adds 40 minutes and $5, and Writing adds 40 minutes and $25 (ACT fees). Science feeds a STEM score but not the Composite. See the ACT Writing score guide before adding Writing.
- Practice at the real pace. English is the tightest section, at about 42 seconds per question.
- Check your pace with real scoring. Take a timed practice test, then enter your results in the calculator that scores your practice test.
What other guides say
What published sources show:
- Timing figures disagree because of old pages: 175 minutes (The Princeton Review) and 2 hours 55 minutes (Albert.io) are legacy figures, while ACT lists 2 hours 5 minutes for the core Enhanced test.
- "How long is the ACT if it starts at 8?" is a common question. ACT's own schedule answers it: be inside the test center by 8:00 a.m., and the online core test ends at 11:05 a.m.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the ACT with Science?
About 2 hours and 45 minutes of timed testing: 125 minutes for English, Math and Reading plus 40 minutes for Science.
How long is the ACT with Writing?
Writing adds 40 minutes plus a 5-minute break. With Science and Writing, ACT's online schedule ends at 1:00 p.m. and paper ends at 1:30 p.m.
How long is the ACT if it starts at 8?
ACT asks you to be inside the test center by 8:00 a.m. The core online test ends at 11:05 a.m. and the paper test at 11:25 a.m.
Is there a break during the ACT?
Yes. ACT schedules a short break after the second test, and there's a 5-minute break before Writing if you take it.
How much time do you get per question?
About 42 seconds per English question, about 67 seconds per Math and Reading question, and 60 seconds per Science question.
Related guides
Sources and how this page is built
How this page is built
Research current as of:
Cedrick Reese built this timing guide for TutoringForAct.com from ACT's test-day page, its test format page, its ACT vs SAT comparison and its fee schedule. Time per question is calculated directly from ACT's minutes and question counts. The end-time table is copied from ACT's published schedule and rechecked whenever ACT updates test-day information.
Sources
- ACT vs. SAT (ACT)
- ACT Test Day Checklist (ACT)
- The ACT test format (ACT)
- How Long is the ACT? (The Princeton Review)
- How Long is the ACT? (Albert.io)
- ACT Updates: Latest Changes to the Exam (Kaplan, June 22, 2026)
- ACT Fees (ACT)
ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT Education Corp., which is not affiliated with and does not endorse this site. ACT policies, fees and score tables change; check ACT.org before you register or apply.