The English test portion of the ACT contains 75 questions that cover language usage, including grammar and punctuation, and rhetoric, such as writing strategy and style. The ACT English test does not focus on vocabulary. Instead, the test provides five passages of prose with a set of multiple-choice questions related to each. Test takers must make determinations about underlined sections of the passages and answer questions relating to context and comprehension.
The ACT’s mathematics test is advanced, with coverage of topics in trigonometry as well as arithmetic, algebra and geometry. It consists of 60 multiple-choice questions that require knowledge of formulas, computational skills and topics reflective of math courses taken by 11th grade. Test takers are expected to use reasoning skills to solve problems and are permitted to use calculators in this part of the exam.
Despite the ACT’s lack of vocabulary-specific questions, a strong vocabulary will help improve results on the 40-question reading-comprehension test section. Passages are provided along with multiple-choice questions that address the test taker's ability to determine what is stated and what is implied in the passages. Questions refer to specific details of passages, sequences of events, comparisons of information, cause-and-effect and other content on a variety of topics. The test represents the level of reading expected in the first year of college.
The ACT includes a science portion, which does not address recall of specifics of science study but rather the reasoning required to draw scientific conclusions. The section contains 40 multiple-choice science questions in which students examine graphs, data and other scientific content. Questions ask students to interpret and analyze the data and make predictions.
The writing test portion of the ACT consists of a single writing prompt and expects test takers to write freely. The prompt presents opposing viewpoints from which the test taker must choose and respond. Test takers are not scored based on the position or viewpoint they choose but on the quality of their writing. Handwriting should be clear for the test scorer to read, and the test taker should check his work for grammatical, spelling, usage and punctuation mistakes before submitting it. The writing test is not required to complete the ACT, but it is required by some colleges for applicants using the ACT for entrance.