The "Language Arts: Writing" section of the test is divided into two parts: a 75-minute test with 50 questions, and a 45-minute essay section. The first part requires the test taker to read sections of text and then correct and revise the sentence structure, organization and usage. The essay section presents a topic that does not require any special knowledge, and requires the test taker to develop the topic using good organization, sentence structure, vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Test takers who finish the first part in less than 75 minutes may devote the extra time to the essay section.
The "Language Arts: Reading" section allows the test taker 65 minutes to answer 40 questions about five fiction and two nonfiction passages of text. Each passage is approximately 300 to 400 words long. The questions do not require any previous familiarity with the works or the subjects covered in the text passages. The fiction passages include excerpts from one play, one poem and three works of prose fiction. The nonfiction passages may be biographical, practical information, reporting or essays. The questions test both comprehension and analytic ability.
The "Social Studies" section allows 70 minutes to answer 50 questions concerning world history, American history, government, geography and economics. The questions are all multiple-choice and based on short readings, charts, graphs and other images, such as editorial cartoons.
The "Science" section allows 80 minutes to answer 50 multiple-choice questions covering earth science, life science and physical science. Each question is linked to a text passage or a graphic (map, chart, diagram or graph). The test focuses on health and environmental topics, as well as the relevance of science to everyday life.
The "Mathematics" section allows 90 minutes to answer 50 questions concerning number operations, measurement and geometry, data analysis, probability, statistics, algebra, functions and patterns. The test is divided into two parts; calculators are allowed for the first part, and forbidden on the second part. Forty questions are multiple-choice, and 10 questions require the test taker to record answers on a grid.