ACT Exam 2025: Everything You Need to Know

Most of the undergraduate schools in the US and Canada require ACT scores for admission. ACT exam full form is American College Testing. The ACT exam is conducted by ACT Inc. and the ACT exam checks your math, reading, writing, and science skills. Colleges and universities use these scores to make decisions about applicants regarding their admission.

So, let us explore the updated details of the ACT exam in 2025 and how you can prepare for it in the best way

Why Should I Take the ACT Exam?

The ACT exam (ACT test full form is American College Testing) is a standard test designed to assess your readiness for college. It is similar to the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and provides a common measure for comparing all applicants. Most colleges in the USA and Canada need ACT or SAT scores. Some high schools also require the ACT exam for graduation. Plus, your ACT exam score is often the first thing colleges notice in your application.

ACT Exam Structure 2025

The following is the structure of the ACT exam in 2025:

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  The ACT exam has four main sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. There is an additional Writing
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  The total exam time is 2 hours 55 minutes (without Writing) and 3 hours 35 minutes (with Writing). 
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  The evaluation is based on the composite score of the four main sections. Please note that the score of the optional writing section is not added to the composite score.

The ACT is accepted by almost all 4-year colleges and universities in the US and many in Canada and other countries. In some US states, taking the ACT is a requirement to graduate from high school.

Components of the ACT Exam

The ACT exam has four required sections:

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  English: Grammar, punctuation, sentence structure

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  Math: Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and basic statistics

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  Reading: Reading comprehension from various passages

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  Science: Data analysis, scientific reasoning, and interpretation

There is also an optional Writing section, which is a 40-minute essay. High school-level English is the level of questioning. Some colleges require it, so check with your target college for accurate information. Please note that there are no ACT exam eligibility like specific age requirements or minimum education required.

Exam Pattern for the ACT Test with Syllabus

In this section, we will see the ACT entrance exam pattern and the syllabus you need to cover. Here is a breakdown of the ACT test exam:

So, in total there are 215 multiple-choice questions + 1 essay (optional). You need to check with your target college if the essay section is in their eligibility criteria or not.

How is the ACT Score Calculated?

The following is the system by which the scoring is done in the ACT exam:

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  Each section (English, Math, Reading, and Science) is scored on a scale of 1 to 36. The average of these four scores is your composite score.
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  The Writing section (if taken) is scored separately on a scale of 2 to 12. It does not affect your composite score.
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  A score of 20 is about average. Scores above 30 are considered excellent and can considerably improve your chances at top colleges.
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  Always check with your college for their acceptance score range.

How to Prepare for the ACT Exam 2025?

In order to excel in your ACT exam, here are some of the very important tips that you can follow:

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  Learn the ACT format and types of questions.
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  Focus on your weak areas first.
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  Set a target score.
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  Make a study plan and stick to it.
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  Take lots of practice tests.
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  Improve grammar and reading speed.
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  Practice mental math for faster and more accurate calculations.

Also, below are some of the important items you can bring and cannot bring to your exam centre.

When Can I Give the ACT Exam?

In 2025, the ACT test dates are as follows:

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  February 8, 2025
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  April 5, 2025
• 
  June 14, 2025
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  July 12 (US only), 2025
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  September 13, 2025
• 
  October 18, 2025
• 
  December 13, 2025

Some additional dates can be announced as well. We recommend that you check the official ACT website for registration deadlines and late fees.

How Can I Register for ACT Exam?

Here are the steps you need to follow to register for ACT exam:

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  Sign up at the official ACT website (www.act.org)
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  Choose your test date and location
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  Create your ACT profile and fill out the application
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  Upload the required documents and photo
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  Pay the exam fee
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  Get instant confirmation of your registration on your email

Fee for ACT Exam

The fee for the ACT exam is mentioned in the following table. Also, various other fees like late registration charges and more are mentioned in the table as well:

*The USD to INR conversion rates used are as of March 2025. 1 USD = INR 83.50

When Will I Get the ACT Score?

You will receive your multiple-choice scores after 2 weeks of the test. If you have taken the optional writing test, that score will be available about 2 weeks after your multiple-choice scores.

Sometimes, score reporting may take longer, so keep checking the official site as well as your e-mail for any updates.

ACT vs SAT: Which One Should I Take?

Both the ACT and SAT are accepted by almost all colleges. There is no preference between them. Try taking a full-length practice test for both to see which suits your strengths better. Please note that just one mock test will not be able to help you with the identification. You need to do a deep-dive to understand which test is according to your strengths.

Here is a table to better understand the differences between the ACT and SAT exam:

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